# verses

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When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were weary and worn out, like sheep without a shepherd.


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Summoning His 12 disciples, He gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness.


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These are the names of the 12 apostles: First, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;


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


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Jesus sent out these 12 after giving them instructions: <J>"Don't take the road leading to other nations, and don't enter any Samaritan town.</J>


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<J>Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with skin diseases, drive out demons. You have received free of charge; give free of charge.</J>


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<J>Don't take a traveling bag for the road, or an extra shirt, sandals, or a walking stick, for the worker is worthy of his food.</J>


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<J>and if the household is worthy, let your peace be on it. But if it is unworthy, let your peace return to you.</J>


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<J>If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that house or town.</J>


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<J>I assure you: It will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.</J>


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<J>Look, I'm sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as harmless as doves.</J>


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<J>Because people will hand you over to sanhedrins and flog you in their synagogues, beware of them.</J>


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<J>You will even be brought before governors and kings because of Me, to bear witness to them and to the nations.</J>


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<J>But when they hand you over, don't worry about how or what you should speak. For you will be given what to say at that hour,</J>


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<J>Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will even rise up against their parents and have them put to death.</J>


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<J>You will be hated by everyone because of My name. But the one who endures to the end will be delivered.</J>


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<J>When they persecute you in one town, escape to another. For I assure you: You will not have covered the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.</J>


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<J>It is enough for a disciple to become like his teacher and a slave like his master. If they called the head of the house ' Beelzebul,' how much more the members of his household!</J>


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<J>Therefore, don't be afraid of them, since there is nothing covered that won't be uncovered, and nothing hidden that won't be made known.</J>


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<J>What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light. What you hear in a whisper, proclaim on the housetops.</J>


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<J>Don't fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.</J>


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<J>Aren't two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's consent.</J>


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<J>Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge Me before men, I will also acknowledge him before My Father in heaven.</J>


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<J>Don't assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.</J>


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<J>For I came to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;</J>


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<J>The person who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; the person who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.</J>


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<J>Anyone who welcomes a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward. And anyone who welcomes a righteous person because he's righteous will receive a righteous person's reward.</J>


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<J>And whoever gives just a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple-- I assure you: He will never lose his reward!"</J>


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When Jesus had finished giving orders to His 12 disciples, He moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns.


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<J>the blind see, the lame walk, those with skin diseases are healed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news.</J>


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As these men went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: <J>"What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?</J>


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<J>What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? Look, those who wear soft clothes are in kings' palaces.</J>


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<J>This is the one it is written about: Look, I am sending My messenger ahead of You; he will prepare Your way before You.</J>


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<J>I assure you: Among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared, but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.</J>


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<J>From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been suffering violence, and the violent have been seizing it by force.</J>


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<J>To what should I compare this generation? It's like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to each other:</J>


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<J>The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds."</J>


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Then He proceeded to denounce the towns where most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent:


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<J>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 in sackcloth and ashes long ago!</J>


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<J>But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.</J>


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<J>And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until today.</J>


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<J>But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."</J>


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At that time Jesus said, <J>"I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to infants.</J>


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<J>All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son desires to reveal Him.</J>


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<J>All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves.</J>


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At that time Jesus passed through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick and eat some heads of grain.


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But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, "Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!"


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He said to them, <J>"Haven't you read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry--</J>


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<J>how he entered the house of God, and they ate the sacred bread, which is not lawful for him or for those with him to eat, but only for the priests?</J>


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<J>Or haven't you read in the Law that on Sabbath days the priests in the temple violate the Sabbath and are innocent?</J>


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<J>If you had known what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the innocent.</J>


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<J>There He saw a man who had a paralyzed hand. And in order to accuse Him they asked Him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"</J>


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<J>But He said to them, "What man among you, if he had a sheep that fell into a pit on the Sabbath, wouldn't take hold of it and lift it out?</J>


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Then He told the man, <J>"Stretch out your hand."</J> So he stretched it out, and it was restored, as good as the other.


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When Jesus became aware of this, He withdrew from there. Huge crowds followed Him, and He healed them all.


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Here is My Servant whom I have chosen, My beloved in whom My soul delights; I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will proclaim justice to the nations.


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He will not break a bruised reed, and He will not put out a smoldering wick, until He has led justice to victory.


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Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and unable to speak was brought to Him. He healed him, so that the man could both speak and see.


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When the Pharisees heard this, they said, "The man drives out demons only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons."


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Knowing their thoughts, He told them: <J>"Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.</J>


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<J>And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, who is it your sons drive them out by? For this reason they will be your judges.</J>


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<J>How can someone enter a strong man's house and steal his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.</J>


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<J>Because of this, I tell you, people will be forgiven every sin and blasphemy, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.</J>


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<J>Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the one to come.</J>


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<J>Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.</J>


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<J>Brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.</J>


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<J>A good man produces good things from his storeroom of good, and an evil man produces evil things from his storeroom of evil.</J>


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<J>I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to account for every careless word they speak.</J>


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But He answered them, <J>"An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.</J>


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<J>For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.</J>


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<J>The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at Jonah's proclamation; and look-- something greater than Jonah is here!</J>


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<J>The queen of the south will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and look-- something greater than Solomon is here!</J>


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<J>When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it roams through waterless places looking for rest but doesn't find any.</J>


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<J>Then it says, 'I'll go back to my house that I came from.' And when it arrives, it finds [the house] vacant, swept, and put in order.</J>


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<J>Then off it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there. As a result, that man's last condition is worse than the first. That's how it will also be with this evil generation."</J>


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He was still speaking to the crowds when suddenly His mother and brothers were standing outside wanting to speak to Him.


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Someone told Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to You."


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And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, <J>"Here are My mother and My brothers!</J>


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<J>For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven, that person is My brother and sister and mother."</J>


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Such large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat down, while the whole crowd stood on the shore.


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<J>Others fell on rocky ground, where there wasn't much soil, and they sprang up quickly since the soil wasn't deep.</J>


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<J>Still others fell on good ground, and produced a crop: some 100, some 60, and some 30 times [what was sown].</J>


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<J>He answered them, "Because the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given for you to know, but it has not been given to them.</J>


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<J>For whoever has, [more] will be given to him, and he will have more than enough. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.</J>


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<J>For this reason I speak to them in parables, because looking they do not see, and hearing they do not listen or understand.</J>


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<J>Isaiah's prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says: You will listen and listen, yet never understand; and you will look and look, yet never perceive.</J>


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<J>For this people's heart has grown callous; their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn back-- and I would cure them.</J>


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<J>For I assure you: Many prophets and righteous people longed to see the things you see yet didn't see them; to hear the things you hear yet didn't hear them.</J>


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<J>When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and doesn't understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path.</J>


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<J>And the one sown on rocky ground-- this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy.</J>


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<J>Yet he has no root in himself, but is short-lived. When pressure or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he stumbles.</J>


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<J>Now the one sown among the thorns-- this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the seduction of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.</J>


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<J>But the one sown on the good ground-- this is one who hears and understands the word, who does bear fruit and yields: some 100, some 60, some 30 times [what was sown]."</J>


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He presented another parable to them: <J>"The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.</J>


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<J>The landowner's slaves came to him and said, 'Master, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Then where did the weeds come from?'</J>


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<J>'An enemy did this!' he told them. "'So, do you want us to go and gather them up?' the slaves asked him.</J>


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<J>Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I'll tell the reapers: Gather the weeds first and tie them in bundles to burn them, but store the wheat in my barn. '"</J>


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He presented another parable to them: <J>"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field.</J>


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<J>It's the smallest of all the seeds, but when grown, it's taller than the vegetables and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches."</J>


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He told them another parable: <J>"The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into 50 pounds of flour until it spread through all of it."</J>


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Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables, and He would not speak anything to them without a parable,


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so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled: I will open My mouth in parables; I will declare things kept secret from the foundation of the world.


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Then He dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples approached Him and said, "Explain the parable of the weeds in the field to us."


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<J>the field is the world; and the good seed-- these are the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and</J>


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<J>the enemy who sowed them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.</J>


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<J>Therefore just as the weeds are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age.</J>


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<J>The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather from His kingdom everything that causes sin and those guilty of lawlessness.</J>


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<J>They will throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.</J>


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<J>Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father's kingdom. Anyone who has ears should listen!</J>


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<J>The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field.</J>


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<J>Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a large net thrown into the sea. It collected every kind [of fish],</J>


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<J>and when it was full, they dragged it ashore, sat down, and gathered the good [fish] into containers, but threw out the worthless ones.</J>


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<J>So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out, separate the evil people from the righteous,</J>


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<J>and throw them into the blazing furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.</J>


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<J>"Therefore,"</J> He said to them, <J>"every student of Scripture instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who brings out of his storeroom what is new and what is old."</J>


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He went to His hometown and began to teach them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "How did this wisdom and these miracles come to Him?


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Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't His mother called Mary, and His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?


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And they were offended by Him. But Jesus said to them, <J>"A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his household."</J>


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This is John the Baptist!" he told his servants. "He has been raised from the dead, and that's why supernatural powers are at work in him."


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For Herod had arrested John, chained him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife,


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But when Herod's birthday celebration came, Herodias' daughter danced before them and pleased Herod.


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Although the king regretted it, he commanded that it be granted because of his oaths and his guests.


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When Jesus heard about it, He withdrew from there by boat to a remote place to be alone. When the crowds heard this, they followed Him on foot from the towns.


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When evening came, the disciples approached Him and said, "This place is a wilderness, and it is already late. Send the crowds away so they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves."


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Then He commanded the crowds to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them. He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples [gave them] to the crowds.


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Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds.


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After dismissing the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone.


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But the boat was already over a mile from land, battered by the waves, because the wind was against them.


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When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. "It's a ghost!" they said, and cried out in fear.


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<J>"Come!"</J> He said. And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus.


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But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid. And beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me!"


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Immediately Jesus reached out His hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, <J>"You of little faith, why did you doubt?"</J>


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When the men of that place recognized Him, they alerted the whole vicinity and brought to Him all who were sick.


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They were begging Him that they might only touch the tassel on His robe. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.


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Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they don't wash their hands when they eat!"


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<J>For God said: Honor your father and your mother; and, The one who speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death.</J>


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<J>But you say, 'Whoever tells his father or mother, "Whatever benefit you might have received from me is a gift [committed to the temple]"--</J>


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<J>he does not have to honor his father.' In this way, you have revoked God's word because of your tradition.</J>


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<J>It's not what goes into the mouth that defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."</J>


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Then the disciples came up and told Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard this statement?"


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<J>Leave them alone! They are blind guides. And if the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit."</J>


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<J>Don't you realize that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is eliminated?</J>


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<J>For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies.</J>


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<J>These are the things that defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands does not defile a man."</J>


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Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came and kept crying out, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is cruelly tormented by a demon."


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Yet He did not say a word to her. So His disciples approached Him and urged Him, "Send her away because she cries out after us."


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Then Jesus replied to her, <J>"Woman, your faith is great. Let it be done for you as you want."</J> And from that moment her daughter was cured.


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Moving on from there, Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee. He went up on a mountain and sat there,


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and large crowds came to Him, having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, those unable to speak, and many others. They put them at His feet, and He healed them.


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So the crowd was amazed when they saw those unable to speak talking, the deformed restored, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they gave glory to the God of Israel.


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Now Jesus summoned His disciples and said, <J>"I have compassion on the crowd, because they've already stayed with Me three days and have nothing to eat. I don't want to send them away hungry; otherwise they might collapse on the way."</J>


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The disciples said to Him, "Where could we get enough bread in this desolate place to fill such a crowd?"


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He took the seven loaves and the fish, and He gave thanks, broke them, and kept on giving them to the disciples, and the disciples [gave them] to the crowds.


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He answered them: <J>"When evening comes you say, 'It will be good weather because the sky is red.'</J>


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<J>And in the morning, 'Today will be stormy because the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to read the appearance of the sky, but you can't read the signs of the times.</J>


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<J>An evil and adulterous generation wants a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah."</J> Then He left them and went away.


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Aware of this, Jesus said, <J>"You of little faith! Why are you discussing among yourselves that you do not have bread?</J>


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<J>Don't you understand yet? Don't you remember the five loaves for the 5,000 and how many baskets you collected?</J>


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<J>Why is it you don't understand that when I told you, 'Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees,' it wasn't about bread?"</J>


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Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the yeast in bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.


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When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, <J>"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"</J>


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And they said, "Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."


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And Jesus responded, <J>"Simon son of Jonah, you are blessed because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father in heaven.</J>


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<J>And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the forces of Hades will not overpower it.</J>


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<J>I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth is already bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth is already loosed in heaven."</J>


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From then on Jesus began to point out to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day.


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But He turned and told Peter, <J>"Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me because you're not thinking about God's concerns, but man's."</J>


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Then Jesus said to His disciples,<J> "If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.</J>


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<J>For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will find it.</J>


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<J>What will it benefit a man if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?</J>


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<J>For the Son of Man is going to come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He will reward each according to what he has done.</J>


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<J>I assure you: There are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."</J>


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After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves.


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He was transformed in front of them, and His face shone like the sun. Even His clothes became as white as the light.


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Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it's good for us to be here! If You want, I will make three tabernacles here: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."


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While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said: This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him. Listen to Him!


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As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, <J>"Don't tell anyone about the vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead."</J>


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<J>"But I tell you: Elijah has already come, and they didn't recognize him. On the contrary, they did whatever they pleased to him. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands."</J>


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Lord," he said, "have mercy on my son, because he has seizures and suffers severely. He often falls into the fire and often into the water.


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Jesus replied, <J>"You unbelieving and rebellious generation! How long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to Me."</J>


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<J>Because of your little faith,"</J> He told them. <J>"For I assure you: If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.</J>


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As they were meeting in Galilee, Jesus told them, <J>"The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.</J>


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<J>They will kill Him, and on the third day He will be raised up."</J> And they were deeply distressed.


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When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the double-drachma tax approached Peter and said, "Doesn't your Teacher pay the double-drachma tax?"


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<J>"Yes,"</J> he said. When he went into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, <J>"What do you think, Simon? Who do earthly kings collect tariffs or taxes from? From their sons or from strangers?"</J>


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<J>But, so we won't offend them, go to the sea, cast in a fishhook, and catch the first fish that comes up. When you open its mouth you'll find a coin. Take it and give it to them for Me and you."</J>


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<J>"I assure you,"</J> He said, <J>"unless you are converted and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.</J>


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<J>Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child-- this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.</J>


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<J>But whoever causes the downfall of one of these little ones who believe in Me-- it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea!</J>


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<J>Woe to the world because of offenses. For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes.</J>


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<J>If your hand or your foot causes your downfall, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire.</J>


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<J>And if your eye causes your downfall, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, rather than to have two eyes and be thrown into hellfire!</J>


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<J>See that you don't look down on one of these little ones, because I tell you that in heaven their angels continually view the face of My Father in heaven.</J>


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<J>What do you think? If a man has 100 sheep, and one of them goes astray, won't he leave the 99 on the hillside and go and search for the stray?</J>


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<J>And if he finds it, I assure you: He rejoices over that sheep more than over the 99 that did not go astray.</J>


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<J>In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones perish.</J>


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<J>If your brother sins against you, go and rebuke him in private. If he listens to you, you have won your brother.</J>


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<J>But if he won't listen, take one or two more with you, so that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every fact may be established.</J>


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<J>If he pays no attention to them, tell the church. But if he doesn't pay attention even to the church, let him be like an unbeliever and a tax collector to you.</J>


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<J>I assure you: Whatever you bind on earth is already bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth is already loosed in heaven.</J>


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<J>Again, I assure you: If two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven.</J>


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Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how many times could my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?"


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<J>For this reason, the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves.</J>


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<J>Since he had no way to pay it back, his master commanded that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay the debt.</J>


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<J>At this, the slave fell facedown before him and said, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you everything!'</J>


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<J>But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him 100 denarii. He grabbed him, started choking him, and said, 'Pay what you owe!'</J>


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<J>At this, his fellow slave fell down and began begging him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'</J>


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<J>But he wasn't willing. On the contrary, he went and threw him into prison until he could pay what was owed.</J>


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<J>When the other slaves saw what had taken place, they were deeply distressed and went and reported to their master everything that had happened.</J>


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<J>Then, after he had summoned him, his master said to him, 'You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.</J>


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<J>And his master got angry and handed him over to the jailers until he could pay everything that was owed.</J>


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<J>So My heavenly Father will also do to you if each of you does not forgive his brother from his heart."</J>


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When Jesus had finished this instruction, He departed from Galilee and went to the region of Judea across the Jordan.


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Some Pharisees approached Him to test Him. They asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife on any grounds?"


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<J>"Haven't you read,"</J> He replied, <J>"that He who created them in the beginning made them male and female,</J>


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<J>and He also said: For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh?</J>


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<J>So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, man must not separate."</J>


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He told them, <J>"Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of the hardness of your hearts. But it was not like that from the beginning.</J>


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<J>And I tell you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery."</J>


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His disciples said to Him, "If the relationship of a man with his wife is like this, it's better not to marry!"


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<J>For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother's womb, there are eunuchs who were made by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves that way because of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can."</J>


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Then children were brought to Him so He might put His hands on them and pray. But the disciples rebuked them.


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Then Jesus said, <J>"Leave the children alone, and don't try to keep them from coming to Me, because the kingdom of heaven is made up of people like this."</J>


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<J>"Why do you ask Me about what is good?"</J> He said to him. <J>"There is only One who is good. If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."</J>


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Which ones?" he asked Him. Jesus answered, <J>Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness;</J>


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<J>"If you want to be perfect,"</J> Jesus said to him, <J>"go, sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me."</J>


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Then Jesus said to His disciples, <J>"I assure you: It will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven!</J>


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<J>Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."</J>


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But Jesus looked at them and said, <J>"With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."</J>


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Then Peter responded to Him, "Look, we have left everything and followed You. So what will there be for us?"


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Jesus said to them, <J>"I assure you: In the Messianic Age, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel.</J>


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<J>And everyone who has left houses, brothers or sisters, father or mother, children, or fields because of My name will receive 100 times more and will inherit eternal life.</J>


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<J>For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.</J>


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<J>When he went out about nine in the morning, he saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing.</J>


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<J>To those men he said, 'You also go to my vineyard, and I'll give you whatever is right.' So off they went.</J>


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<J>Then about five he went and found others standing around, and said to them, 'Why have you been standing here all day doing nothing?'</J>


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<J>When evening came, the owner of the vineyard told his foreman, 'Call the workers and give them their pay, starting with the last and ending with the first.'</J>


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<J>So when the first ones came, they assumed they would get more, but they also received a denarius each.</J>


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<J>'These last men put in one hour, and you made them equal to us who bore the burden of the day and the burning heat!'</J>


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<J>He replied to one of them, 'Friend, I'm doing you no wrong. Didn't you agree with me on a denarius?</J>


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<J>Don't I have the right to do what I want with my business? Are you jealous because I'm generous?'</J>


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While going up to Jerusalem, Jesus took the 12 disciples aside privately and said to them on the way:


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<J>Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death.</J>


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<J>Then they will hand Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked, flogged, and crucified, and He will be resurrected on the third day."</J>


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Then the mother of Zebedee's sons approached Him with her sons. She knelt down to ask Him for something.


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What do you want?" He asked her. "Promise," she said to Him, "that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right and the other on Your left, in Your kingdom."


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But Jesus answered, <J>"You don't know what you're asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?"</J> "We are able," they said to Him.


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He told them, <J>"You will indeed drink My cup. But to sit at My right and left is not Mine to give; instead, it belongs to those for whom it has been prepared by My Father."</J>


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But Jesus called them over and said, <J>"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and the men of high position exercise power over them.</J>


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<J>It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,</J>


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<J>just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life-- a ransom for many."</J>


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


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The crowd told them to keep quiet, but they cried out all the more, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!"


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When they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives, Jesus then sent two disciples,


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telling them, <J>"Go into the village ahead of you. At once you will find a donkey tied there, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to Me.</J>


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<J>If anyone says anything to you, you should say that the Lord needs them, and immediately he will send them."</J>


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Tell Daughter Zion, "See, your King is coming to you, gentle, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden."


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A very large crowd spread their robes on the road; others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road.


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Then the crowds who went ahead of Him and those who followed kept shouting: Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!


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Jesus went into the temple complex and drove out all those buying and selling in the temple. He overturned the money changers' tables and the chairs of those selling doves.


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And He said to them, <J>"It is written, My house will be called a house of prayer. But you are making it a den of thieves!"</J>


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When the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonders that He did and the children in the temple complex cheering, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant


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and said to Him, "Do You hear what these [children] are saying?" <J>"Yes,"</J> Jesus told them. <J>"Have you never read: You have prepared praise from the mouths of children and nursing infants?"</J>


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Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He went up to it and found nothing on it except leaves. And He said to it, <J>"May no fruit ever come from you again!"</J> At once the fig tree withered.


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Jesus answered them, <J>"I assure you: If you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you tell this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' it will be done.</J>


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When He entered the temple complex, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to Him as He was teaching and said, "By what authority are You doing these things? Who gave You this authority?"


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Jesus answered them, <J>"I will also ask you one question, and if you answer it for Me, then I will tell you by what authority I do these things.</J>


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<J>Where did John's baptism come from? From heaven or from men?"</J> They began to argue among themselves, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say to us, 'Then why didn't you believe him?'


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So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." And He said to them, <J>"Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.</J>


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<J>But what do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'My son, go, work in the vineyard today.'</J>


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<J>Then the man went to the other and said the same thing. "'I will, sir,' he answered. But he didn't go.</J>


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<J>Which of the two did his father's will?"</J> "The first," they said. Jesus said to them, <J>"I assure you: Tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you!</J>


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<J>For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn't believe him. Tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him, but you, when you saw it, didn't even change your minds then and believe him.</J>


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<J>Listen to another parable: There was a man, a landowner, who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a watchtower. He leased it to tenant farmers and went away.</J>


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<J>But when the tenant farmers saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him and take his inheritance!'</J>


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He will completely destroy those terrible men," they told Him, "and lease his vineyard to other farmers who will give him his produce at the harvest."


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Jesus said to them, <J>"Have you never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This came from the Lord and is wonderful in our eyes?</J>


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<J>Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing its fruit.</J>


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[<J>Whoever falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder!"</J>]


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Although they were looking for a way to arrest Him, they feared the crowds, because they regarded Him as a prophet.


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<J>Again, he sent out other slaves, and said, 'Tell those who are invited: Look, I've prepared my dinner; my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.'</J>


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<J>The king was enraged, so he sent out his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned down their city.</J>


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<J>So those slaves went out on the roads and gathered everyone they found, both evil and good. The wedding banquet was filled with guests.</J>


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<J>But when the king came in to view the guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed for a wedding.</J>


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<J>So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless.</J>


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<J>Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him up hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'</J>


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They sent their disciples to Him, with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know that You are truthful and teach truthfully the way of God. You defer to no one, for You don't show partiality.


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Caesar's," they said to Him. Then He said to them, <J>"Therefore, give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."</J>


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Teacher, Moses said, if a man dies, having no children, his brother is to marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.


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Now there were seven brothers among us. The first got married and died. Having no offspring, he left his wife to his brother.


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Jesus answered them, <J>"You are deceived, because you don't know the Scriptures or the power of God.</J>


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<J>For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels in heaven.</J>


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<J>I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living."</J>


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He said to him, <J>"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.</J>


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<J>The Lord declared to my Lord, 'Sit at My right hand until I put Your enemies under Your feet'?</J>


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<J>Therefore do whatever they tell you and observe [it]. But don't do what they do, because they don't practice what they teach.</J>


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<J>They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry and put them on people's shoulders, but they themselves aren't willing to lift a finger to move them.</J>


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<J>They do everything to be observed by others: They enlarge their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.</J>


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<J>But as for you, do not be called 'Rabbi,' because you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.</J>


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<J>But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You lock up the kingdom of heaven from people. For you don't go in, and you don't allow those entering to go in.</J>


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<J>["Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You devour widows' houses and make long prayers just for show. This is why you will receive a harsher punishment.]</J>


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<J>Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to make one proselyte, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as fit for hell as you are!</J>


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<J>Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever takes an oath by the sanctuary, it means nothing. But whoever takes an oath by the gold of the sanctuary is bound by his oath.'</J>


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<J>Also, 'Whoever takes an oath by the altar, it means nothing. But whoever takes an oath by the gift that is on it is bound by his oath.'</J>


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<J>Therefore the one who takes an oath by the altar takes an oath by it and by everything on it.</J>


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<J>And the one who takes an oath by heaven takes an oath by God's throne and by Him who sits on it.</J>


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<J>Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law-- justice, mercy, and faith. These things should have been done without neglecting the others.</J>


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<J>Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence!</J>


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<J>Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so the outside of it may also become clean.</J>


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<J>Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men's bones and every impurity.</J>


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<J>In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.</J>


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<J>Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous,</J>


text:
<J>and you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we wouldn't have taken part with them in shedding the prophets' blood.'</J>


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<J>You therefore testify against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets.</J>


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<J>This is why I am sending you prophets, sages, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will flog in your synagogues and hound from town to town.</J>


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<J>So all the righteous blood shed on the earth will be charged to you, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.</J>


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<J>Jerusalem, Jerusalem! The city who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, yet you were not willing!</J>


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<J>For I tell you, you will never see Me again until you say, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!"</J>


text:
As Jesus left and was going out of the temple complex, His disciples came up and called His attention to the temple buildings.


text:
<J>Then He replied to them, "Don't you see all these things? I assure you: Not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down!"</J>


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While He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached Him privately and said, "Tell us, when will these things happen? And what is the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?"


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<J>You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end is not yet.</J>


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<J>For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.</J>


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<J>Then they will hand you over for persecution, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of My name.</J>


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<J>This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations. And then the end will come.</J>


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<J>So when you see the abomination that causes desolation, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place" (let the reader understand),</J>


text:
<J>For at that time there will be great tribulation, the kind that hasn't taken place from the beginning of the world until now and never will again!</J>


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<J>Unless those days were limited, no one would survive. But those days will be limited because of the elect.</J>


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<J>False messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.</J>


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<J>So if they tell you, 'Look, he's in the wilderness!' don't go out; 'Look, he's in the inner rooms!' do not believe it.</J>


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<J>For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.</J>


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<J>Immediately after the tribulation of those days: The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the celestial powers will be shaken.</J>


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<J>Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the peoples of the earth will mourn; and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.</J>


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<J>He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.</J>


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<J>Now learn this parable from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.</J>


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<J>I assure you: This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place.</J>


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<J>Now concerning that day and hour no one knows-- neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son-- except the Father only.</J>


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<J>For in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah boarded the ark.</J>


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<J>They didn't know until the flood came and swept them all away. So this is the way the coming of the Son of Man will be:</J>


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<J>But know this: If the homeowner had known what time the thief was coming, he would have stayed alert and not let his house be broken into.</J>


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<J>This is why you also must be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.</J>


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<J>Who then is a faithful and sensible slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give them food at the proper time?</J>


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<J>He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.</J>


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<J>Then the kingdom of heaven will be like 10 virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom.</J>


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<J>But the foolish ones said to the sensible ones, 'Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.'</J>


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<J>The sensible ones answered, 'No, there won't be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell, and buy oil for yourselves.'</J>


text:
<J>When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived. Then those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut.</J>


text:
<J>For it is just like a man going on a journey. He called his own slaves and turned over his possessions to them.</J>


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<J>To one he gave five talents; to another, two; and to another, one-- to each according to his own ability. Then he went on a journey. Immediately</J>


text:
<J>But the man who had received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money.</J>


text:
<J>The man who had received five talents approached, presented five more talents, and said, 'Master, you gave me five talents. Look, I've earned five more talents.'</J>


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<J>His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master's joy!'</J>


text:
<J>Then the man with two talents also approached. He said, 'Master, you gave me two talents. Look, I've earned two more talents.'</J>


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<J>Then the man who had received one talent also approached and said, 'Master, I know you. You're a difficult man, reaping where you haven't sown and gathering where you haven't scattered seed.</J>


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<J>So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. Look, you have what is yours.'</J>


text:
<J>But his master replied to him, 'You evil, lazy slave! If you knew that I reap where I haven't sown and gather where I haven't scattered,</J>


text:
<J>then you should have deposited my money with the bankers. And when I returned I would have received my money back with interest.</J>


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<J>For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.</J>


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<J>And throw this good-for-nothing slave into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'</J>


text:
<J>When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.</J>


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<J>All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.</J>


text:
<J>Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.</J>


text:
<J>For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;</J>


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<J>I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you took care of Me; I was in prison and you visited Me.'</J>


text:
<J>Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink?</J>


text:
<J>And the King will answer them, 'I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.'</J>


text:
<J>Then He will also say to those on the left, 'Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels!</J>


text:
<J>For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink;</J>


text:
<J>I was a stranger and you didn't take Me in; I was naked and you didn't clothe Me, sick and in prison and you didn't take care of Me.'</J>


text:
<J>Then they too will answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not help You?'</J>


text:
<J>Then He will answer them, 'I assure you: Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me either.'</J>


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<J>You know that the Passover takes place after two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified."</J>


text:
Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,


text:
a woman approached Him with an alabaster jar of very expensive fragrant oil. She poured it on His head as He was reclining at the table.


text:
But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, <J>"Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a noble thing for Me.</J>


text:
<J>I assure you: Wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her."</J>


text:
and said, "What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?" So they weighed out 30 pieces of silver for him.


text:
On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do You want us to prepare the Passover so You may eat it?"


text:
<J>Go into the city to a certain man,"</J> He said, <J>"and tell him, 'The Teacher says: My time is near; I am celebrating the Passover at your place with My disciples. '"</J>


text:
<J>The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born."</J>


text:
As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, <J>"Take and eat it; this is My body."</J>


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Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks, He gave it to them and said, "Drink from it, all of you.


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<J>For this is My blood [that establishes] the covenant; it is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins.</J>


text:
<J>But I tell you, from this moment I will not drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it in a new way in My Father's kingdom with you."</J>


text:
Then Jesus said to them, <J>"Tonight all of you will run away because of Me, for it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.</J>


text:
<J>"I assure you,"</J> Jesus said to him, <J>"tonight-- before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times!"</J>


text:
Even if I have to die with You," Peter told Him, "I will never deny You!" And all the disciples said the same thing.


text:
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and He told the disciples, <J>"Sit here while I go over there and pray."</J>


text:
Then He said to them, <J>"My soul is swallowed up in sorrow-- to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with Me."</J>


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Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, <J>"My Father! If it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will."</J>


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Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He asked Peter.<J> "So, couldn't you stay awake with Me one hour?</J>


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<J>Stay awake and pray, so that you won't enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."</J>


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Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, <J>"My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, Your will be done."</J>


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Then He came to the disciples and said to them, <J>"Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the time is near. The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.</J>


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While He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived. A large mob, with swords and clubs, was with him from the chief priests and elders of the people.


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<J>"Friend,"</J> Jesus asked him, <J>"why have you come?"</J> Then they came up, took hold of Jesus, and arrested Him.


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At that moment one of those with Jesus reached out his hand and drew his sword. He struck the high priest's slave and cut off his ear.


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Then Jesus told him, <J>"Put your sword back in place because all who take up a sword will perish by a sword.</J>


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<J>Or do you think that I cannot call on My Father, and He will provide Me at once with more than 12 legions of angels?</J>


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At that time Jesus said to the crowds, <J>"Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if I were a criminal, to capture Me? Every day I used to sit, teaching in the temple complex, and you didn't arrest Me.</J>


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<J>But all this has happened so that the prophetic Scriptures would be fulfilled."</J> Then all the disciples deserted Him and ran away.


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Those who had arrested Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had convened.


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Meanwhile, Peter was following Him at a distance right to the high priest's courtyard. He went in and was sitting with the temple police to see the outcome.


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The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus so they could put Him to death.


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But they could not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. Finally, two who came forward


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The high priest then stood up and said to Him, "Don't You have an answer to what these men are testifying against You?"


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But Jesus kept silent. Then the high priest said to Him, "By the living God I place You under oath: tell us if You are the Messiah, the Son of God!"


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<J>"You have said it,"</J> Jesus told him. <J>"But I tell you, in the future you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven."</J>


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Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? Look, now you've heard the blasphemy!


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Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant approached him and she said, "You were with Jesus the Galilean too."


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When he had gone out to the gateway, another woman saw him and told those who were there, "This man was with Jesus the Nazarene!"


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After a little while those standing there approached and said to Peter, "You certainly are one of them, since even your accent gives you away."


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Then he started to curse and to swear with an oath, "I do not know the man!" Immediately a rooster crowed,


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and Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, <J>"Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."</J> And he went outside and wept bitterly.


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When daybreak came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death.


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Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was full of remorse and returned the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders.


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I have sinned by betraying innocent blood," he said. "What's that to us?" they said. "See to it yourself!"


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The chief priests took the silver and said, "It's not lawful to put it into the temple treasury, since it is blood money."


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Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: They took the 30 pieces of silver, the price of Him whose price was set by the sons of Israel,


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Now Jesus stood before the governor. "Are You the King of the Jews?" the governor asked Him. Jesus answered, <J>"You have said it."</J>


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So when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Who is it you want me to release for you-- Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Messiah?"


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While he was sitting on the judge's bench, his wife sent word to him, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I've suffered terribly in a dream because of Him!"


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The chief priests and the elders, however, persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to execute Jesus.


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The governor asked them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" "Barabbas!" they answered.


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Pilate asked them, "What should I do then with Jesus, who is called Messiah?" They all answered, "Crucify Him!"


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When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was starting instead, he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, "I am innocent of this man's blood. See to it yourselves!"


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Then he released Barabbas to them. But after having Jesus flogged, he handed Him over to be crucified.


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Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into headquarters and gathered the whole company around Him.


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They twisted together a crown of thorns, put it on His head, and placed a reed in His right hand. And they knelt down before Him and mocked Him: "Hail, King of the Jews!"


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When they had mocked Him, they stripped Him of the robe, put His clothes on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.


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As they were going out, they found a Cyrenian man named Simon. They forced this man to carry His cross.


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and saying, "The One who would demolish the sanctuary and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!"


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He saved others, but He cannot save Himself! He is the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him.


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He has put His trust in God; let God rescue Him now-- if He wants Him! For He said, 'I am God's Son.'"


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At about three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, <J>"Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?"</J> that is, " My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"


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Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, fixed it on a reed, and offered Him a drink.


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Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary was split in two from top to bottom; the earth quaked and the rocks were split.


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When the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified and said, "This man really was God's Son!"


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Many women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and ministered to Him were there, looking on from a distance.


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Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.


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When it was evening, a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph came, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus.


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and placed it in his new tomb, which he had cut into the rock. He left after rolling a great stone against the entrance of the tomb.


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The next day, which followed the preparation day, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate


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and said, "Sir, we remember that while this deceiver was still alive, He said, <J>'After three days I will rise again.'</J>


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Therefore give orders that the tomb be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, His disciples may come, steal Him, and tell the people, 'He has been raised from the dead.' Then the last deception will be worse than the first."


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After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb.


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Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached [the tomb]. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it.


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But the angel told the women, "Don't be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.


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Then go quickly and tell His disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead. In fact, He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there.' Listen, I have told you."


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So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell His disciples the news.


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Just then Jesus met them and said, <J>"Good morning!"</J> They came up, took hold of His feet, and worshiped Him.


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Then Jesus told them, <J>"Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see Me there."</J>


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As they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.


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After the priests had assembled with the elders and agreed on a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money


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and told them, "Say this, 'His disciples came during the night and stole Him while we were sleeping.'


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So they took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been spread among Jewish people to this day.


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Then Jesus came near and said to them, <J>"All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.</J>


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<J>Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,</J>


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<J>teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."</J>


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As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: Look, I am sending My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way.


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A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way for the Lord; make His paths straight!"


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John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.


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The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were flocking to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins.


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He was preaching: "Someone more powerful than I will come after me. I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of His sandals.


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As soon as He came up out of the water, He saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending to Him like a dove.


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He was in the wilderness 40 days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels began to serve Him.


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<J>"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the good news!"</J>


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As He was passing along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, Simon's brother. They were casting a net into the sea, since they were fishermen.


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Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in their boat mending their nets.


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Immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him.


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Then they went into Capernaum, and right away He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach.


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They were astonished at His teaching because, unlike the scribes, He was teaching them as one having authority.


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What do You have to do with us, Jesus-- Nazarene? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are-- the Holy One of God!"


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Then they were all amazed, so they began to argue with one another, saying, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him."


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So He went to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them.


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When evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all those who were sick and those who were demon-possessed.


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and He healed many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons. But He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew Him.


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Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place. And He was praying there.


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And He said to them, <J>"Let's go on to the neighboring villages so that I may preach there too. This is why I have come."</J>


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Then a man with a serious skin disease came to Him and, on his knees, begged Him: "If You are willing, You can make me clean."


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Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched him. <J>"I am willing,"</J> He told him. <J>"Be made clean."</J>


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telling him,<J> "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go and show yourself to the priest, and offer what Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them."</J>


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Yet he went out and began to proclaim it widely and to spread the news, with the result that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. But He was out in deserted places, and they would come to Him from everywhere.


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So many people gathered together that there was no more room, not even in the doorway, and He was speaking the message to them.


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Since they were not able to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above where He was. And when they had broken through, they lowered the stretcher on which the paralytic was lying.


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Right away Jesus understood in His spirit that they were reasoning like this within themselves and said to them, <J>"Why are you reasoning these things in your hearts?</J>


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<J>Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, pick up your stretcher, and walk'?</J>


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<J>But so you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins," He told the paralytic,</J>


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Immediately he got up, picked up the stretcher, and went out in front of everyone. As a result, they were all astounded and gave glory to God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"


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Then, moving on, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and He said to him, <J>"Follow Me!"</J> So he got up and followed Him.


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While He was reclining at the table in Levi's house, many tax collectors and sinners were also guests with Jesus and His disciples, because there were many who were following Him.


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When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked His disciples, "Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?"


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When Jesus heard this, He told them, <J>"Those who are well don't need a doctor, but the sick [do need one]. I didn't come to call the righteous, but sinners."</J>


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Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. People came and asked Him, "Why do John's disciples and the Pharisees' disciples fast, but Your disciples do not fast?"


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Jesus said to them, <J>"The wedding guests cannot fast while the groom is with them, can they? As long as they have the groom with them, they cannot fast.</J>


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<J>But the time will come when the groom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.</J>


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<J>No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new patch pulls away from the old cloth, and a worse tear is made.</J>


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<J>And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost as well as the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins."</J>


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On the Sabbath He was going through the grainfields, and His disciples began to make their way picking some heads of grain.


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He said to them, <J>"Have you never read what David and those who were with him did when he was in need and hungry--</J>


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<J>how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest and ate the sacred bread-- which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests-- and also gave some to his companions?"</J>


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In order to accuse Him, they were watching Him closely to see whether He would heal him on the Sabbath.


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Then He said to them, <J>"Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?"</J> But they were silent.


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After looking around at them with anger and sorrow at the hardness of their hearts, He told the man, <J>"Stretch out your hand."</J> So he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.


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Immediately the Pharisees went out and started plotting with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.


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Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and around Tyre and Sidon. The great multitude came to Him because they heard about everything He was doing.


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Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, those possessed fell down before Him and cried out, "You are the Son of God!"


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and to James the son of Zebedee, and to his brother John, He gave the name "Boanerges" (that is, "Sons of Thunder");


text:
Andrew; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot,


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When His family heard this, they set out to restrain Him, because they said, "He's out of His mind."


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The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebul in Him!" and, "He drives out demons by the ruler of the demons!"


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<J>On the other hand, no one can enter a strong man's house and rob his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he will rob his house.</J>


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<J>I assure you: People will be forgiven for all sins and whatever blasphemies they may blaspheme.</J>


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<J>But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin"--</J>


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Then His mother and His brothers came, and standing outside, they sent [word] to Him and called Him.


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A crowd was sitting around Him and told Him, "Look, Your mother, Your brothers, and Your sisters are outside asking for You."


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And looking about at those who were sitting in a circle around Him, He said, <J>"Here are My mother and My brothers!</J>


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Again He began to teach by the sea, and a very large crowd gathered around Him. So He got into a boat on the sea and sat down, while the whole crowd was on the shore facing the sea.


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<J>Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn't have much soil, and it sprang up right away, since it didn't have deep soil.</J>


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<J>Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it didn't produce a crop.</J>


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<J>Still others fell on good ground and produced a crop that increased 30, 60, and 100 times [what was sown]."</J>


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<J>He answered them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been granted to you, but to those outside, everything comes in parables</J>


text:
<J>so that they may look and look, yet not perceive; they may listen and listen, yet not understand; otherwise, they might turn back-- and be forgiven."</J>


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Then He said to them: <J>"Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand any of the parables?</J>


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<J>These are the ones along the path where the word is sown: when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word sown in them.</J>


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<J>And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, immediately they receive it with joy.</J>


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<J>But they have no root in themselves; they are short-lived. When affliction or persecution comes because of the word, they immediately stumble.</J>


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<J>but the worries of this age, the seduction of wealth, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.</J>


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<J>But the ones sown on good ground are those who hear the word, welcome it, and produce a crop: 30, 60, and 100 times [what was sown]."</J>


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He also said to them, <J>"Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn't it to be put on a lampstand?</J>


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Then He said to them, <J>"Pay attention to what you hear. By the measure you use, it will be measured and added to you.</J>


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<J>For to the one who has, it will be given, and from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away."</J>


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<J>The soil produces a crop by itself-- first the blade, then the head, and then the ripe grain on the head.</J>


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And He said: <J>"How can we illustrate the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use to describe it?</J>


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<J>It's like a mustard seed that, when sown in the soil, is smaller than all the seeds on the ground.</J>


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<J>And when sown, it comes up and grows taller than all the vegetables, and produces large branches, so that the birds of the sky can nest in its shade."</J>


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And He did not speak to them without a parable. Privately, however, He would explain everything to His own disciples.


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On that day, when evening had come, He told them, <J>"Let's cross over to the other side [of the lake]."</J>


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So they left the crowd and took Him along since He was [already] in the boat. And other boats were with Him.


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A fierce windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped.


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But He was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him up and said to Him, "Teacher! Don't you care that we're going to die?"


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He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, <J>"Silence! Be still!"</J> The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.


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And they were terrified and asked one another, "Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey Him!"


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because he often had been bound with shackles and chains, but had snapped off the chains and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him.


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And always, night and day, he was crying out among the tombs and in the mountains and cutting himself with stones.


text:
And he cried out with a loud voice, "What do You have to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You before God, don't torment me!"


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<J>"What is your name?"</J> He asked him. "My name is Legion," he answered Him, "because we are many."


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And He gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs, and the herd of about 2,000 rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned there.


text:
The men who tended them ran off and reported it in the town and the countryside, and people went to see what had happened.


text:
They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been demon-possessed by the legion, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.


text:
The eyewitnesses described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and [told] about the pigs.


text:
As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed kept begging Him to be with Him.


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But He would not let him; instead, He told him, <J>"Go back home to your own people, and report to them how much the Lord has done for you and how He has had mercy on you."</J>


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So he went out and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and they were all amazed.


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When Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him while He was by the sea.


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and kept begging Him, "My little daughter is at death's door. Come and lay Your hands on her so she can get well and live."


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had endured much under many doctors. She had spent everything she had and was not helped at all. On the contrary, she became worse.


text:
Instantly her flow of blood ceased, and she sensed in her body that she was cured of her affliction.


text:
At once Jesus realized in Himself that power had gone out from Him. He turned around in the crowd and said, <J>"Who touched My robes?"</J>


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Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came with fear and trembling, fell down before Him, and told Him the whole truth.


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<J>"Daughter,"</J> He said to her, <J>"your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be free from your affliction."</J>


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While He was still speaking, people came from the synagogue leader's house and said, "Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher any more?"


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But when Jesus overheard what was said, He told the synagogue leader, <J>"Don't be afraid. Only believe."</J>


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He went in and said to them, <J>"Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep."</J>


text:
They started laughing at Him, but He put them all outside. He took the child's father, mother, and those who were with Him, and entered the place where the child was.


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Then He took the child by the hand and said to her, <J>"Talitha koum!"</J> (which is translated, <J>"Little girl, I say to you, get up!"</J>).


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Immediately the girl got up and began to walk. (She was 12 years old.) At this they were utterly astounded.


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Then He gave them strict orders that no one should know about this and said that she should be given something to eat.


text:
When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished. "Where did this man get these things?" they said. "What is this wisdom given to Him, and how are these miracles performed by His hands?


text:
Isn't this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And aren't His sisters here with us?" So they were offended by Him.


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Then Jesus said to them, <J>"A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his household."</J>


text:
So He was not able to do any miracles there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.


text:
He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out in pairs and gave them authority over unclean spirits.


text:
He instructed them <J>to take nothing for the road except a walking stick: no bread, no traveling bag, no money in their belts.</J>


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<J>If any place does not welcome you and people refuse to listen to you, when you leave there, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them."</J>


text:
King Herod heard of this, because Jesus' name had become well known. Some said, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that's why supernatural powers are at work in him."


text:
For Herod himself had given orders to arrest John and to chain him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom he had married.


text:
because Herod was in awe of John and was protecting him, knowing he was a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard him he would be very disturbed, yet would hear him gladly.


text:
Now an opportune time came on his birthday, when Herod gave a banquet for his nobles, military commanders, and the leading men of Galilee.


text:
When Herodias' own daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, "Ask me whatever you want, and I'll give it to you."


text:
Then she went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" "John the Baptist's head!" she said.


text:
Immediately she hurried to the king and said, "I want you to give me John the Baptist's head on a platter-- right now!"


text:
Though the king was deeply distressed, because of his oaths and the guests he did not want to refuse her.


text:
The king immediately sent for an executioner and commanded him to bring John's head. So he went and beheaded him in prison,


text:
He said to them, <J>"Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest a while."</J> For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.


text:
but many saw them leaving and recognized them. People ran there by land from all the towns and arrived ahead of them.


text:
So as He stepped ashore, He saw a huge crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then He began to teach them many things.


text:
When it was already late, His disciples approached Him and said, "This place is a wilderness, and it is already late!


text:
Send them away, so they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages to buy themselves something to eat."


text:
<J>"You give them something to eat,"</J> He responded. They said to Him, "Should we go and buy 200 denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?"


text:
And He asked them, <J>"How many loaves do you have? Go look."</J> When they found out they said, "Five, and two fish."


text:
Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke the loaves. He kept giving them to His disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.


text:
Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd.


text:
He saw them being battered as they rowed, because the wind was against them. Around three in the morning He came toward them walking on the sea and wanted to pass by them.


text:
for they all saw Him and were terrified. Immediately He spoke with them and said, <J>"Have courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."</J>


text:
They hurried throughout that vicinity and began to carry the sick on stretchers to wherever they heard He was.


text:
Wherever He would go, into villages, towns, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged Him that they might touch just the tassel of His robe. And everyone who touched it was made well.


text:
They observed that some of His disciples were eating their bread with unclean-- that is, unwashed-- hands.


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(For the Pharisees, in fact all the Jews, will not eat unless they wash their hands ritually, keeping the tradition of the elders.


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When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they have washed. And there are many other customs they have received and keep, like the washing of cups, jugs, copper utensils, and dining couches.)


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Then the Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, "Why don't Your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders, instead of eating bread with ritually unclean hands?"


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He answered them, <J>"Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: These people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.</J>


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He also said to them, <J>"You completely invalidate God's command in order to maintain your tradition!</J>


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<J>For Moses said: Honor your father and your mother; and, Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death.</J>


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<J>But you say, 'If a man tells his father or mother: Whatever benefit you might have received from me is Corban '" (that is, a gift [committed to the temple]),</J>


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<J>You revoke God's word by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many other similar things."</J>


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<J>Nothing that goes into a person from outside can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.</J>


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<J>And He said to them, "Are you also as lacking in understanding? Don't you realize that nothing going into a man from the outside can defile him?</J>


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<J>For it doesn't go into his heart but into the stomach and is eliminated." (As a result, He made all foods clean.)</J>


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<J>For from within, out of people's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders,</J>


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<J>adulteries, greed, evil actions, deceit, lewdness, stinginess, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness.</J>


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He got up and departed from there to the region of Tyre and Sidon. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it, but He could not escape notice.


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Instead, immediately after hearing about Him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit came and fell at His feet.


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Now the woman was Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to drive the demon out of her daughter.


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He said to her, <J>"Allow the children to be satisfied first, because it isn't right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."</J>


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Then He told her, <J>"Because of this reply, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter."</J>


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Again, leaving the region of Tyre, He went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the region of the Decapolis.


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They brought to Him a deaf man who also had a speech difficulty, and begged Jesus to lay His hand on him.


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So He took him away from the crowd privately. After putting His fingers in the man's ears and spitting, He touched his tongue.


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Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed deeply and said to him, <J>"Ephphatha!"</J> (that is, <J>"Be opened!"</J>).


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Then He ordered them to tell no one, but the more He would order them, the more they would proclaim it.


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They were extremely astonished and said, "He has done everything well! He even makes deaf people hear, and people unable to speak, talk!"


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In those days there was again a large crowd, and they had nothing to eat. He summoned the disciples and said to them,


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<J>I have compassion on the crowd, because they've already stayed with Me three days and have nothing to eat.</J>


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<J>If I send them home famished, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a long distance."</J>


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His disciples answered Him, "Where can anyone get enough bread here in this desolate place to fill these people?"


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Then He commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground. Taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks, broke the [loaves], and kept on giving [them] to His disciples to set before [the people]. So they served the [loaves] to the crowd.


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They also had a few small fish, and when He had blessed them, He said these were to be served as well.


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The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, demanding of Him a sign from heaven to test Him.


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But sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, <J>"Why does this generation demand a sign? I assure you: No sign will be given to this generation!"</J>


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Then he commanded them: <J>"Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod."</J>


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Aware of this, He said to them, <J>"Why are you discussing that you do not have any bread? Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Is your heart hardened?</J>


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<J>When I broke the five loaves for the 5,000, how many baskets full of pieces of bread did you collect?"</J> "Twelve," they told Him.


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<J>When I broke the seven loaves for the 4,000, how many large baskets full of pieces of bread did you collect?"</J> "Seven," they said.


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He took the blind man by the hand and brought him out of the village. Spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, <J>"Do you see anything?"</J>


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Again Jesus placed His hands on the man's eyes, and he saw distinctly. He was cured and could see everything clearly.


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Jesus went out with His disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the road He asked His disciples, <J>"Who do people say that I am?"</J>


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<J>"But you,"</J> He asked them again, <J>"who do you say that I am?" Peter answered Him, "You are the Messiah!"</J>


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Then He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, be killed, and rise after three days.


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But turning around and looking at His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, <J>"Get behind Me, Satan, because you're not thinking about God's concerns, but man's!"</J>


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Summoning the crowd along with His disciples, He said to them, <J>"If anyone wants to be My follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.</J>


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<J>For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me and the gospel will save it.</J>


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<J>For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."</J>


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Then He said to them, <J>"I assure you: There are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God come in power."</J>


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After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up on a high mountain by themselves to be alone. He was transformed in front of them,


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Then Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here! Let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"--


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A cloud appeared, overshadowing them, and a voice came from the cloud: This is My beloved Son; listen to Him!


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As they were coming down from the mountain, He ordered them to tell no one what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.


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<J>"Elijah does come first and restores everything,"</J> He replied. <J>"How then is it written about the Son of Man that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt?</J>


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<J>But I tell you that Elijah really has come, and they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it is written about him."</J>


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When they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes disputing with them.


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Out of the crowd, one man answered Him, "Teacher, I brought my son to You. He has a spirit that makes him unable to speak.


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Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I asked Your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn't."


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He replied to them, <J>"You unbelieving generation! How long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to Me."</J>


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So they brought him to Him. When the spirit saw Him, it immediately convulsed the boy. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.


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<J>"How long has this been happening to him?"</J> Jesus asked his father. "From childhood," he said.


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And many times it has thrown him into fire or water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."


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When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly coming together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, <J>"You mute and deaf spirit, I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!"</J>


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Then it came out, shrieking and convulsing him violently. The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, "He's dead."


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Then they left that place and made their way through Galilee, but He did not want anyone to know it.


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For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, <J>"The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and after He is killed, He will rise three days later."</J>


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Then they came to Capernaum. When He was in the house, He asked them, <J>"What were you arguing about on the way?"</J>


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But they were silent, because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest.


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Sitting down, He called the Twelve and said to them, <J>"If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all."</J>


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<J>"Whoever welcomes one little child such as this in My name welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me does not welcome Me, but Him who sent Me."</J>


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John said to Him, "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him because he wasn't following us."


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<J>"Don't stop him,"</J> said Jesus, <J>"because there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name who can soon afterwards speak evil of Me.</J>


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<J>And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of My name, since you belong to the Messiah-- I assure you: He will never lose his reward.</J>


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<J>But whoever causes the downfall of one of these little ones who believe in Me-- it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.</J>


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<J>And if your hand causes your downfall, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go to hell-- the unquenchable fire,</J>


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<J>And if your foot causes your downfall, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell-- [the unquenchable fire,</J>


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<J>And if your eye causes your downfall, gouge it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,</J>


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<J>Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its flavor, how can you make it salty? Have salt among yourselves and be at peace with one another."</J>


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He set out from there and went to the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Then crowds converged on Him again and, as He usually did, He began teaching them once more.


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Some Pharisees approached Him to test Him. They asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce [his] wife?"


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But Jesus told them, <J>"He wrote this commandment for you because of the hardness of your hearts.</J>


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And He said to them, <J>"Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.</J>


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Some people were bringing little children to Him so He might touch them, but His disciples rebuked them.


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When Jesus saw it, He was indignant and said to them, <J>"Let the little children come to Me. Don't stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.</J>


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<J>I assure you: Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."</J>


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As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"


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<J>You know the commandments: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not defraud; honor your father and mother."</J>


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Then, looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, <J>"You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me."</J>


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Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, <J>"How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!"</J>


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But the disciples were astonished at His words. Again Jesus said to them, <J>"Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!</J>


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


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Looking at them, Jesus said, <J>"With men it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God."</J>


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<J>"I assure you,"</J> Jesus said, <J>"there is no one who has left house, brothers or sisters, mother or father, children, or fields because of Me and the gospel,</J>


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<J>who will not receive 100 times more, now at this time-- houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions-- and eternal life in the age to come.</J>


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They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. They were astonished, but those who followed Him were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside again, He began to tell them the things that would happen to Him.


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<J>Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn Him to death. Then they will hand Him over to the Gentiles,</J>


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<J>and they will mock Him, spit on Him, flog Him, and kill Him, and He will rise after three days."</J>


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Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached Him and said, "Teacher, we want You to do something for us if we ask You."


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But Jesus said to them, <J>"You don't know what you're asking. Are you able to drink the cup I drink or to be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?"</J>


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"We are able," they told Him. Jesus said to them, <J>"You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with.</J>


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<J>But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to give; instead, it is for those it has been prepared for."</J>


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Jesus called them over and said to them, <J>"You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and their men of high positions exercise power over them.</J>


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<J>But it must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,</J>


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<J>For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life-- a ransom for many."</J>


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They came to Jericho. And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (the son of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was sitting by the road.


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When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out, "Son of David, Jesus, have mercy on me!"


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Many people told him to keep quiet, but he was crying out all the more, "Have mercy on me, Son of David!"


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Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called the blind man and said to him, "Have courage! Get up; He's calling for you."


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Then Jesus answered him, <J>"What do you want Me to do for you?"</J> "Rabbouni," the blind man told Him, "I want to see!"


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<J>"Go your way,"</J> Jesus told him. <J>"Your faith has healed you."</J> Immediately he could see and began to follow Him on the road.


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When they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples


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and told them, <J>"Go into the village ahead of you. As soon as you enter it, you will find a young donkey tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here</J>.


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<J>If anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here right away.'"</J>


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Then those who went ahead and those who followed kept shouting: Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!


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And He went into Jerusalem and into the temple complex. After looking around at everything, since it was already late, He went out to Bethany with the Twelve.


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After seeing in the distance a fig tree with leaves, He went to find out if there was anything on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.


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They came to Jerusalem, and He went into the temple complex and began to throw out those buying and selling in the temple. He overturned the money changers' tables and the chairs of those selling doves,


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Then He began to teach them: <J>"Is it not written, My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of thieves!"</J>


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Then the chief priests and the scribes heard it and started looking for a way to destroy Him. For they were afraid of Him, because the whole crowd was astonished by His teaching.


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<J>I assure you: If anyone says to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.</J>


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<J>Therefore, I tell you, all the things you pray and ask for-- believe that you have received them, and you will have them.</J>


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<J>And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your wrongdoing.</J>


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They came again to Jerusalem. As He was walking in the temple complex, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came and asked Him,


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Jesus said to them, <J>"I will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.</J>


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They began to argue among themselves: "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Then why didn't you believe him?'


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But if we say, 'From men' "-- they were afraid of the crowd, because everyone thought that John was a genuine prophet.


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So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." And Jesus said to them, <J>"Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."</J>


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Then He began to speak to them in parables: <J>"A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug out a pit for a winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went away.</J>


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<J>At harvest time he sent a slave to the farmers to collect some of the fruit of the vineyard from the farmers.</J>


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<J>Again he sent another slave to them, and they hit him on the head and treated him shamefully.</J>


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<J>Then he sent another, and they killed that one. [He] also [sent] many others; they beat some and they killed some.</J>


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<J>He still had one to send, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'</J>


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<J>But those tenant farmers said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours!'</J>


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<J>Therefore, what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the farmers and give the vineyard to others.</J>


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<J>Haven't you read this Scripture: The stone that the builders rejected-- this has become the cornerstone.</J>


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Because they knew He had said this parable against them, they were looking for a way to arrest Him, but they were afraid of the crowd. So they left Him and went away.


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When they came, they said to Him, "Teacher, we know You are truthful and defer to no one, for You don't show partiality but teach truthfully the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?


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Should we pay, or should we not pay?" But knowing their hypocrisy, He said to them, <J>"Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at."</J>


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So they brought one. <J>"Whose image and inscription is this?"</J> He asked them. "Caesar's," they said.


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Then Jesus told them, <J>"Give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were amazed at Him.</J>


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Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, leaves his wife behind, and leaves no child, his brother should take the wife and produce offspring for his brother.


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Jesus told them, <J>"Are you not deceived because you don't know the Scriptures or the power of God?</J>


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<J>For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels in heaven.</J>


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<J>Now concerning the dead being raised-- haven't you read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him: I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob?</J>


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One of the scribes approached. When he heard them debating and saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked Him, "Which commandment is the most important of all?"


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This is the most important," Jesus answered: <J>Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, The Lord is One.</J>


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<J>Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.</J>


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<J>The second is: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these."</J>


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Then the scribe said to Him, "You are right, Teacher! You have correctly said that He is One, and there is no one else except Him.


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And to love Him with all your heart, with all your understanding, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is far more [important] than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices."


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<J>When Jesus saw that he answered intelligently, He said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And no one dared to question Him any longer.</J>


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<J>So Jesus asked this question as He taught in the temple complex, "How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the Son of David?</J>


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<J>David himself says by the Holy Spirit: The Lord declared to my Lord, 'Sit at My right hand until I put Your enemies under Your feet.'</J>


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<J>David himself calls Him 'Lord'; how then can the Messiah be his Son?"</J> And the large crowd was listening to Him with delight.


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He also said in His teaching, <J>"Beware of the scribes, who want to go around in long robes, and who want greetings in the marketplaces,</J>


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<J>They devour widows' houses and say long prayers just for show. These will receive harsher punishment."</J>


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Sitting across from the temple treasury, He watched how the crowd dropped money into the treasury. Many rich people were putting in large sums.


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Summoning His disciples, He said to them, <J>"I assure you: This poor widow has put in more than all those giving to the temple treasury.</J>


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<J>For they all gave out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she possessed-- all she had to live on."</J>


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As He was going out of the temple complex, one of His disciples said to Him, "Teacher, look! What massive stones! What impressive buildings!"


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Jesus said to him,<J> "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down!"</J>


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While He was sitting on the Mount of Olives across from the temple complex, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately,


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Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when all these things are about to take place?"


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<J>When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don't be alarmed; these things must take place, but the end is not yet.</J>


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<J>For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.</J>


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<J>But you, be on your guard! They will hand you over to sanhedrins, and you will be flogged in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of Me, as a witness to them.</J>


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<J>So when they arrest you and hand you over, don't worry beforehand what you will say. On the contrary, whatever is given to you in that hour-- say it. For it isn't you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.</J>


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<J>Then brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and put them to death.</J>


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<J>And you will be hated by everyone because of My name. But the one who endures to the end will be delivered.</J>


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<J>When you see the abomination that causes desolation standing where it should not" (let the reader understand), "then those in Judea must flee to the mountains!</J>


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<J>For those will be days of tribulation, the kind that hasn't been from the beginning of the world, which God created, until now and never will be again!</J>


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<J>Unless the Lord limited those days, no one would survive. But He limited those days because of the elect, whom He chose.</J>


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<J>For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and will perform signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, the elect.</J>


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<J>But in those days, after that tribulation: The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light;</J>


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<J>He will send out the angels and gather His elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.</J>


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<J>Learn this parable from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.</J>


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<J>Now concerning that day or hour no one knows-- neither the angels in heaven nor the Son-- except the Father.</J>


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<J>It is like a man on a journey, who left his house, gave authority to his slaves, gave each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to be alert.</J>


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<J>Therefore be alert, since you don't know when the master of the house is coming-- whether in the evening or at midnight or at the crowing of the rooster or early in the morning.</J>


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After two days it was the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a treacherous way to arrest and kill Him.


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While He was in Bethany at the house of Simon who had a serious skin disease, as He was reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of pure and expensive fragrant oil of nard. She broke the jar and poured it on His head.


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For this oil might have been sold for more than 300 denarii and given to the poor." And they began to scold her.


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Then Jesus said, <J>"Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a noble thing for Me.</J>


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<J>You always have the poor with you, and you can do good for them whenever you want, but you do not always have Me.</J>


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<J>I assure you: Wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her."</J>


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And when they heard this, they were glad and promised to give him silver. So he started looking for a good opportunity to betray Him.


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On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrifice the Passover lamb, His disciples asked Him, "Where do You want us to go and prepare the Passover so You may eat it?"


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So He sent two of His disciples and told them, <J>"Go into the city, and a man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him.</J>


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<J>Wherever he enters, tell the owner of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is the guest room for Me to eat the Passover with My disciples?"'</J>


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<J>He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there."</J>


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So the disciples went out, entered the city, and found it just as He had told them, and they prepared the Passover.


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While they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, <J>"I assure you: One of you will betray Me-- one who is eating with Me!"</J>


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He said to them, <J>"[It is] one of the Twelve-- the one who is dipping [bread] with Me in the bowl.</J>


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<J>For the Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born."</J>


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As they were eating, He took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to them, and said, <J>"Take [it]; this is My body."</J>


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<J>I assure you: I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it in a new way in the kingdom of God."</J>


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Then Jesus said to them, <J>"All of you will run away, because it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.</J>


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<J>"I assure you,"</J> Jesus said to him, <J>"today, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times!"</J>


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But he kept insisting, "If I have to die with You, I will never deny You!" And they all said the same thing.


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Then they came to a place named Gethsemane, and He told His disciples, <J>"Sit here while I pray."</J>


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Then He said to them, <J>"My soul is swallowed up in sorrow-- to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake."</J>


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Then He went a little farther, fell to the ground, and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him.


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And He said, <J>"Abba, Father! All things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will."</J>


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Then He came and found them sleeping. <J>"Simon, are you sleeping?"</J> He asked Peter. <J>"Couldn't you stay awake one hour?</J>


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<J>Stay awake and pray so that you won't enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."</J>


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And He came again and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open. They did not know what to say to Him.


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Then He came a third time and said to them, <J>"Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The time has come. Look, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.</J>


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While He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived. With him was a mob, with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders.


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His betrayer had given them a signal. "The One I kiss," he said, "He's the One; arrest Him and take Him away under guard."


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But Jesus said to them, <J>"Have you come out with swords and clubs, as though I were a criminal, to capture Me?</J>


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<J>Every day I was among you, teaching in the temple complex, and you didn't arrest Me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled."</J>


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Now a certain young man, having a linen cloth wrapped around his naked body, was following Him. They caught hold of him,


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They led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes convened.


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Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the high priest's courtyard. He was sitting with the temple police, warming himself by the fire.


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The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but they could find none.


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We heard Him say, <J>'I will demolish this sanctuary made by [human] hands, and in three days I will build another not made by hands.'</J>"


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Then the high priest stood up before them all and questioned Jesus, "Don't You have an answer to what these men are testifying against You?"


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But He kept silent and did not answer anything. Again the high priest questioned Him, "Are You the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?"


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<J>"I am,"</J> said Jesus, <J>"and all of you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven."</J>


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You have heard the blasphemy! What is your decision?" And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.


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Then some began to spit on Him, to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, saying, "Prophesy!" Even the temple police took Him and slapped Him.


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When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, "You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus."


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But he denied it: "I don't know or understand what you're talking about!" Then he went out to the entryway, and a rooster crowed.


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But again he denied it. After a little while those standing there said to Peter again, "You certainly are one of them, since you're also a Galilean!"


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Immediately a rooster crowed a second time, and Peter remembered when Jesus had spoken the word to him, <J>"Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times."</J> When he thought about it, he began to weep.


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As soon as it was morning, the chief priests had a meeting with the elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin. After tying Jesus up, they led Him away and handed Him over to Pilate.


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Then Pilate questioned Him again, "Are You not answering anything? Look how many things they are accusing You of!"


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There was one named Barabbas, who was in prison with rebels who had committed murder during the rebellion.


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Pilate asked them again, "Then what do you want me to do with the One you call the King of the Jews?"


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Then Pilate said to them, "Why? What has He done wrong?" But they shouted, "Crucify Him!" all the more.


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Then, willing to gratify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. And after having Jesus flogged, he handed Him over to be crucified.


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Then the soldiers led Him away into the courtyard (that is, headquarters) and called the whole company together.


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They kept hitting Him on the head with a reed and spitting on Him. Getting down on their knees, they were paying Him homage.


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When they had mocked Him, they stripped Him of the purple robe, put His clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.


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They forced a man coming in from the country, who was passing by, to carry Jesus' cross. He was Simon, a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus.


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Then they crucified Him and divided His clothes, casting lots for them to decide what each would get.


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Those who passed by were yelling insults at Him, shaking their heads, and saying, "Ha! The One who would demolish the sanctuary and build it in three days,


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In the same way, the chief priests with the scribes were mocking Him to one another and saying, "He saved others; He cannot save Himself!


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Let the Messiah, 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 taunting Him.


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And at three Jesus cried out with a loud voice, <J>"Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?"</J> which is translated, <J>"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"</J>


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Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, fixed it on a reed, offered Him a drink, and said, "Let's see if Elijah comes to take Him down!"


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When the centurion, who was standing opposite Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, "This man really was God's Son!"


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There were also women looking on from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.


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When He was in Galilee, they would follow Him and help Him. Many other women had come up with Him to Jerusalem.


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Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Sanhedrin who was himself looking forward to the kingdom of God, came and boldly went in to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body.


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Pilate was surprised that He was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him whether He had already died.


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After he bought some fine linen, he took Him down and wrapped Him in the linen. Then he placed Him in a tomb cut out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb.


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When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so they could go and anoint Him.


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They were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone from the entrance to the tomb for us?"


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When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; they were amazed and alarmed.


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Don't be alarmed," he told them. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has been resurrected! He is not here! See the place where they put Him.


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But go, tell His disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there just as He told you.'"


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So they went out and started running from the tomb, because trembling and astonishment overwhelmed them. And they said nothing to anyone, since they were afraid.


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[Early on the first day of the week, after He had risen, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had driven seven demons.


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Then after this, He appeared in a different form to two of them walking on their way into the country.


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Later, He appeared to the Eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table. He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who saw Him after He had been resurrected.


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<J>Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.</J>


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<J>And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages;</J>


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<J>they will pick up snakes; if they should drink anything deadly, it will never harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well."</J>


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Then after speaking to them, the Lord Jesus was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.


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And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the accompanying signs.]


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It also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus,


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In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah's division named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.


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Both were righteous in God's sight, living without blame according to all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.


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But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years.


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it happened that he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense.


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


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For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother's womb.


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And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.


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How can I know this?" Zechariah asked the angel. "For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years."


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The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news.


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Now listen! You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."


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When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept making signs to them and remained speechless.


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After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said,


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The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people."


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He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.


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The angel replied to her: The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.


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And consider your relative Elizabeth-- even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren.


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I am the Lord's slave," said Mary. "May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel left her.


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When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.


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Then she exclaimed with a loud cry: You are the most blessed of women, and your child will be blessed!


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because He has looked with favor on the humble condition of His slave. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed,


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He has done a mighty deed with His arm; He has scattered the proud because of the thoughts of their hearts;


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Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her His great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.


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When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day, they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father.


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Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea.


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All who heard about [him] took [it] to heart, saying, "What then will this child become?" For, indeed, the Lord's hand was with him.


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And child, you will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways,


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to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.


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The child grew up and became spiritually strong, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.


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


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Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough-- because there was no room for them at the inn.


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In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock.


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Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.


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But the angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:


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When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."


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The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.


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When the eight days were completed for His circumcision, He was named JESUS-- the name given by the angel before He was conceived.


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And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord


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and to offer a sacrifice (according to what is stated in the law of the Lord: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons).


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There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel's consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him.


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It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord's Messiah.


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Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple complex. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for Him what was customary under the law,


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Then Simeon blessed them and told His mother Mary: "Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed--


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There was also a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,


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and was a widow for 84 years. She did not leave the temple complex, serving God night and day with fastings and prayers.


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At that very moment, she came up and began to thank God and to speak about Him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.


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When they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.


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After those days were over, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but His parents did not know it.


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Assuming He was in the traveling party, they went a day's journey. Then they began looking for Him among their relatives and friends.


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After three days, they found Him in the temple complex sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.


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When His parents saw Him, they were astonished, and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You."


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<J>"Why were you searching for Me?"</J> He asked them. <J>"Didn't you know that I had to be in my Father's house?"</J>


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Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them. His mother kept all these things in her heart.


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In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,


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during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, God's word came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.


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He went into all the vicinity of the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,


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as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way for the Lord; make His paths straight!


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Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be made low; the crooked will become straight, the rough ways smooth,


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He then said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?


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Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. And don't start saying to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones!


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Even now the ax is ready to strike the root of the trees! Therefore every tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."


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He replied to them, "The one who has two shirts must share with someone who has none, and the one who has food must do the same."


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Some soldiers also questioned him: "What should we do?" He said to them, "Don't take money from anyone by force or false accusation; be satisfied with your wages."


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Now the people were waiting expectantly, and all of them were debating in their minds whether John might be the Messiah.


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John answered them all, "I baptize you with water, but One is coming who is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to untie the strap of His sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.


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His winnowing shovel is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and gather the wheat into His barn, but the chaff He will burn up with a fire that never goes out."


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But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him about Herodias, his brother's wife, and about all the evil things Herod had done,


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and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a physical appearance like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: You are My beloved Son. I take delight in You!


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As He began [His ministry], Jesus was about 30 years old and was thought to be the son of Joseph, [son] of Heli,


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


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for 40 days to be tempted by the Devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over, He was hungry.


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The Devil said to Him, "I will give You their splendor and all this authority, because it has been given over to me, and I can give it to anyone I want.


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So he took Him to Jerusalem, had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here.


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Then Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread throughout the entire vicinity.


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He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As usual, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read.


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The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to Him, and unrolling the scroll, He found the place where it was written:


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<J>The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed,</J>


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He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him.


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They were all speaking well of Him and were amazed by the gracious words that came from His mouth, yet they said, "Isn't this Joseph's son?"


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Then He said to them, <J>"No doubt you will quote this proverb to Me: 'Doctor, heal yourself.' 'All we've heard that took place in Capernaum, do here in Your hometown also.'"</J>


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<J>But I say to you, there were certainly many widows in Israel in Elijah's days, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months while a great famine came over all the land.</J>


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<J>And in the prophet Elisha's time, there were many in Israel who had serious skin diseases, yet not one of them was healed-- only Naaman the Syrian."</J>


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They got up, drove Him out of town, and brought Him to the edge of the hill their town was built on, intending to hurl Him over the cliff.


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Leave us alone! What do You have to do with us, Jesus-- Nazarene? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are-- the Holy One of God!"


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But Jesus rebuked him and said, <J>"Be quiet and come out of him!"</J> And throwing him down before them, the demon came out of him without hurting him at all.


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They were all struck with amazement and kept saying to one another, "What is this message? For He commands the unclean spirits with authority and power, and they come out!"


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After He left the synagogue, He entered Simon's house. Simon's mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Him about her.


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So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and began to serve them.


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When the sun was setting, all those who had anyone sick with various diseases brought them to Him. As He laid His hands on each one of them, He would heal them.


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Also, demons were coming out of many, shouting and saying, "You are the Son of God!" But He rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew He was the Messiah.


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When it was day, He went out and made His way to a deserted place. But the crowds were searching for Him. They came to Him and tried to keep Him from leaving them.


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But He said to them, <J>"I must proclaim the good news about the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because I was sent for this purpose."</J>


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He got into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the land. Then He sat down and was teaching the crowds from the boat.


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When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch."


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Master," Simon replied, "we've worked hard all night long and caught nothing! But at Your word, I'll let down the nets."


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So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.


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When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, because I'm a sinful man, Lord!"


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and so were James and John, Zebedee's sons, who were Simon's partners. <J>"Don't be afraid,"</J> Jesus told Simon. <J>"From now on you will be catching people!"</J>


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While He was in one of the towns, a man was there who had a serious skin disease all over him. He saw Jesus, fell facedown, and begged Him: "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."


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Reaching out His hand, He touched him, saying, "I am willing; be made clean," and immediately the disease left him.


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Then He ordered him to tell no one: <J>"But go and show yourself to the priest, and offer what Moses prescribed for your cleansing as a testimony to them."</J>


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But the news about Him spread even more, and large crowds would come together to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses.


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On one of those days while He was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea, and also from Jerusalem. And the Lord's power to heal was in Him.


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Just then some men came, carrying on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed. They tried to bring him in and set him down before Him.


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Since they could not find a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the roof tiles into the middle of the crowd before Jesus.


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Then the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason: "Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"


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But perceiving their thoughts, Jesus replied to them, <J>"Why are you reasoning this in your hearts?</J>


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<J>But so you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"</J>-- He told the paralyzed man, <J>"I tell you: get up, pick up your stretcher, and go home."</J>


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Immediately he got up before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God.


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Then everyone was astounded, and they were giving glory to God. And they were filled with awe and said, "We have seen incredible things today!"


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After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and He said to him, <J>"Follow Me!"</J>


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Then Levi hosted a grand banquet for Him at his house. Now there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others who were guests with them.


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But the Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to His disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"


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Then they said to Him, "John's disciples fast often and say prayers, and those of the Pharisees do the same, but Yours eat and drink."


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Jesus said to them, <J>"You can't make the wedding guests fast while the groom is with them, can you?</J>


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<J>But the days will come when the groom will be taken away from them-- then they will fast in those days."</J>


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He also told them a parable: <J>"No one tears a patch from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. Otherwise, not only will he tear the new, but also the piece from the new garment will not match the old.</J>


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<J>And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, it will spill, and the skins will be ruined.</J>


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On a Sabbath, He passed through the grainfields. His disciples were picking heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them.


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Jesus answered them, <J>"Haven't you read what David and those who were with him did when he was hungry--</J>


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<J>how he entered the house of God, and took and ate the sacred bread, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat? He even gave some to those who were with him."</J>


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On another Sabbath He entered the synagogue and was teaching. A man was there whose right hand was paralyzed.


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The scribes and Pharisees were watching Him closely, to see if He would heal on the Sabbath, so that they could find a charge against Him.


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But He knew their thoughts and told the man with the paralyzed hand, <J>"Get up and stand here."</J> So he got up and stood there.


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Then Jesus said to them, <J>"I ask you: is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?"</J>


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After looking around at them all, He told him, <J>"Stretch out your hand."</J> He did so, and his hand was restored.


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They, however, were filled with rage and started discussing with one another what they might do to Jesus.


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When daylight came, He summoned His disciples, and He chose 12 of them-- He also named them apostles:


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After coming down with them, He stood on a level place with a large crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon.


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They came to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases; and those tormented by unclean spirits were made well.


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The whole crowd was trying to touch Him, because power was coming out from Him and healing them all.


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Then looking up at His disciples, He said: <J>Blessed are you who are poor, because the kingdom of God is yours.</J>


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<J>Blessed are you who are hungry now, because you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, because you will laugh.</J>


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<J>Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you, insult you, and slander your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.</J>


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<J>Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! Take note-- your reward is great in heaven, because this is the way their ancestors used to treat the prophets.</J>


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<J>Woe to you who are full now, because you will be hungry. Woe to you who are laughing now, because you will mourn and weep.</J>


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<J>Woe to you when all people speak well of you, because this is the way their ancestors used to treat the false prophets.</J>


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<J>If anyone hits you on the cheek, offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don't hold back your shirt either.</J>


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<J>Give to everyone who asks from you, and from one who takes away your things, don't ask for them back.</J>


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<J>If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.</J>


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<J>If you do [what is] good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.</J>


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<J>And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full.</J>


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<J>But love your enemies, do [what is] good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is gracious to the ungrateful and evil.</J>


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<J>Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.</J>


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<J>Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure-- pressed down, shaken together, and running over-- will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you."</J>


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He also told them a parable: <J>"Can the blind guide the blind? Won't they both fall into a pit?</J>


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<J>A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.</J>


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<J>Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but don't notice the log in your own eye?</J>


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<J>Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself don't see the log in your eye? Hypocrite! First take the log out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck in your brother's eye.</J>


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<J>A good tree doesn't produce bad fruit; on the other hand, a bad tree doesn't produce good fruit.</J>


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<J>For each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs aren't gathered from thornbushes, or grapes picked from a bramble bush.</J>


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<J>A good man produces good out of the good storeroom of his heart. An evil man produces evil out of the evil storeroom, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.</J>


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<J>He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the river crashed against that house and couldn't shake it, because it was well built.</J>


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<J>But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The river crashed against it, and immediately it collapsed. And the destruction of that house was great!"</J>


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When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to Him, requesting Him to come and save the life of his slave.


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When they reached Jesus, they pleaded with Him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy for You to grant this,


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Jesus went with them, and when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell Him, "Lord, don't trouble Yourself, since I am not worthy to have You come under my roof.


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That is why I didn't even consider myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be cured.


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For I too am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under my command. I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes; and to another, 'Come!' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does it."


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Jesus heard this and was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following Him, He said, <J>"I tell you, I have not found so great a faith even in Israel!"</J>


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Soon afterwards He was on His way to a town called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd were traveling with Him.


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Just as He neared the gate of the town, a dead man was being carried out. He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was also with her.


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Then He came up and touched the open coffin, and the pallbearers stopped. And He said, <J>"Young man, I tell you, get up!"</J>


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Then fear came over everyone, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen among us," and "God has visited His people."


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and sent them to the Lord, asking, "Are You the One who is to come, or should we look for someone else?"


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When the men reached Him, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to ask You, 'Are You the One who is to come, or should we look for someone else?'"


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At that time Jesus healed many people of diseases, plagues, and evil spirits, and He granted sight to many blind people.


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He replied to them, <J>"Go and report to John the things you have seen and heard: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with skin diseases are healed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news preached to them.</J>


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After John's messengers left, He began to speak to the crowds about John: <J>"What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?</J>


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<J>What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft robes? Look, those who are splendidly dressed and live in luxury are in royal palaces.</J>


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<J>I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John, but the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."</J>


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(And when all the people, including the tax collectors, heard this, they acknowledged God's way of righteousness, because they had been baptized with John's baptism.


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But since the Pharisees and experts in the law had not been baptized by him, they rejected the plan of God for themselves.)


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<J>They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to each other: We played the flute for you, but you didn't dance; we sang a lament, but you didn't weep!</J>


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<J>For John the Baptist did not come eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon!'</J>


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<J>The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'</J>


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Then one of the Pharisees invited Him to eat with him. He entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table.


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And a woman in the town who was a sinner found out that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house. She brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil


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and stood behind Him at His feet, weeping, and began to wash His feet with her tears. She wiped His feet with the hair of her head, kissing them and anointing them with the fragrant oil.


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When the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching Him-- she's a sinner!"


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<J>Since they could not pay it back, he graciously forgave them both. So, which of them will love him more?"</J>


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Turning to the woman, He said to Simon, <J>"Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she, with her tears, has washed My feet and wiped them with her hair.</J>


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<J>Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that's why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little."</J>


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Those who were at the table with Him began to say among themselves, "Who is this man who even forgives sins?"


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Soon afterwards He was traveling from one town and village to another, preaching and telling the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with Him,


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and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary, called Magdalene (seven demons had come out of her);


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Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward; Susanna; and many others who were supporting them from their possessions.


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As a large crowd was gathering, and people were flocking to Him from every town, He said in a parable:


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<J>A sower went out to sow his seed. As he was sowing, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the sky ate it up.</J>


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<J>Still other seed fell on good ground; when it sprang up, it produced a crop: 100 times [what was sown]."</J> As He said this, He called out, <J>"Anyone who has ears to hear should listen!"</J>


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<J>So He said, "The secrets of the kingdom of God have been given for you to know, but to the rest it is in parables, so that Looking they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.</J>


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<J>The seeds along the path are those who have heard. Then the Devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.</J>


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<J>And the seeds on the rock are those who, when they hear, welcome the word with joy. Having no root, these believe for a while and depart in a time of testing.</J>


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<J>As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, and produce no mature fruit.</J>


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<J>But the seed in the good ground-- these are the ones who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring, bear fruit.</J>


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<J>No one, after lighting a lamp, covers it with a basket or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in may see the light.</J>


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<J>For nothing is concealed that won't be revealed, and nothing hidden that won't be made known and come to light.</J>


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<J>Therefore, take care how you listen. For whoever has, more will be given to him; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him."</J>


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But He replied to them, <J>"My mother and My brothers are those who hear and do the word of God."</J>


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One day He and His disciples got into a boat, and He told them, <J>"Let's cross over to the other side of the lake."</J> So they set out,


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and as they were sailing He fell asleep. Then a fierce windstorm came down on the lake; they were being swamped and were in danger.


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They came and woke Him up, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to die!" Then He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves. So they ceased, and there was a calm.


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He said to them, <J>"Where is your faith?"</J> They were fearful and amazed, asking one another, "Who can this be? He commands even the winds and the waves, and they obey Him!"


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When He got out on land, a demon-possessed man from the town met Him. For a long time he had worn no clothes and did not stay in a house but in the tombs.


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


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For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and although he was guarded, bound by chains and shackles, he would snap the restraints and be driven by the demon into deserted places.


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<J>"What is your name?"</J> Jesus asked him. "Legion," he said-- because many demons had entered him.


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A large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside. The demons begged Him to permit them to enter the pigs, and He gave them permission.


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The demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.


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When the men who tended them saw what had happened, they ran off and reported it in the town and in the countryside.


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


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Then all the people of the Gerasene region asked Him to leave them, because they were gripped by great fear. So getting into the boat, He returned.


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The man from whom the demons had departed kept begging Him to be with Him. But He sent him away and said,


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<J>"Go back to your home, and tell all that God has done for you."</J> And off he went, proclaiming throughout the town all that Jesus had done for him.


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Just then, a man named Jairus came. He was a leader of the synagogue. He fell down at Jesus' feet and pleaded with Him to come to his house,


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because he had an only daughter about 12 years old, and she was at death's door. While He was going, the crowds were nearly crushing Him.


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A woman suffering from bleeding for 12 years, who had spent all she had on doctors yet could not be healed by any,


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<J>"Who touched Me?"</J> Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the crowds are hemming You in and pressing against You."


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When the woman saw that she was discovered, she came trembling and fell down before Him. In the presence of all the people, she declared the reason she had touched Him and how she was instantly cured.


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While He was still speaking, someone came from the synagogue leader's [house], saying, "Your daughter is dead. Don't bother the Teacher anymore."


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When Jesus heard it, He answered him, <J>"Don't be afraid. Only believe, and she will be made well."</J>


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After He came to the house, He let no one enter with Him except Peter, John, James, and the child's father and mother.


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Everyone was crying and mourning for her. But He said, <J>"Stop crying, for she is not dead but asleep."</J>


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Her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then He gave orders that she be given something to eat.


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Summoning the Twelve, He gave them power and authority over all the demons, and [power] to heal diseases.


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<J>"Take nothing for the road,"</J> He told them, <J>"no walking stick, no traveling bag, no bread, no money; and don't take an extra shirt.</J>


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<J>If they do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them."</J>


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So they went out and traveled from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing everywhere.


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Herod the tetrarch heard about everything that was going on. He was perplexed, because some said that John had been raised from the dead,


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When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus all that they had done. He took them along and withdrew privately to a town called Bethsaida.


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When the crowds found out, they followed Him. He welcomed them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and cured those who needed healing.


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Late in the day, the Twelve approached and said to Him, "Send the crowd away, so they can go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find food and lodging, because we are in a deserted place here."


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<J>"You give them something to eat,"</J> He told them. "We have no more than five loaves and two fish," they said, "unless we go and buy food for all these people."


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(For about 5,000 men were there.) Then He told His disciples, <J>"Have them sit down in groups of about 50 each."</J>


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


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While He was praying in private and His disciples were with Him, He asked them, <J>"Who do the crowds say that I am?"</J>


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They answered, "John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, that one of the ancient prophets has come back."


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<J>"But you,"</J> He asked them, <J>"who do you say that I am?"</J> Peter answered, "God's Messiah!"


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


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Then He said to [them] all, <J>"If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.</J>


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<J>For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will save it.</J>


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


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<J>I tell you the truth: there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God."</J>


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About eight days after these words, He took along Peter, John, and James, and went up on the mountain to pray.


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They appeared in glory and were speaking of His death, which He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem.


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Peter and those with him were in a deep sleep, and when they became fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who were standing with Him.


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As the two men were departing from Him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it's good for us to be here! Let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"-- not knowing what he said.


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While he was saying this, a cloud appeared and overshadowed them. They became afraid as they entered the cloud.


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After the voice had spoken, only Jesus was found. They kept silent, and in those days told no one what they had seen.


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Just then a man from the crowd cried out, "Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, because he's my only [child].


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Often a spirit seizes him; suddenly he shrieks, and it throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth; wounding him, it hardly ever leaves him.


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Jesus replied, </J>"You unbelieving and rebellious generation! How long will I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here."</J>


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As the boy was still approaching, the demon knocked him down and threw him into severe convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, cured the boy, and gave him back to his father.


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And they were all astonished at the greatness of God. While everyone was amazed at all the things He was doing, He told His disciples,


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But they did not understand this statement; it was concealed from them so that they could not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.


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He told them, <J>"Whoever welcomes this little child in My name welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me welcomes Him who sent Me. For whoever is least among you-- this one is great."</J>


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John responded, "Master, we saw someone driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him because he does not follow us."


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He sent messengers ahead of Him, and on the way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make preparations for Him.


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When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?"


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Jesus told him, <J>"Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head."</J>


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But He told him, <J>"Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God."</J>


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Another also said, "I will follow You, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to those at my house."


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But Jesus said to him, <J>"No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."</J>


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After this, the Lord appointed 70 others, and He sent them ahead of Him in pairs to every town and place where He Himself was about to go.


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He told them: <J>"The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.</J>


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<J>Remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they offer, for the worker is worthy of his wages. Don't be moving from house to house.</J>


text:
<J>'We are wiping off [as a witness] against you even the dust of your town that clings to our feet. Know this for certain: the kingdom of God has come near.'</J>


text:
<J>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!</J>


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<J>Whoever listens to you listens to Me. Whoever rejects you rejects Me. And whoever rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me."</J>


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<J>Look, I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; nothing will ever harm you.</J>


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<J>However, don't rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."</J>


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In that same hour He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, <J>"I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and the learned and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, because this was Your good pleasure.</J>


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<J>All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son desires to reveal Him."</J>


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Then turning to His disciples He said privately, <J>"The eyes that see the things you see are blessed!</J>


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<J>For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see the things you see yet didn't see them; to hear the things you hear yet didn't hear them."</J>


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Just then an expert in the law stood up to test Him, saying, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"


text:
He answered: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.


text:
Jesus took up [the question] and said: <J>"A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead.</J>


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<J>A priest happened to be going down that road. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side.</J>


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<J>In the same way, a Levite, when he arrived at the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.</J>


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<J>He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.</J>


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<J>The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him. When I come back I'll reimburse you for whatever extra you spend.'</J>


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<J>Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?"</J>


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While they were traveling, He entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.


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But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, "Lord, don't You care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand."


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<J>but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her."</J>


text:
He was praying in a certain place, and when He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples."


text:
He said to them, <J>"Whenever you pray, say: Father, Your name be honored as holy. Your kingdom come.</J>


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<J>And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone in debt to us. And do not bring us into temptation."</J>


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<J>He also said to them: "Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him at midnight and says to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,</J>


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<J>because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I don't have anything to offer him.'</J>


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<J>Then he will answer from inside and say, 'Don't bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I have gone to bed. I can't get up to give you anything.'</J>


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<J>I tell you, even though he won't get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.</J>


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<J>So I say to you, keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you.</J>


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<J>If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?"</J>


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Now He was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon came out, the man who had been mute, spoke, and the crowds were amazed.


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Knowing their thoughts, He told them: <J>"Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction, and a house divided against itself falls.</J>


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<J>If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say I drive out demons by Beelzebul.</J>


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<J>But when one stronger than he attacks and overpowers him, he takes from him all his weapons he trusted in, and divides up his plunder.</J>


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<J>When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it roams through waterless places looking for rest, and not finding rest, it then says, 'I'll go back to my house where I came from.'</J>


text:
<J>Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there. As a result, that man's last condition is worse than the first."</J>


text:
As He was saying these things, a woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, "The womb that bore You and the one who nursed You are blessed!"


text:
As the crowds were increasing, He began saying: <J>"This generation is an evil generation. It demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.</J>


text:
<J>For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation.</J>


text:
<J>The queen of the south will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and look-- something greater than Solomon is here!</J>


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<J>The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at Jonah's proclamation, and look-- something greater than Jonah is here!</J>


text:
<J>No one lights a lamp and puts it in the cellar or under a basket, but on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see its light.</J>


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<J>Your eye is the lamp of the body. When your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light. But when it is bad, your body is also full of darkness.</J>


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<J>If therefore your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, the whole body will be full of light, as when a lamp shines its light on you."</J>


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When the Pharisee saw this, he was amazed that He did not first perform the ritual washing before dinner.


text:
But the Lord said to him: <J>"Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and evil.</J>


text:
<J>But woe to you Pharisees! You give a tenth of mint, rue, and every kind of herb, and you bypass justice and love for God. These things you should have done without neglecting the others.</J>


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<J>Woe to you Pharisees! You love the front seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.</J>


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Then He said: <J>"Woe also to you experts in the law! You load people with burdens that are hard to carry, yet you yourselves don't touch these burdens with one of your fingers.</J>


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<J>Therefore you are witnesses that you approve the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their monuments.</J>


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<J>Because of this, the wisdom of God said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,'</J>


text:
<J>so that this generation may be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world--</J>


text:
<J>from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. "Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible.</J>


text:
<J>Woe to you experts in the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge! You didn't go in yourselves, and you hindered those who were going in."</J>


text:
When He left there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to oppose Him fiercely and to cross-examine Him about many things;


text:
In these circumstances, a crowd of many thousands came together, so that they were trampling on one another. He began to say to His disciples first: <J>"Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.</J>


text:
<J>Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an ear in private rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.</J>


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<J>And I say to you, My friends, don't fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more.</J>


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<J>But I will show you the One to fear: Fear Him who has authority to throw [people] into hell after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the One to fear!</J>


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<J>Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows!</J>


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<J>And I say to you, anyone who acknowledges Me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God,</J>


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<J>Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.</J>


text:
<J>Whenever they bring you before synagogues and rulers and authorities, don't worry about how you should defend yourselves or what you should say.</J>


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He then told them, <J>"Watch out and be on guard against all greed because one's life is not in the abundance of his possessions."</J>


text:
<J>I will do this,' he said. 'I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and store all my grain and my goods there.</J>


text:
<J>Then I'll say to myself, "You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself."'</J>


text:
<J>But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared-- whose will they be?'</J>


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<J>That's how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."</J>


text:
Then He said to His disciples: <J>"Therefore I tell you, don't worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear.</J>


text:
<J>Consider the ravens: they don't sow or reap; they don't have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them. Aren't you worth much more than the birds?</J>


text:
<J>Consider how the wildflowers grow: they don't labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these!</J>


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<J>If that's how God clothes the grass, which is in the field today and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, how much more will He do for you-- you of little faith?</J>


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<J>For the Gentile world eagerly seeks all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.</J>


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<J>Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make money-bags for yourselves that won't grow old, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.</J>


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<J>You must be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks, they can open [the door] for him at once.</J>


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<J>Those slaves the master will find alert when he comes will be blessed. I assure you: He will get ready, have them recline at the table, then come and serve them.</J>


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<J>If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn, and finds them alert, those slaves are blessed.</J>


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<J>But know this: if the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.</J>


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The Lord said: <J>"Who then is the faithful and sensible manager his master will put in charge of his household servants to give them their allotted food at the proper time?</J>


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<J>But if that slave says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and starts to beat the male and female slaves, and to eat and drink and get drunk,</J>


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<J>that slave's master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.</J>


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<J>And that slave who knew his master's will and didn't prepare himself or do it will be severely beaten.</J>


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<J>But the one who did not know and did things deserving of blows will be beaten lightly. Much will be required of everyone who has been given much. And even more will be expected of the one who has been entrusted with more.</J>


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<J>Do you think that I came here to give peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!</J>


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<J>From now on, five in one household will be divided: three against two, and two against three.</J>


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<J>They will be divided, father against son, son against father, mother against daughter, daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."</J>


text:
<J>He also said to the crowds: "When you see a cloud rising in the west, right away you say, 'A storm is coming,' and so it does.</J>


text:
<J>Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why don't you know how to interpret this time?</J>


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<J>As you are going with your adversary to the ruler, make an effort to settle with him on the way. Then he won't drag you before the judge, the judge hand you over to the bailiff, and the bailiff throw you into prison.</J>


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At that time, some people came and reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.


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And He responded to them, <J>"Do you think that these Galileans were more sinful than all Galileans because they suffered these things?</J>


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<J>Or those 18 that the tower in Siloam fell on and killed-- do you think they were more sinful than all the people who live in Jerusalem?</J>


text:
And He told this parable: <J>"A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it and found none.</J>


text:
<J>He told the vineyard worker, 'Listen, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it even waste the soil?'</J>


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<J>But he replied to him, 'Sir, leave it this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.</J>


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a woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit for over 18 years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.


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But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, responded by telling the crowd, "There are six days when work should be done; therefore come on those days and be healed and not on the Sabbath day."


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But the Lord answered him and said, <J>"Hypocrites! Doesn't each one of you untie his ox or donkey from the feeding trough on the Sabbath, and lead it to water?</J>


text:
<J>Satan has bound this woman, a daughter of Abraham, for 18 years-- shouldn't she be untied from this bondage on the Sabbath day?"</J>


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When He had said these things, all His adversaries were humiliated, but the whole crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things He was doing.


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<J>It's like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky nested in its branches."</J>


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<J>It's like yeast that a woman took and mixed into 50 pounds of flour until it spread through the entire mixture."</J>


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<J>Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because I tell you, many will try to enter and won't be able</J>


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<J>once the homeowner gets up and shuts the door. Then you will stand outside and knock on the door, saying, 'Lord, open up for us!' He will answer you, 'I don't know you or where you're from.'</J>


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<J>But He will say, 'I tell you, I don't know you or where you're from. Get away from Me, all you workers of unrighteousness!'</J>


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<J>There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth in that place, when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but yourselves thrown out.</J>


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<J>They will come from east and west, from north and south, and recline at the table in the kingdom of God.</J>


text:
<J>At that time some Pharisees came and told Him, "Go, get out of here! Herod wants to kill You!"</J>


text:
He said to them, <J>"Go tell that fox, 'Look! I'm driving out demons and performing healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will complete My work.'</J>


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<J>Yet I must travel today, tomorrow, and the next day, because it is not possible for a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem!</J>


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<J>Jerusalem, Jerusalem! The city who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!</J>


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<J>See, your house is abandoned to you. And I tell you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!"</J>


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One Sabbath, when He went to eat at the house of one of the leading Pharisees, they were watching Him closely.


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In response, Jesus asked the law experts and the Pharisees, <J>"Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?"</J>


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And to them, He said, <J>"Which of you whose son or ox falls into a well, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?"</J>


text:
He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noticed how they would choose the best places for themselves:


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<J>When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, don't recline at the best place, because a more distinguished person than you may have been invited by your host.</J>


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<J>The one who invited both of you may come and say to you, 'Give your place to this man,' and then in humiliation, you will proceed to take the lowest place.</J>


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<J>But when you are invited, go and recline in the lowest place, so that when the one who invited you comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up higher.' You will then be honored in the presence of all the other guests.</J>


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<J>For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."</J>


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He also said to the one who had invited Him, <J>"When you give a lunch or a dinner, don't invite your friends, your brothers, your relatives, or your rich neighbors, because they might invite you back, and you would be repaid.</J>


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<J>And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."</J>


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When one of those who reclined at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, "The one who will eat bread in the kingdom of God is blessed!"


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<J>At the time of the banquet, he sent his slave to tell those who were invited, 'Come, because everything is now ready.'</J>


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<J>But without exception they all began to make excuses. The first one said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. I ask you to excuse me.'</J>


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<J>Another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm going to try them out. I ask you to excuse me.'</J>


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<J>So the slave came back and reported these things to his master. Then in anger, the master of the house told his slave, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in here the poor, maimed, blind, and lame!'</J>


text:
<J>Then the master told the slave, 'Go out into the highways and lanes and make them come in, so that my house may be filled.</J>


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<J>If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters-- yes, and even his own life-- he cannot be My disciple.</J>


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<J>For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn't first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?</J>


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<J>Otherwise, after he has laid the foundation and cannot finish it, all the onlookers will begin to make fun of him,</J>


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<J>Or what king, going to war against another king, will not first sit down and decide if he is able with 10,000 to oppose the one who comes against him with 20,000?</J>


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<J>In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not say good-bye to all his possessions cannot be My disciple.</J>


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<J>It isn't fit for the soil or for the manure pile; they throw it out. Anyone who has ears to hear should listen!"</J>


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<J>What man among you, who has 100 sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the 99 in the open field and go after the lost one until he finds it?</J>


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<J>and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!'</J>


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<J>I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who don't need repentance.</J>


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<J>Or what woman who has 10 silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?</J>


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<J>When she finds it, she calls her women friends and neighbors together, saying, 'Rejoice with me, because I have found the silver coin I lost!'</J>


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<J>I tell you, in the same way, there is joy in the presence of God's angels over one sinner who repents."</J>


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<J>The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.' So he distributed the assets to them.</J>


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<J>Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered his estate in foolish living.</J>


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<J>Then he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.</J>


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<J>He longed to eat his fill from the carob pods the pigs were eating, but no one would give him any.</J>


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<J>When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired hands have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger!</J>


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<J>I'll get up, go to my father, and say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight.</J>


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<J>So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him.</J>


text:
<J>The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I'm no longer worthy to be called your son.'</J>


text:
<J>But the father told his slaves, 'Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.</J>


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<J>because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' So they began to celebrate.</J>


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<J>'Your brother is here,' he told him, 'and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'</J>


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<J>But he replied to his father, 'Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.</J>


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<J>But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.'</J>


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<J>But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'"</J>


text:
He also said to the disciples: <J>"There was a rich man who received an accusation that his manager was squandering his possessions.</J>


text:
<J>So he called the manager in and asked, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you can no longer be [my] manager.'</J>


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<J>Then the manager said to himself, 'What should I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I'm not strong enough to dig; I'm ashamed to beg.</J>


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<J>I know what I'll do so that when I'm removed from management, people will welcome me into their homes.'</J>


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<J>So he summoned each one of his master's debtors. 'How much do you owe my master?' he asked the first one.</J>


text:
<J>'A hundred measures of oil,' he said. "'Take your invoice,' he told him, 'sit down quickly, and write 50.'</J>


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<J>Next he asked another, 'How much do you owe?' "'A hundred measures of wheat,' he said. "'Take your invoice,' he told him, 'and write 80.'</J>


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<J>The master praised the unrighteous manager because he had acted astutely. For the sons of this age are more astute than the sons of light [in dealing] with their own people.</J>


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<J>And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of the unrighteous money so that when it fails, they may welcome you into eternal dwellings.</J>


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<J>Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is unrighteous in very little is also unrighteous in much.</J>


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<J>So if you have not been faithful with the unrighteous money, who will trust you with what is genuine?</J>


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<J>And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to someone else, who will give you what is your own?</J>


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<J>No household slave can be the slave of two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can't be slaves to both God and money."</J>


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And He told them: <J>"You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly admired by people is revolting in God's sight.</J>


text:
<J>The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then, the good news of the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone is strongly urged to enter it.</J>


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<J>But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter in the law to drop out.</J>


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<J>Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and everyone who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.</J>


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<J>He longed to be filled with what fell from the rich man's table, but instead the dogs would come and lick his sores.</J>


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<J>One day the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried.</J>


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<J>And being in torment in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side.</J>


text:
<J>'Father Abraham!' he called out, 'Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame!'</J>


text:
<J>'Son,' Abraham said, 'remember that during your life you received your good things, just as Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here, while you are in agony.</J>


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<J>Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to pass over from here to you cannot; neither can those from there cross over to us.'</J>


text:
<J>because I have five brothers-- to warn them, so they won't also come to this place of torment.'</J>


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<J>'No, father Abraham,' he said. 'But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'</J>


text:
<J>But he told him, 'If they don't listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.'"</J>


text:
<J>He said to His disciples, "Offenses will certainly come, but woe to the one they come through!</J>


text:
<J>It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to stumble.</J>


text:
<J>And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and comes back to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him."</J>


text:
<J>"If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,"</J> the Lord said, <J>"you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you.</J>


text:
<J>Which one of you having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he comes in from the field, 'Come at once and sit down to eat'?</J>


text:
<J>Instead, will he not tell him, 'Prepare something for me to eat, get ready, and serve me while I eat and drink; later you can eat and drink'?</J>


text:
<J>In the same way, when you have done all that you were commanded, you should say, 'We are good-for-nothing slaves; we've only done our duty.'"</J>


text:
When He saw them, He told them, <J>"Go and show yourselves to the priests."</J> And while they were going, they were healed.


text:
Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God will come, He answered them, <J>"The kingdom of God is not coming with something observable;</J>


text:
Then He told the disciples: <J>"The days are coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you won't see it.</J>


text:
<J>For as the lightning flashes from horizon to horizon and lights up the sky, so the Son of Man will be in His day.</J>


text:
<J>people went on eating, drinking, marrying and giving in marriage until the day Noah boarded the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.</J>


text:
<J>It will be the same as it was in the days of Lot: people went on eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building.</J>


text:
<J>On that day, a man on the housetop, whose belongings are in the house, must not come down to get them. Likewise the man who is in the field must not turn back.</J>


text:
<J>Whoever tries to make his life secure will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.</J>


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<J>I tell you, on that night two will be in one bed: one will be taken and the other will be left.</J>


text:
Where, Lord?" they asked Him. He said to them, <J>"Where the corpse is, there also the vultures will be gathered."</J>


text:
<J>For a while he was unwilling, but later he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or respect man,</J>


text:
<J>yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice, so she doesn't wear me out by her persistent coming.'"</J>


text:
<J>Will not God grant justice to His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay [to help] them?</J>


text:
<J>I tell you that He will swiftly grant them justice. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find that faith on earth?"</J>


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


text:
<J>The Pharisee took his stand and was praying like this: 'God, I thank You that I'm not like other people-- greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.</J>


text:
<J>But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, 'God, turn Your wrath from me-- a sinner!'</J>


text:
<J>I tell you, this one went down to his house justified rather than the other; because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."</J>


text:
Some people were even bringing infants to Him so He might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.


text:
Jesus, however, invited them: <J>"Let the little children come to Me, and don't stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.</J>


text:
<J>You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not bear false witness; honor your father and mother."</J>


text:
When Jesus heard this, He told him, <J>"You still lack one thing: sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me."</J>


text:
Seeing that he became sad, Jesus said, <J>"How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!</J>


text:
<J>For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."</J>


text:
So He said to them, <J>"I assure you: There is no one who has left a house, wife or brothers, parents or children because of the kingdom of God,</J>


text:
<J>Then He took the Twelve aside and told them, "Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem. Everything that is written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished.</J>


text:
They understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.


text:
Then those in front told him to keep quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"


text:
Instantly he could see, and he began to follow Him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.


text:
He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because of the crowd, since he was a short man.


text:
When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, <J>"Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, because today I must stay at your house."</J>


text:
But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Look, I'll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord! And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I'll pay back four times as much!"


text:
<J>"Today salvation has come to this house,"</J> Jesus told him, <J>"because he too is a son of Abraham.</J>


text:
As they were listening to this, He went on to tell a parable because He was near Jerusalem, and they thought the kingdom of God was going to appear right away.


text:
Therefore He said: <J>"A nobleman traveled to a far country to receive for himself authority to be king and then return.</J>


text:
<J>He called 10 of his slaves, gave them 10 minas, and told them, 'Engage in business until I come back.'</J>


text:
<J>But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We don't want this man to rule over us!'</J>


text:
<J>At his return, having received the authority to be king, he summoned those slaves he had given the money to so he could find out how much they had made in business.</J>


text:
<J>'Well done, good slave!' he told him. 'Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, have authority over 10 towns.'</J>


text:
<J>because I was afraid of you, for you're a tough man: you collect what you didn't deposit and reap what you didn't sow.'</J>


text:
<J>He told him, 'I will judge you by what you have said, you evil slave! [If] you knew I was a tough man, collecting what I didn't deposit and reaping what I didn't sow,</J>


text:
<J>why didn't you put my money in the bank? And when I returned, I would have collected it with interest!'</J>


text:
<J>So he said to those standing there, 'Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has 10 minas.'</J>


text:
<J>'I tell you, that to everyone who has, more will be given; and from the one who does not have, even what he does have will be taken away.</J>


text:
<J>But bring here these enemies of mine, who did not want me to rule over them, and slaughter them in my presence.'"</J>


text:
As He approached Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, He sent two of the disciples


text:
and said, <J>"Go into the village ahead of you. As you enter it, you will find a young donkey tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here.</J>


text:
Then they brought it to Jesus, and after throwing their robes on the donkey, they helped Jesus get on it.


text:
Now He came near the path down the Mount of Olives, and the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen:


text:
Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heaven!


text:
saying, <J>"If you knew this day what [would bring] peace-- but now it is hidden from your eyes.</J>


text:
<J>For the days will come on you when your enemies will build an embankment against you, surround you, and hem you in on every side.</J>


text:
<J>They will crush you and your children within you to the ground, and they will not leave one stone on another in you, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation."</J>


text:
and He said, <J>"It is written, My house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves!"</J>


text:
Every day He was teaching in the temple complex. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people were looking for a way to destroy Him,


text:
One day as He was teaching the people in the temple complex and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the scribes, with the elders, came up


text:
and said to Him: "Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Who is it who gave You this authority?"


text:
They discussed it among themselves: "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why didn't you believe him?'


text:
But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet."


text:
Then He began to tell the people this parable: <J>"A man planted a vineyard, leased it to tenant farmers, and went away for a long time.</J>


text:
<J>At harvest time he sent a slave to the farmers so that they might give him some fruit from the vineyard. But the farmers beat him and sent him away empty-handed.</J>


text:
<J>He sent yet another slave, but they beat that one too, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed.</J>


text:
<J>Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What should I do? I will send my beloved son. Perhaps they will respect him.'</J>


text:
<J>But when the tenant farmers saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, 'This is the heir. Let's kill him, so the inheritance will be ours!'</J>


text:
<J>So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. "Therefore, what will the owner of the vineyard do to them?</J>


text:
<J>He will come and destroy those farmers and give the vineyard to others."</J> But when they heard this they said, "No-- never!"


text:
But He looked at them and said, <J>"Then what is the meaning of this Scripture: The stone that the builders rejected-- this has become the cornerstone?</J>


text:
<J>Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and if it falls on anyone, it will grind him to powder!"</J>


text:
Then the scribes and the chief priests looked for a way to get their hands on Him that very hour, because they knew He had told this parable against them, but they feared the people.


text:
They watched closely and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, so they could catch Him in what He said, to hand Him over to the governor's rule and authority.


text:
They questioned Him, "Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You don't show partiality, but teach truthfully the way of God.


text:
<J>"Well then,"</J> He told them, <J>"give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's."</J>


text:
They were not able to catch Him in what He said in public, and being amazed at His answer, they became silent.


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Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother has a wife, and dies childless, his brother should take the wife and produce offspring for his brother.


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<J>But those who are counted worthy to take part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage.</J>


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<J>For they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are sons of God, since they are sons of the resurrection.</J>


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<J>Moses even indicated [in the passage] about the burning bush that the dead are raised, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.</J>


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<J>For David himself says in the Book of Psalms: The Lord declared to my Lord, 'Sit at My right hand</J>


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<J>Beware of the scribes, who want to go around in long robes and who love greetings in the marketplaces, the front seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets.</J>


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<J>They devour widows' houses and say long prayers just for show. These will receive greater punishment."</J>


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<J>For all these people have put in gifts out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on."</J>


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As some were talking about the temple complex, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, He said,


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<J>"These things that you see-- the days will come when not one stone will be left on another that will not be thrown down!"</J>


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Teacher," they asked Him, "so when will these things be? And what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?"


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Then He said, <J>"Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time is near.' Don't follow them.</J>


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<J>When you hear of wars and rebellions, don't be alarmed. Indeed, these things must take place first, but the end won't come right away."</J>


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<J>There will be violent earthquakes, and famines and plagues in various places, and there will be terrifying sights and great signs from heaven.</J>


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<J>But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you. They will hand you over to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of My name.</J>


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<J>for I will give you such words and a wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.</J>


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<J>You will even be betrayed by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will kill some of you.</J>


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<J>When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that its desolation has come near.</J>


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<J>Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains! Those inside the city must leave it, and those who are in the country must not enter it,</J>


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<J>Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days, for there will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people.</J>


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<J>They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.</J>


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<J>Then there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and there will be anguish on the earth among nations bewildered by the roaring sea and waves.</J>


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<J>People will faint from fear and expectation of the things that are coming on the world, because the celestial powers will be shaken.</J>


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<J>But when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near!"</J>


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<J>As soon as they put out [leaves] you can see for yourselves and recognize that summer is already near.</J>


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<J>In the same way, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near.</J>


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<J>Be on your guard, so that your minds are not dulled from carousing, drunkenness, and worries of life, or that day will come on you unexpectedly</J>


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<J>But be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man."</J>


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During the day, He was teaching in the temple complex, but in the evening He would go out and spend the night on what is called the Mount of Olives.


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The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Him to death, because they were afraid of the people.


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He went away and discussed with the chief priests and temple police how he could hand Him over to them.


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So he accepted [the offer] and started looking for a good opportunity to betray Him to them when the crowd was not present.


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Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, <J>"Go and prepare the Passover meal for us, so we can eat it."</J>


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<J>"Listen,"</J> He said to them, <J>"when you've entered the city, a man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him into the house he enters.</J>


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<J>Tell the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks you, "Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover with My disciples?"'</J>


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Then He said to them, <J>"I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.</J>


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Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks, He said, <J>"Take this and share it among yourselves.</J>


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<J>For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."</J>


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And He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, <J>"This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me."</J>


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In the same way He also took the cup after supper and said, <J>"This cup is the new covenant [established by] My blood; it is shed for you.</J>


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<J>For the Son of Man will go away as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!"</J>


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But He said to them, <J>"The kings of the Gentiles dominate them, and those who have authority over them are called 'Benefactors.'</J>


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<J>But it must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever is greatest among you must become like the youngest, and whoever leads, like the one serving.</J>


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<J>For who is greater, the one at the table or the one serving? Isn't it the one at the table? But I am among you as the One who serves.</J>


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<J>so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom. And you will sit on thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel.</J>


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<J>But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."</J>


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<J>"I tell you, Peter,"</J> He said, <J>"the rooster will not crow today until you deny three times that you know Me!"</J>


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He also said to them, <J>"When I sent you out without money-bag, traveling bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?" "Not a thing," they said.</J>


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Then He said to them, <J>"But now, whoever has a money-bag should take it, and also a traveling bag. And whoever doesn't have a sword should sell his robe and buy one.</J>


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<J>For I tell you, what is written must be fulfilled in Me: And He was counted among the outlaws. Yes, what is written about Me is coming to its fulfillment."</J>


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<J>"Father, if You are willing, take this cup away from Me-- nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done."</J>


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Being in anguish, He prayed more fervently, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.]


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When He got up from prayer and came to the disciples, He found them sleeping, exhausted from their grief.


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Why are you sleeping?" He asked them. <J>"Get up and pray, so that you won't enter into temptation."</J>


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While He was still speaking, suddenly a mob was there, and one of the Twelve named Judas was leading them. He came near Jesus to kiss Him,


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When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they asked, "Lord, should we strike with the sword?"


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Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple police, and the elders who had come for Him, <J>"Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal?</J>


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<J>Every day while I was with you in the temple complex, you never laid a hand on Me. But this is your hour-- and the dominion of darkness."</J>


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They seized Him, led Him away, and brought Him into the high priest's house. Meanwhile Peter was following at a distance.


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When a servant saw him sitting in the firelight, and looked closely at him, she said, "This man was with Him too."


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After a little while, someone else saw him and said, "You're one of them too!" "Man, I am not!" Peter said.


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About an hour later, another kept insisting, "This man was certainly with Him, since he's also a Galilean."


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But Peter said, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.


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Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter. So Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, <J>"Before the rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times."</J>


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When daylight came, the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the scribes, convened and brought Him before their Sanhedrin.


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They said, "If You are the Messiah, tell us." But He said to them, <J>"If I do tell you, you will not believe.</J>


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They began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this man subverting our nation, opposing payment of taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is the Messiah, a King."


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But they kept insisting, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where He started even to here."


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Finding that He was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days.


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Herod was very glad to see Jesus; for a long time he had wanted to see Him, because he had heard about Him and was hoping to see some miracle performed by Him.


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Then Herod, with his soldiers, treated Him with contempt, mocked Him, dressed Him in a brilliant robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.


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and said to them, "You have brought me this man as one who subverts the people. But in fact, after examining Him in your presence, I have found no grounds to charge this man with those things you accuse Him of.


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A third time he said to them, "Why? What has this man done wrong? I have found in Him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have Him whipped and [then] release Him."


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But they kept up the pressure, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And their voices won out.


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and released the one they were asking for, who had been thrown into prison for rebellion and murder. But he handed Jesus over to their will.


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As they led Him away, they seized Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, and laid the cross on him to carry behind Jesus.


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


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<J>Look, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed!'</J>


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When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left.


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[Then Jesus said, <J>"Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing."</J>] And they divided His clothes and cast lots.


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The people stood watching, and even the leaders kept scoffing: "He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is God's Messiah, the Chosen One!"


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Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at Him: "Aren't You the Messiah? Save Yourself and us!"


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But the other answered, rebuking him: "Don't you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment?


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We are punished justly, because we're getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong."


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And Jesus called out with a loud voice, <J>"Father, into Your hands I entrust My spirit. "</J> Saying this, He breathed His last.


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When the centurion saw what happened, he began to glorify God, saying, "This man really was righteous!"


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All the crowds that had gathered for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, went home, striking their chests.


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But all who knew Him, including the women who had followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.


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who had not agreed with their plan and action. He was from Arimathea, a Judean town, and was looking forward to the kingdom of God.


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Taking it down, he wrapped it in fine linen and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever been placed.


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The women who had come with Him from Galilee followed along and observed the tomb and how His body was placed.


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


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On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared.


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So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground. "Why are you looking for the living among the dead?" asked the men.


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He is not here, but He has been resurrected! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee,


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saying, <J>'The Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day'?</J>


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Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them were telling the apostles these things.


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Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. When he stooped to look in, he saw only the linen cloths. So he went home, amazed at what had happened.


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Now that same day two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem.


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And while they were discussing and arguing, Jesus Himself came near and began to walk along with them.


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Then He asked them, <J>"What is this dispute that you're having with each other as you are walking?"</J> And they stopped [walking and looked] discouraged.


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The one named Cleopas answered Him, "Are You the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn't know the things that happened there in these days?"


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<J>"What things?"</J> He asked them. So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, who was a Prophet powerful in action and speech before God and all the people,


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and how our chief priests and leaders handed Him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified Him.


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But we were hoping that He was the One who was about to redeem Israel. Besides all this, it's the third day since these things happened.


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and when they didn't find His body, they came and reported that they had seen a vision of angels who said He was alive.


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Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they didn't see Him."


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He said to them, <J>"How unwise and slow you are to believe in your hearts all that the prophets have spoken!</J>


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Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted for them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.


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They came near the village where they were going, and He gave the impression that He was going farther.


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But they urged Him: "Stay with us, because it's almost evening, and now the day is almost over." So He went in to stay with them.


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It was as He reclined at the table with them that He took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.


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So they said to each other, "Weren't our hearts ablaze within us while He was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?"


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That very hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and those with them gathered together,


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Then they began to describe what had happened on the road and how He was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.


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And as they were saying these things, He Himself stood among them. He said to them, <J>"Peace to you!"</J>


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<J>Look at My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself! Touch Me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have."</J>


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But while they still could not believe because of [their] joy and were amazed, He asked them, <J>"Do you have anything here to eat?"</J>


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Then He told them, <J>"These are My words that I spoke to you while I was still with you-- that everything written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled."</J>


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He also said to them, <J>"This is what is written: the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead the third day,</J>


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<J>and repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.</J>


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<J>And look, I am sending you what My Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered from on high."</J>


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All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created.


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But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name,


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The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.


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(John testified concerning Him and exclaimed, "This was the One of whom I said, 'The One coming after me has surpassed me, because He existed before me.' ")


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No one has ever seen God. The One and Only Son-- the One who is at the Father's side-- He has revealed Him.


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This is John's testimony when the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, "Who are you?"


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


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Who are you, then?" they asked. "We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What can you tell us about yourself?"


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


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The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!


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This is the One I told you about: 'After me comes a man who has surpassed me, because He existed before me.'


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I didn't know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The One you see the Spirit descending and resting on-- He is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'


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When Jesus turned and noticed them following Him, He asked them, <J>"What are you looking for?"</J> They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which means "Teacher"), "where are You staying?"


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<J>"Come and you'll see,"</J> He replied. So they went and saw where He was staying, and they stayed with Him that day. It was about 10 in the morning.


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He first found his own brother Simon and told him, "We have found the Messiah!" (which means "Anointed One"),


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and he brought [Simon] to Jesus. When Jesus saw him, He said, <J>"You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas"</J> (which means "Rock").


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Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the One Moses wrote about in the law (and so did the prophets): Jesus the son of Joseph, from Nazareth!"


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Then Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him and said about him, <J>"Here is a true Israelite; no deceit is in him."</J>


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"How do you know me?" Nathanael asked. <J>"Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you,"</J> Jesus answered.


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Jesus responded to him, </J>"Do you believe [only] because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this."</J>


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Then He said, <J>"I assure you: You will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."</J>


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<J>"What has this concern of yours to do with Me, woman?"</J> Jesus asked. <J>"My hour has not yet come."</J>


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Now six stone water jars had been set there for Jewish purification. Each contained 20 or 30 gallons.


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When the chief servant tasted the water (after it had become wine), he did not know where it came from-- though the servants who had drawn the water knew. He called the groom


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and told him, "Everybody sets out the fine wine first, then, after people have drunk freely, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now."


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Jesus performed this first sign in Cana of Galilee. He displayed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.


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After this, He went down to Capernaum, together with His mother, His brothers, and His disciples, and they stayed there only a few days.


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In the temple complex He found people selling oxen, sheep, and doves, and [He also found] the money changers sitting there.


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After making a whip out of cords, He drove everyone out of the temple complex with their sheep and oxen. He also poured out the money changers' coins and overturned the tables.


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He told those who were selling doves, <J>"Get these things out of here! Stop turning My Father's house into a marketplace!"</J>


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Therefore the Jews said, "This sanctuary took 46 years to build, and will You raise it up in three days?"


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So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this. And they believed the Scripture and the statement Jesus had made.


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While He was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many trusted in His name when they saw the signs He was doing.


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This man came to Him at night and said, "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher, for no one could perform these signs You do unless God were with him."


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Jesus replied, <J>"I assure you: Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."</J>


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But how can anyone be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked Him. "Can he enter his mother's womb a second time and be born?"


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Jesus answered, <J>"I assure you: Unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.</J>


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<J>The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don't know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."</J>


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<J>I assure you: We speak what We know and We testify to what We have seen, but you do not accept Our testimony.</J>


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<J>If I have told you about things that happen on earth and you don't believe, how will you believe if I tell you about things of heaven?</J>


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<J>For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.</J>


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<J>For God did not send His Son into the world that He might judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.</J>


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<J>Anyone who believes in Him is not judged, but anyone who does not believe is already judged, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.</J>


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<J>This, then, is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.</J>


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<J>For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed.</J>


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<J>But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God."</J>


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After this, Jesus and His disciples went to the Judean countryside, where He spent time with them and baptized.


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John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water there. People were coming and being baptized,


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So they came to John and told him, "Rabbi, the One you testified about, and who was with you across the Jordan, is baptizing-- and everyone is flocking to Him."


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He who has the bride is the groom. But the groom's friend, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the groom's voice. So this joy of mine is complete.


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The One who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth is earthly and speaks in earthly terms. The One who comes from heaven is above all.


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The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who refuses to believe in the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.


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so He came to a town of Samaria called Sychar near the property that Jacob had given his son Joseph.


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Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, worn out from His journey, sat down at the well. It was about six in the evening.


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How is it that You, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" she asked Him. For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.


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Jesus answered, <J>"If you knew the gift of God, and who is saying to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would ask Him, and He would give you living water."</J>


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Sir," said the woman, "You don't even have a bucket, and the well is deep. So where do you get this 'living water'?


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You aren't greater than our father Jacob, are you? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and livestock."


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<J>But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again-- ever! In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water springing up within him for eternal life."</J>


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Sir," the woman said to Him, "give me this water so I won't get thirsty and come here to draw water."


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I don't have a husband," she answered. </J>"You have correctly said, 'I don't have a husband,'"</J> Jesus said.


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<J>"For you've had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true."</J>


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Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, yet you [Jews] say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem."


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Jesus told her, <J>"Believe Me, woman, an hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.</J>


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<J>You Samaritans worship what you do not know. We worship what we do know, because salvation is from the Jews.</J>


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<J>But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship Him.</J>


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The woman said to Him, "I know that Messiah is coming" (who is called Christ). "When He comes, He will explain everything to us."


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Just then His disciples arrived, and they were amazed that He was talking with a woman. Yet no one said, "What do You want?" or "Why are You talking with her?"


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<J>"Don't you say, 'There are still four more months, then comes the harvest'? Listen [to what] I'm telling you: Open your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ready for harvest.</J>


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<J>The reaper is already receiving pay and gathering fruit for eternal life, so the sower and reaper can rejoice together.</J>


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<J>I sent you to reap what you didn't labor for; others have labored, and you have benefited from their labor."</J>


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Now many Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of what the woman said when she testified, "He told me everything I ever did."


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Therefore, when the Samaritans came to Him, they asked Him to stay with them, and He stayed there two days.


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And they told the woman, "We no longer believe because of what you said, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this really is the Savior of the world."


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When they entered Galilee, the Galileans welcomed Him because they had seen everything He did in Jerusalem during the festival. For they also had gone to the festival.


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Then He went again to Cana of Galilee, where He had turned the water into wine. There was a certain royal official whose son was ill at Capernaum.


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When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and pleaded with Him to come down and heal his son, for he was about to die.


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<J>"Go,"</J> Jesus told him, <J>"your son will live."</J> The man believed what Jesus said to him and departed.


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He asked them at what time he got better. "Yesterday at seven in the morning the fever left him," they answered.


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The father realized this was the very hour at which Jesus had told him, <J>"Your son will live."</J> Then he himself believed, along with his whole household.


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By the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there is a pool, called Bethesda in Hebrew, which has five colonnades.


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Within these lay a multitude of the sick-- blind, lame, and paralyzed [-- waiting for the moving of the water,


text:
because an angel would go down into the pool from time to time and stir up the water. Then the first one who got in after the water was stirred up recovered from whatever ailment he had].


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When Jesus saw him lying there and knew he had already been there a long time, He said to him, <J>"Do you want to get well?"</J>


text:
Sir," the sick man answered, "I don't have a man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I'm coming, someone goes down ahead of me."


text:
Instantly the man got well, picked up his bedroll, and started to walk. Now that day was the Sabbath,


text:
so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, "This is the Sabbath! It's illegal for you to pick up your bedroll."


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But the man who was cured did not know who it was, because Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.


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After this, Jesus found him in the temple complex and said to him,<J> "See, you are well. Do not sin any more, so that something worse doesn't happen to you."</J>


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This is why the Jews began trying all the more to kill Him: not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He was even calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.


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Then Jesus replied, <J>"I assure you: The Son is not able to do anything on His own, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does these things in the same way.</J>


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<J>For the Father loves the Son and shows Him everything He is doing, and He will show Him greater works than these so that you will be amazed.</J>


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<J>And just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son also gives life to anyone He wants to.</J>


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<J>so that all people will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.</J>


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<J>I assure you: Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.</J>


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<J>I assure you: An hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.</J>


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<J>For just as the Father has life in Himself, so also He has granted to the Son to have life in Himself.</J>


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<J>Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the graves will hear His voice</J>


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<J>and come out-- those who have done good things, to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked things, to the resurrection of judgment.</J>


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<J>I can do nothing on My own. I judge only as I hear, and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.</J>


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<J>There is Another who testifies about Me, and I know that the testimony He gives about Me is valid.</J>


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<J>But I have a greater testimony than John's because of the works that the Father has given Me to accomplish. These very works I am doing testify about Me that the Father has sent Me.</J>


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<J>The Father who sent Me has Himself testified about Me. You have not heard His voice at any time, and you haven't seen His form.</J>


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<J>You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, yet they testify about Me.</J>


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<J>I have come in My Father's name, yet you don't accept Me. If someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.</J>


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<J>How can you believe? While accepting glory from one another, you don't seek the glory that comes from the only God.</J>


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<J>Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom you have set your hope.</J>


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Therefore, when Jesus looked up and noticed a huge crowd coming toward Him, He asked Philip, <J>"Where will we buy bread so these people can eat?"</J>


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Philip answered, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread wouldn't be enough for each of them to have a little."


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Then Jesus said, <J>"Have the people sit down."</J> There was plenty of grass in that place, so they sat down. The men numbered about 5,000.


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Then Jesus took the loaves, and after giving thanks He distributed them to those who were seated-- so also with the fish, as much as they wanted.


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When they were full, He told His disciples, <J>"Collect the leftovers so that nothing is wasted."</J>


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So they collected them and filled 12 baskets with the pieces from the five barley loaves that were left over by those who had eaten.


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When the people saw the sign He had done, they said, "This really is the Prophet who was to come into the world!"


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


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got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. Darkness had already set in, but Jesus had not yet come to them.


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After they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea. He was coming near the boat, and they were afraid.


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Then they were willing to take Him on board, and at once the boat was at the shore where they were heading.


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The next day, the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea knew there had been only one boat. [They also knew] that Jesus had not boarded the boat with His disciples, but that His disciples had gone off alone.


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When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.


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Jesus answered, <J>"I assure you: You are looking for Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled.</J>


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<J>Don't work for the food that perishes but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal of approval on Him."</J>


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What sign then are You going to do so we may see and believe You?" they asked. "What are You going to perform?


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Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat."


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Jesus said to them, <J>"I assure you: Moses didn't give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the real bread from heaven.</J>


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<J>"I am the bread of life,"</J> Jesus told them. <J>"No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty again.</J>


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<J>Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never cast out.</J>


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<J>This is the will of Him who sent Me: that I should lose none of those He has given Me but should raise them up on the last day.</J>


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<J>For this is the will of My Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day."</J>


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Therefore the Jews started complaining about Him, because He said,<J> "I am the bread that came down from heaven."</J>


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They were saying, "Isn't this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can He now say, <J>'I have come down from heaven'</J>?"


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<J>No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.</J>


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<J>It is written in the Prophets: And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father comes to Me--</J>


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<J>I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is My flesh."</J>


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<J>So Jesus said to them, "I assure you: Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you do not have life in yourselves.</J>


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<J>Anyone who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day,</J>


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<J>Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me.</J>


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<J>This is the bread that came down from heaven; it is not like the manna your fathers ate-- and they died. The one who eats this bread will live forever."</J>


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Therefore, when many of His disciples heard this, they said, "This teaching is hard! Who can accept it?"


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Jesus, knowing in Himself that His disciples were complaining about this, asked them, <J>"Does this offend you?</J>


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<J>The Spirit is the One who gives life. The flesh doesn't help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.</J>


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<J>But there are some among you who don't believe."</J> (For Jesus knew from the beginning those who would not believe and the one who would betray Him.)


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He said, <J>"This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless it is granted to him by the Father."</J>


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He was referring to Judas, Simon Iscariot's son, one of the Twelve, because he was going to betray Him.


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After this, Jesus traveled in Galilee, since He did not want to travel in Judea because the Jews were trying to kill Him.


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so His brothers said to Him, "Leave here and go to Judea so Your disciples can see Your works that You are doing.


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For no one does anything in secret while he's seeking public recognition. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world."


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<J>The world cannot hate you, but it does hate Me because I testify about it-- that its deeds are evil.</J>


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<J>Go up to the festival yourselves. I'm not going up to the festival yet, because My time has not yet fully come."</J>


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And there was a lot of discussion about Him among the crowds. Some were saying, "He's a good man." Others were saying, "No, on the contrary, He's deceiving the people."


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Then the Jews were amazed and said, "How does He know the Scriptures, since He hasn't been trained?"


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<J>If anyone wants to do His will, he will understand whether the teaching is from God or if I am speaking on My own.</J>


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<J>The one who speaks for himself seeks his own glory. But He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.</J>


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<J>Consider this: Moses has given you circumcision-- not that it comes from Moses but from the fathers-- and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath.</J>


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<J>If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses won't be broken, are you angry at Me because I made a man entirely well on the Sabbath?</J>


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<J>Stop judging according to outward appearances; rather judge according to righteous judgment."</J>


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Yet, look! He's speaking publicly and they're saying nothing to Him. Can it be true that the authorities know He is the Messiah?


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As He was teaching in the temple complex, Jesus cried out, <J>"You know Me and you know where I am from. Yet I have not come on My own, but the One who sent Me is true. You don't know Him;</J>


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However, many from the crowd believed in Him and said, "When the Messiah comes, He won't perform more signs than this man has done, will He?"


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The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about Him, so the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple police to arrest Him.


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Then Jesus said, <J>"I am only with you for a short time. Then I'm going to the One who sent Me.</J>


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Then the Jews said to one another, "Where does He intend to go so we won't find Him? He doesn't intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks, does He?


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What is this remark He made: <J>'You will look for Me, and you will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come'</J>?"


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On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and cried out,<J> "If anyone is thirsty, he should come to Me and drink</J>!


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<J>The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him."</J>


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He said this about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were going to receive, for the Spirit had not yet been received, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.


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Others said, "This is the Messiah!" But some said, "Surely the Messiah doesn't come from Galilee, does He?


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Doesn't the Scripture say that the Messiah comes from David's offspring and from the town of Bethlehem, where David once lived?"


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Then the temple police came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, "Why haven't you brought Him?"


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You aren't from Galilee too, are you?" they replied. "Investigate and you will see that no prophet arises from Galilee."


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At dawn He went to the temple complex again, and all the people were coming to Him. He sat down and began to teach them.


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Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, making her stand in the center.


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They asked this to trap Him, in order that they might have evidence to accuse Him. Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with His finger.


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When they persisted in questioning Him, He stood up and said to them, <J>"The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her."</J>


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When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only He was left, with the woman in the center.


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No one, Lord," she answered. <J>"Neither do I condemn you,"</J> said Jesus. <J>"Go, and from now on do not sin any more."</J>]


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Then Jesus spoke to them again: <J>"I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life."</J>


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Even if I testify about Myself," Jesus replied, <J>"My testimony is valid, because I know where I came from and where I'm going. But you don't know where I come from or where I'm going.</J>


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<J>And if I do judge, My judgment is true, because I am not alone, but I and the Father who sent Me [judge together].</J>


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Then they asked Him, "Where is Your Father?" <J>"You know neither Me nor My Father,"</J> Jesus answered. <J>"If you knew Me, you would also know My Father."</J>


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He spoke these words by the treasury, while teaching in the temple complex. But no one seized Him, because His hour had not come.


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Then He said to them again, <J>"I'm going away; you will look for Me, and you will die in your sin. Where I'm going, you cannot come."</J>


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So the Jews said again, <J>"He won't kill Himself, will He, since He says, 'Where I'm going, you cannot come'?"</J>


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<J>"You are from below,"</J> He told them, <J>"I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.</J>


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<J>Therefore I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I am [He], you will die in your sins."</J>


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Who are You?" they questioned. <J>"Precisely what I've been telling you from the very beginning," Jesus told them.</J>


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<J>I have many things to say and to judge about you, but the One who sent Me is true, and what I have heard from Him-- these things I tell the world."</J>


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So Jesus said to them, <J>"When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am [He], and that I do nothing on My own. But just as the Father taught Me, I say these things.</J>


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<J>The One who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him."</J>


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So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, <J>"If you continue in My word, you really are My disciples.</J>


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We are descendants of Abraham," they answered Him, "and we have never been enslaved to anyone. How can You say, <J>'You will become free'</J>?"


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<J>I know you are descendants of Abraham, but you are trying to kill Me because My word is not welcome among you.</J>


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<J>I speak what I have seen in the presence of the Father, and therefore you do what you have heard from your father."</J>


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Our father is Abraham!" they replied. <J>"If you were Abraham's children,"</J> Jesus told them, <J>"you would do what Abraham did.</J>


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<J>But now you are trying to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do this!</J>


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<J>You're doing what your father does." "We weren't born of sexual immorality," they said. "We have one Father-- God."</J>


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<J>Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, because I came from God and I am here. For I didn't come on My own, but He sent Me.</J>


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<J>You are of your father the Devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of liars.</J>


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<J>The one who is from God listens to God's words. This is why you don't listen, because you are not from God."</J>


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<J>The Jews responded to Him, "Aren't we right in saying that You're a Samaritan and have a demon?"</J>


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<J>I do not have a demon," Jesus answered. "On the contrary, I honor My Father and you dishonor Me.</J>


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<J>Then the Jews said, "Now we know You have a demon. Abraham died and so did the prophets. You say, 'If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste death-- ever!'</J>


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<J>Are You greater than our father Abraham who died? Even the prophets died. Who do You pretend to be?"</J>


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<J>If I glorify Myself," Jesus answered, "My glory is nothing. My Father-- you say about Him, 'He is our God.'-- He is the One who glorifies Me.</J>


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<J>You've never known Him, but I know Him. If I were to say I don't know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know Him, and I keep His word.</J>


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<J>At that, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple complex.</J>


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<J>"Neither this man nor his parents sinned,"</J> Jesus answered. <J>"[This came about] so that God's works might be displayed in him</J>.


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<J>We must do the works of Him who sent Me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work.</J>


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After He said these things He spit on the ground, made some mud from the saliva, and spread the mud on his eyes.


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<J>"Go,"</J> He told him, <J>"wash in the pool of Siloam"</J> (which means "Sent"). So he left, washed, and came back seeing.


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His neighbors and those who formerly had seen him as a beggar said, "Isn't this the man who sat begging?"


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Some said, "He's the one." "No," others were saying, "but he looks like him." He kept saying, "I'm the one!"


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He answered, "The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and told me, <J>'Go to Siloam and wash.'</J> So when I went and washed I received my sight."


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So again the Pharisees asked him how he received his sight. "He put mud on my eyes," he told them. "I washed and I can see."


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Therefore some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for He doesn't keep the Sabbath!" But others were saying, "How can a sinful man perform such signs?" And there was a division among them.


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Again they asked the blind man, "What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?" "He's a prophet," he said.


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The Jews did not believe this about him-- that he was blind and received sight-- until they summoned the parents of the one who had received his sight.


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But we don't know how he now sees, and we don't know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he's of age. He will speak for himself."


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His parents said these things because they were afraid of the Jews, since the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed Him as Messiah, he would be banned from the synagogue.


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So a second time they summoned the man who had been blind and told him, "Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner!"


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He answered, "Whether or not He's a sinner, I don't know. One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I can see!"


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I already told you," he said, "and you didn't listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You don't want to become His disciples too, do you?"


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This is an amazing thing," the man told them. "You don't know where He is from, yet He opened my eyes!


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We know that God doesn't listen to sinners, but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He listens to him.


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You were born entirely in sin," they replied, "and are you trying to teach us?" Then they threw him out.


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When Jesus heard that they had thrown the man out, He found him and asked, <J>"Do you believe in the Son of Man?"</J>


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Jesus said, <J>"I came into this world for judgment, in order that those who do not see will see and those who do see will become blind."</J>


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Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and asked Him, "We aren't blind too, are we?"


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<J>"If you were blind,"</J> Jesus told them, <J>"you wouldn't have sin. But now that you say, 'We see'-- your sin remains.</J>


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<J>I assure you: Anyone who doesn't enter the sheep pen by the door but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber.</J>


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<J>The doorkeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.</J>


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<J>When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they recognize his voice.</J>


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<J>They will never follow a stranger; instead they will run away from him, because they don't recognize the voice of strangers."</J>


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<J>I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture.</J>


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<J>A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance.</J>


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<J>The hired man, since he is not the shepherd and doesn't own the sheep, leaves them and runs away when he sees a wolf coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them.</J>


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<J>But I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd.</J>


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<J>No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from My Father."</J>


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Others were saying, "These aren't the words of someone demon-possessed. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"


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Then the Jews surrounded Him and asked, "How long are You going to keep us in suspense? If You are the Messiah, tell us plainly."


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<J>I did tell you and you don't believe," Jesus answered them. "The works that I do in My Father's name testify about Me.</J>


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<J>I give them eternal life, and they will never perish-- ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand.</J>


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<J>My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.</J>


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Jesus replied, <J>"I have shown you many good works from the Father. Which of these works are you stoning Me for?"</J>


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We aren't stoning You for a good work," the Jews answered, "but for blasphemy, because You-- being a man-- make Yourself God."


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<J>If He called those whom the word of God came to 'gods'-- and the Scripture cannot be broken--</J>


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<J>do you say, 'You are blaspheming' to the One the Father set apart and sent into the world, because I said: I am the Son of God?</J>


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<J>But if I am doing them and you don't believe Me, believe the works. This way you will know and understand that the Father is in Me and I in the Father."</J>


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So He departed again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier, and He remained there.


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Many came to Him and said, "John never did a sign, but everything John said about this man was true."


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Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, and it was her brother Lazarus who was sick.


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When Jesus heard it, He said, <J>"This sickness will not end in death but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."</J>


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Rabbi," the disciples told Him, "just now the Jews tried to stone You, and You're going there again?"


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<J>"Aren't there 12 hours in a day?"</J> Jesus answered.<J> "If anyone walks during the day, he doesn't stumble, because he sees the light of this world.</J>


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He said this, and then He told them, <J>"Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I'm on My way to wake him up."</J>


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As soon as Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet Him. But Mary remained seated in the house.


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Jesus said to her, <J>"I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live.</J>


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Yes, Lord," she told Him, "I believe You are the Messiah, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."


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Having said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, saying in private, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you."


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The Jews who were with her in the house consoling her saw that Mary got up quickly and went out. So they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to cry there.


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When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet and told Him, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died!"


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When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, He was angry in His spirit and deeply moved.


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But some of them said, "Couldn't He who opened the blind man's eyes also have kept this man from dying?"


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Then Jesus, angry in Himself again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it.


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<J>"Remove the stone,"</J> Jesus said. Martha, the dead man's sister, told Him, "Lord, he already stinks. It's been four days."


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So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes and said, <J>"Father, I thank You that You heard Me.</J>


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<J>I know that You always hear Me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so they may believe You sent Me."</J>


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The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, <J>"Loose him and let him go."</J>


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So the chief priests and the Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, "What are we going to do since this man does many signs?


text:
If we let Him continue in this way, everybody will believe in Him! Then the Romans will come and remove both our place and our nation."


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You're not considering that it is to your advantage that one man should die for the people rather than the whole nation perish."


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


text:
Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews but departed from there to the countryside near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim. And He stayed there with the disciples.


text:
The Jewish Passover was near, and many went up to Jerusalem from the country to purify themselves before the Passover.


text:
They were looking for Jesus and asking one another as they stood in the temple complex: "What do you think? He won't come to the festival, will He?"


text:
The chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it so they could arrest Him.


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Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was, the one Jesus had raised from the dead.


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So they gave a dinner for Him there; Martha was serving them, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him.


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Then Mary took a pound of fragrant oil-- pure and expensive nard-- anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped His feet with her hair. So the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.


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He didn't say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the money-bag and would steal part of what was put in it.


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Then a large crowd of the Jews learned He was there. They came not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus the one He had raised from the dead.


text:
The next day, when the large crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,


text:
they took palm branches and went out to meet Him. They kept shouting: "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord-- the King of Israel!"


text:
His disciples did not understand these things at first. However, when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.


text:
Meanwhile the crowd, which had been with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify.


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Then the Pharisees said to one another, "You see? You've accomplished nothing. Look-- the world has gone after Him!"


text:
So they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, "Sir, we want to see Jesus."


text:
<J>I assure you: Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces a large crop.</J>


text:
<J>The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.</J>


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<J>If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me. Where I am, there My servant also will be. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.</J>


text:
<J>Now My soul is troubled. What should I say-- Father, save Me from this hour? But that is why I came to this hour.</J>


text:
<J>Father, glorify Your name!" Then a voice came from heaven: "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again!"</J>


text:
The crowd standing there heard it and said it was thunder. Others said, "An angel has spoken to Him!"


text:
Then the crowd replied to Him, "We have heard from the law that the Messiah will remain forever. So how can You say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this Son of Man?"


text:
Jesus answered, <J>"The light will be with you only a little longer. Walk while you have the light so that darkness doesn't overtake you. The one who walks in darkness doesn't know where he's going.</J>


text:
<J>While you have the light, believe in the light so that you may become sons of light."</J> Jesus said this, then went away and hid from them.


text:
But this was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet, who said: Lord, who has believed our message? And who has the arm of the Lord been revealed to?


text:
He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they would not see with their eyes or understand with their hearts, and be converted, and I would heal them.


text:
Nevertheless, many did believe in Him even among the rulers, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, so they would not be banned from the synagogue.


text:
Then Jesus cried out, <J>"The one who believes in Me believes not in Me, but in Him who sent Me.</J>


text:
<J>I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me would not remain in darkness.</J>


text:
<J>If anyone hears My words and doesn't keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.</J>


text:
<J>The one who rejects Me and doesn't accept My sayings has this as his judge: the word I have spoken will judge him on the last day.</J>


text:
<J>For I have not spoken on My own, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a command as to what I should say and what I should speak.</J>


text:
<J>I know that His command is eternal life. So the things that I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me."</J>


text:
Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.


text:
Now by the time of supper, the Devil had already put it into the heart of Judas, Simon Iscariot's son, to betray Him.


text:
Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into His hands, that He had come from God, and that He was going back to God.


text:
Next, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples' feet and to dry them with the towel tied around Him.


text:
You will never wash my feet-- ever!" Peter said. Jesus replied, <J>"If I don't wash you, you have no part with Me."</J>


text:
<J>"One who has bathed,"</J> Jesus told him, <J>"doesn't need to wash anything except his feet, but he is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you."</J>


text:
When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His robe, He reclined again and said to them, <J>"Do you know what I have done for you?</J>


text:
<J>So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.</J>


text:
<J>I assure you: A slave is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him.</J>


text:
<J>I'm not speaking about all of you; I know those I have chosen. But the Scripture must be fulfilled: The one who eats My bread has raised his heel against Me.</J>


text:
<J>I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am [He].</J>


text:
<J>I assure you: The one who receives whomever I send receives Me, and the one who receives Me receives Him who sent Me."</J>


text:
When Jesus had said this, He was troubled in His spirit and testified, <J>"I assure you: One of you will betray Me!"</J>


text:
Jesus replied, <J>"He's the one I give the piece of bread to after I have dipped it."</J> When He had dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas, Simon Iscariot's son.


text:
After [Judas ate] the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Therefore Jesus told him, <J>"What you're doing, do quickly."</J>


text:
Since Judas kept the money-bag, some thought that Jesus was telling him, "Buy what we need for the festival," or that he should give something to the poor.


text:
When he had gone out, Jesus said, <J>"Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him.</J>


text:
<J>If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself and will glorify Him at once.</J>


text:
<J>Children, I am with you a little while longer. You will look for Me, and just as I told the Jews, 'Where I am going you cannot come,' so now I tell you.</J>


text:
<J>I give you a new commandment: love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another.</J>


text:
Lord," Simon Peter said to Him, "where are You going?" Jesus answered, <J>"Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you will follow later."</J>


text:
Jesus replied, <J>"Will you lay down your life for Me? I assure you: A rooster will not crow until you have denied Me three times.</J>


text:
<J>In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you.</J>


text:
<J>If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.</J>


text:
Jesus told him, <J>"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.</J>


text:
<J>If you know Me, you will also know My Father. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him."</J>


text:
Jesus said to him, <J>"Have I been among you all this time without your knowing Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?</J>


text:
<J>Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I speak to you I do not speak on My own. The Father who lives in Me does His works.</J>


text:
<J>Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me. Otherwise, believe because of the works themselves.</J>


text:
<J>I assure you: The one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.</J>


text:
<J>He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn't see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you.</J>


text:
<J>In a little while the world will see Me no longer, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live too.</J>


text:
<J>The one who has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. And the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father. I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him."</J>


text:
Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it You're going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?"


text:
Jesus answered, <J>"If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.</J>


text:
<J>The one who doesn't love Me will not keep My words. The word that you hear is not Mine but is from the Father who sent Me.</J>


text:
<J>But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit-- the Father will send Him in My name-- will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.</J>


text:
<J>Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful.</J>


text:
<J>You have heard Me tell 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.</J>


text:
<J>I will not talk with you much longer, because the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over Me.</J>


text:
<J>On the contrary, [I am going away] so that the world may know that I love the Father. Just as the Father commanded Me, so I do. "Get up; let's leave this place.</J>


text:
<J>Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit.</J>


text:
<J>Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me.</J>


text:
<J>I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me.</J>


text:
<J>If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned.</J>


text:
<J>If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.</J>


text:
<J>If you keep My commands you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commands and remain in His love.</J>


text:
<J>I do not call you slaves anymore, because a slave doesn't know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from My Father.</J>


text:
<J>You did not choose Me, but I chose you. I appointed you that you should go out and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.</J>


text:
<J>If you were of the world, the world would love [you as] its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you.</J>


text:
<J>Remember the word I spoke 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 also keep yours.</J>


text:
<J>But they will do all these things to you on account of My name, because they don't know the One who sent Me.</J>


text:
<J>If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin. Now they have no excuse for their sin.</J>


text:
<J>If I had not done the works among them that no one else has done, they would not have sin. Now they have seen and hated both Me and My Father.</J>


text:
<J>But [this happened] so that the statement written in their law might be fulfilled: They hated Me for no reason.</J>


text:
<J>When the Counselor comes, the One I will send to you from the Father-- the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father-- He will testify about Me.</J>


text:
<J>They will ban you from the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God.</J>


text:
<J>But I have told you these things so that when their time comes you may remember I told them to you. I didn't tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.</J>


text:
<J>But now I am going away to Him who sent Me, and not one of you asks Me, 'Where are You going?'</J>


text:
<J>Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don't go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send Him to you.</J>


text:
<J>When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come.</J>


text:
<J>Everything the Father has is Mine. This is why I told you that He takes from what is Mine and will declare it to you.</J>


text:
Therefore some of His disciples said to one another, <J>"What is this He tells us: 'A little while and you will not see Me; again a little while and you will see Me'; and, 'because I am going to the Father'?"</J>


text:
They said, "What is this He is saying, <J>'A little while'</J>? We don't know what He's talking about!"


text:
Jesus knew they wanted to question Him, so He said to them, <J>"Are you asking one another about what I said, 'A little while and you will not see Me; again a little while and you will see Me'?</J>


text:
<J>I assure you: You will weep and wail, but the world will rejoice. You will become sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy.</J>


text:
<J>When a woman is in labor she has pain because her time has come. But when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the suffering because of the joy that a person has been born into the world.</J>


text:
<J>So you also have sorrow now. But I will see you again. Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will rob you of your joy.</J>


text:
<J>In that day you will not ask Me anything. "I assure you: Anything you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.</J>


text:
<J>Until now you have asked for nothing in My name. Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be complete.</J>


text:
<J>I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. A time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but I will tell you plainly about the Father.</J>


text:
<J>In that day you will ask in My name. I am not telling you that I will make requests to the Father on your behalf.</J>


text:
<J>For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from God.</J>


text:
<J>I came from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father."</J>


text:
Now we know that You know everything and don't need anyone to question You. By this we believe that You came from God."


text:
<J>Look: An hour is coming, and has come, when each of you will be scattered to his own home, and you will leave Me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.</J>


text:
<J>I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world."</J>


text:
Jesus spoke these things, looked up to heaven, and said: <J>Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son so that the Son may glorify You,</J>


text:
<J>for You gave Him authority over all flesh; so He may give eternal life to all You have given Him.</J>


text:
<J>This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and the One You have sent-- Jesus Christ.</J>


text:
<J>Now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with that glory I had with You before the world existed.</J>


text:
<J>I have revealed Your name to the men You gave Me from the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.</J>


text:
<J>because the words that You gave Me, I have given them. They have received them and have known for certain that I came from You. They have believed that You sent Me.</J>


text:
<J>I pray for them. I am not praying for the world but for those You have given Me, because they are Yours.</J>


text:
<J>I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, protect them by Your name that You have given Me, so that they may be one as We are one.</J>


text:
<J>While I was with them, I was protecting them by Your name that You have given Me. I guarded them and not one of them is lost, except the son of destruction, so that the Scripture may be fulfilled.</J>


text:
<J>Now I am coming to You, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have My joy completed in them.</J>


text:
<J>I have given them Your word. The world hated them because they are not of the world, as I am not of the world.</J>


text:
<J>I am not praying that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one.</J>


text:
<J>May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us, so the world may believe You sent Me.</J>


text:
<J>I am in them and You are in Me. May they be made completely one, so the world may know You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me.</J>


text:
<J>Father, I desire those You have given Me to be with Me where I am. Then they will see My glory, which You have given Me because You loved Me before the world's foundation.</J>


text:
<J>Righteous Father! The world has not known You. However, I have known You, and these have known that You sent Me.</J>


text:
I made Your name known to them and will make it known, so the love You have loved Me with may be in them and I may be in them.


text:
After Jesus had said these things, He went out with His disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, and He and His disciples went into it.


text:
So Judas took a company of soldiers and some temple police from the chief priests and the Pharisees and came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.


text:
Then Jesus, knowing everything that was about to happen to Him, went out and said to them, <J>"Who is it you're looking for?"</J>


text:
"Jesus the Nazarene," they answered. <J>"I am He,"</J> Jesus told them. Judas, who betrayed Him, was also standing with them.


text:
<J>"I told you I am [He],"</J> Jesus replied. <J>"So if you're looking for Me, let these men go."</J>


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


text:
At that, Jesus said to Peter, <J>"Sheathe your sword! Am I not to drink the cup the Father has given Me?"</J>


text:
Then the company of soldiers, the commander, and the Jewish temple police arrested Jesus and tied Him up.


text:
First they led Him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.


text:
Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was advantageous that one man should die for the people.


text:
Meanwhile Simon Peter was following Jesus, as was another disciple. That disciple was an acquaintance of the high priest; so he went with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard.


text:
But Peter remained standing outside by the door. So the other disciple, the one known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the girl who was the doorkeeper and brought Peter in.


text:
Then the slave girl who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, "You aren't one of this man's disciples too, are you?" "I am not!" he said.


text:
Now the slaves and the temple police had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold. They were standing there warming themselves, and Peter was standing with them, warming himself.


text:
<J>"I have spoken openly to the world,"</J> Jesus answered him. <J>"I have always taught in the synagogue and in the temple complex, where all the Jews congregate, and I haven't spoken anything in secret.</J>


text:
<J>Why do you question Me? Question those who heard what I told them. Look, they know what I said."</J>


text:
When He had said these things, one of the temple police standing by slapped Jesus, saying, "Is this the way you answer the high priest?"


text:
<J>"If I have spoken wrongly,"</J> Jesus answered him, <J>"give evidence about the wrong; but if rightly, why do you hit Me?"</J>


text:
Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said to him, "You aren't one of His disciples too, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not!"


text:
One of the high priest's slaves, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "Didn't I see you with Him in the garden?"


text:
Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters. It was early morning. They did not enter the headquarters themselves; otherwise they would be defiled and unable to eat the Passover.


text:
So Pilate told them, "Take Him yourselves and judge Him according to your law." "It's not legal for us to put anyone to death," the Jews declared.


text:
They said this so that Jesus' words might be fulfilled signifying what sort of death He was going to die.


text:
Then Pilate went back into the headquarters, summoned Jesus, and said to Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?"


text:
I'm not a Jew, am I?" Pilate replied. "Your own nation and the chief priests handed You over to me. What have You done?"


text:
<J>"My kingdom is not of this world,"</J> said Jesus. <J>"If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I wouldn't be handed over to the Jews. As it is, My kingdom does not have its origin here."</J>


text:
"You are a king then?" Pilate asked.<J> "You say that I'm a king,"</J> Jesus replied. <J>"I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice."</J>


text:
What is truth?" said Pilate. After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, "I find no grounds for charging Him.


text:
You have a custom that I release one [prisoner] to you at the Passover. So, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?"


text:
The soldiers also twisted together a crown of thorns, put it on His head, and threw a purple robe around Him.


text:
Pilate went outside again and said to them, "Look, I'm bringing Him outside to you to let you know I find no grounds for charging Him."


text:
Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!"


text:
When the chief priests and the temple police saw Him, they shouted, "Crucify! Crucify!" Pilate responded, "Take Him and crucify Him yourselves, for I find no grounds for charging Him."


text:
We have a law," the Jews replied to him, "and according to that law He must die, because He made Himself the Son of God."


text:
He went back into the headquarters and asked Jesus, "Where are You from?" But Jesus did not give him an answer.


text:
So Pilate said to Him, "You're not talking to me? Don't You know that I have the authority to release You and the authority to crucify You?"


text:
<J>"You would have no authority over Me at all,"</J> Jesus answered him, <J>"if it hadn't been given you from above. This is why the one who handed Me over to you has the greater sin."</J>


text:
From that moment Pilate made every effort to release Him. But the Jews shouted, "If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Anyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar!"


text:
When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside. He sat down on the judge's bench in a place called the Stone Pavement (but in Hebrew Gabbatha).


text:
It was the preparation day for the Passover, and it was about six in the morning. Then he told the Jews, "Here is your king!"


text:
But they shouted, "Take Him away! Take Him away! Crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "Should I crucify your king?" "We have no king but Caesar!" the chief priests answered.


text:
Carrying His own cross, He went out to what is called Skull Place, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha.


text:
Pilate also had a sign lettered and put on the cross. The inscription was: JESUS THE NAZARENE THE KING OF THE JEWS


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


text:
So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Don't write, 'The King of the Jews,' but that He said, 'I am the King of the Jews.'"


text:
When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took His clothes and divided them into four parts, a part for each soldier. They also took the tunic, which was seamless, woven in one piece from the top.


text:
So they said to one another, "Let's not tear it, but toss for it, to see who gets it." [They did this] to fulfill the Scripture that says: They divided My clothes among themselves, and they cast lots for My clothing. And this is what the soldiers did.


text:
Standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.


text:
When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple He loved standing there, He said to His mother, <J>"Woman, here is your son."</J>


text:
Then He said to the disciple, <J>"Here is your mother."</J> And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.


text:
After this, when Jesus knew that everything was now accomplished that the Scripture might be fulfilled, He said, <J>"I'm thirsty!"</J>


text:
A jar full of sour wine was sitting there; so they fixed a sponge full of sour wine on hyssop and held it up to His mouth.


text:
When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, <J>"It is finished!"</J> Then bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.


text:
Since it was the preparation day, the Jews did not want the bodies to remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a special day). They requested that Pilate have the men's legs broken and that [their bodies] be taken away.


text:
So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and of the other one who had been crucified with Him.


text:
He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows he is telling the truth.


text:
For these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: Not one of His bones will be broken.


text:
After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus-- but secretly because of his fear of the Jews-- asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus' body. Pilate gave him permission, so he came and took His body away.


text:
Nicodemus (who had previously come to Him at night) also came, bringing a mixture of about 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes.


text:
Then they took Jesus' body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the aromatic spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews.


text:
There was a garden in the place where He was crucified. A new tomb was in the garden; no one had yet been placed in it.


text:
On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark. She saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb.


text:
So she ran to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put Him!"


text:
Then, following him, Simon Peter came also. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there.


text:
The wrapping that had been on His head was not lying with the linen cloths but was folded up in a separate place by itself.


text:
But Mary stood outside facing the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb.


text:
She saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet, where Jesus' body had been lying.


text:
They said to her, "Woman, why are you crying?" "Because they've taken away my Lord," she told them, "and I don't know where they've put Him."


text:
Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not know it was Jesus.


text:
<J>"Woman,"</J> Jesus said to her, <J>"why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?"</J> Supposing He was the gardener, she replied, "Sir, if you've removed Him, tell me where you've put Him, and I will take Him away."


text:
Jesus said, <J>"Mary."</J> Turning around, she said to Him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni!"-- which means "Teacher."


text:
<J>"Don't cling to Me,"</J> Jesus told her, <J>"for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to My brothers and tell them that I am ascending to My Father and your Father-- to My God and your God."</J>


text:
Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them what He had said to her.


text:
In the evening of that first day of the week, the disciples were [gathered together] with the doors locked because of their fear of the Jews. Then Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, <J>"Peace to you!"</J>


text:
Having said this, He showed them His hands and His side. So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.


text:
<J>If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain [the sins of] any, they are retained."</J>


text:
So the other disciples kept telling him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "If I don't see the mark of the nails in His hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe!"


text:
After eight days His disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, <J>"Peace to you!"</J>


text:
Then He said to Thomas, <J>"Put your finger here and observe My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Don't be an unbeliever, but a believer."</J>


text:
Jesus said, <J>"Because you have seen Me, you have believed. Those who believe without seeing are blessed."</J>


text:
Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples that are not written in this book.


text:
But these are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name.


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After this, Jesus revealed Himself again to His disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed Himself in this way:


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Simon Peter, Thomas (called "Twin"), Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, Zebedee's sons, and two others of His disciples were together.


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I'm going fishing," Simon Peter said to them. "We're coming with you," they told him. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.


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<J>"Cast the net on the right side of the boat,"</J> He told them, <J>"and you'll find some."</J> So they did, and they were unable to haul it in because of the large number of fish.


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Therefore the disciple, the one Jesus loved, said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tied his outer garment around him (for he was stripped) and plunged into the sea.


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But since they were not far from land (about 100 yards away), the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish.


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So Simon Peter got up and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish-- 153 of them. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.


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<J>"Come and have breakfast,"</J> Jesus told them. None of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who are You?" because they knew it was the Lord.


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When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, <J>"Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?"</J> "Yes, Lord," he said to Him, "You know that I love You." <J>"Feed My lambs,"</J> He told him.


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A second time He asked him, <J>"Simon, son of John, do you love Me?"</J> "Yes, Lord," he said to Him, "You know that I love You." <J>"Shepherd My sheep,"</J> He told him.


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He asked him the third time, <J>"Simon, son of John, do you love Me?"</J> Peter was grieved that He asked him the third time, "Do you love Me?" He said, "Lord, You know everything! You know that I love You." <J>"Feed My sheep,"</J> Jesus said.


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<J>I assure you: When you were young, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don't want to go."</J>


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He said this to signify by what kind of death he would glorify God. After saying this, He told him, <J>"Follow Me!"</J>


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So Peter turned around and saw the disciple Jesus loved following them. [That disciple] was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and asked, "Lord, who is the one that's going to betray You?"


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<J>"If I want him to remain until I come,"</J> Jesus answered, <J>"what is that to you? As for you, follow Me."</J>


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So this report spread to the brothers that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not tell him that he would not die, but, <J>"If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?"</J>


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This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.


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And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if they were written one by one, I suppose not even the world itself could contain the books that would be written.


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until the day He was taken up, after He had given orders through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom He had chosen.


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After He had suffered, He also presented Himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of God.


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While He was together with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father's promise. <J>"This,"</J> [He said, <J>"is what] you heard from Me;</J>


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<J>for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."</J>


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So when they had come together, they asked Him, "Lord, at this time are You restoring the kingdom to Israel?"


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He said to them, <J>"It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority.</J>


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<J>But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."</J>


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After He had said this, He was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.


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While He was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them.


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They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen Him going into heaven."


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Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olive Grove, which is near Jerusalem-- a Sabbath day's journey away.


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


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All these were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers.


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During these days Peter stood up among the brothers-- the number of people who were together was about 120-- and said:


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Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit through the mouth of David spoke in advance about Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.


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Now this man acquired a field with his unrighteous wages; and falling headfirst, he burst open in the middle, and all his insides spilled out.


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


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For it is written in the Book of Psalms: Let his dwelling become desolate; let no one live in it; and Let someone else take his position.


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Therefore, from among the men who have accompanied us during the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us--


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beginning from the baptism of John until the day He was taken up from us-- from among these, it is necessary that one become a witness with us of His resurrection."


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Then they cast lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias. So he was numbered with the 11 apostles.


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Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying.


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And tongues, like flames of fire that were divided, appeared to them and rested on each one of them.


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Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages, as the Spirit gave them ability for speech.


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When this sound occurred, the multitude came together and was confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language.


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Parthians, Medes, Elamites; those who live in Mesopotamia, in Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,


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


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But Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them: "Jewish men and all you residents of Jerusalem, let this be known to you and pay attention to my words.


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And it will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out My Spirit on all humanity; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.


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I will display wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below: blood and fire and a cloud of smoke.


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The sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and remarkable day of the Lord comes;


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Men of Israel, listen to these words: This Jesus the Nazarene was a man pointed out to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through Him, just as you yourselves know.


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Though He was delivered up according to God's determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail Him to a cross and kill Him.


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For David says of Him: I saw the Lord ever before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.


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Brothers, I can confidently speak to you about the patriarch David: he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.


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


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Seeing this in advance, he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Messiah: He was not left in Hades, and His flesh did not experience decay.


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Therefore, since He has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, He has poured out what you both see and hear.


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For it was not David who ascended into the heavens, but he himself says: The Lord said to my Lord, 'Sit at My right hand


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Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah!"


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When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: "Brothers, what must we do?"


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Repent," Peter said to them, "and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus the Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.


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For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call."


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And with many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, "Be saved from this corrupt generation!"


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So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them.


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And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayers.


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So they sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need.


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And every day they devoted themselves [to meeting] together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,


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praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved.


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Now Peter and John were going up together to the temple complex at the hour of prayer at three in the afternoon.


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And a man who was lame from his mother's womb was carried there and placed every day at the temple gate called Beautiful, so he could beg from those entering the temple complex.


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But Peter said, "I have neither silver nor gold, but what I have, I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!"


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So he jumped up, stood, and started to walk, and he entered the temple complex with them-- walking, leaping, and praising God.


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and they recognized that he was the one who used to sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the temple complex. So they were filled with awe and astonishment at what had happened to him.


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While he was holding on to Peter and John, all the people, greatly amazed, ran toward them in what is called Solomon's Colonnade.


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When Peter saw this, he addressed the people: "Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this? Or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him walk?


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The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you handed over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him.


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By faith in His name, His name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. So the faith that comes through Him has given him this perfect health in front of all of you.


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But what God predicted through the mouth of all the prophets-- that His Messiah would suffer-- He has fulfilled in this way.


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Therefore repent and turn back, that your sins may be wiped out so that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,


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Heaven must welcome Him until the times of the restoration of all things, which God spoke about by the mouth of His holy prophets from the beginning.


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Moses said: The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to Him in everything He will say to you.


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And it will be that everyone who will not listen to that Prophet will be completely cut off from the people.


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In addition, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those after him, have also announced these days.


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You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your forefathers, saying to Abraham, And in your seed all the families of the earth will be blessed.


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God raised up His Servant and sent Him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your evil ways."


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Now as they were speaking to the people, the priests, the commander of the temple guard, and the Sadducees confronted them,


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because they were provoked that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in the person of Jesus the resurrection from the dead.


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


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After they had Peter and John stand before them, they asked the question: "By what power or in what name have you done this?"


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If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a disabled man-- by what means he was healed--


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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 and whom God raised from the dead-- by Him this man is standing here before you healthy.


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There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved."


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When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and knew that they had been with Jesus.


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And since they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in response.


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saying, "What should we do with these men? For an obvious sign, evident to all who live in Jerusalem, has been done through them, and we cannot deny it!


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But so this does not spread any further among the people, let's threaten them against speaking to anyone in this name again."


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But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it's right in the sight of God [for us] to listen to you rather than to God, you decide;


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After threatening them further, they released them. They found no way to punish them, because the people were all giving glory to God over what had been done;


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After they were released, they went to their own fellowship and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.


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When they heard this, they raised their voices to God unanimously and said, "Master, You are the One who made the heaven, the earth, and the sea, and everything in them.


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You said through the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David Your servant: Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot futile things?


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The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers assembled together against the Lord and against His Messiah.


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For, in fact, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, assembled together against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed,


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And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that Your slaves may speak Your message with complete boldness,


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while You stretch out Your hand for healing, signs, and wonders to be performed through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus."


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When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak God's message with boldness.


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Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common.


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And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them.


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For there was not a needy person among them, because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,


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Joseph, a Levite and a Cypriot by birth, whom the apostles named Barnabas, which is translated Son of Encouragement,


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However, he kept back part of the proceeds with his wife's knowledge, and brought a portion of it and laid it at the apostles' feet.


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Then Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds from the field?


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Wasn't it yours while you possessed it? And after it was sold, wasn't it at your disposal? Why is it that you planned this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God!"


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Tell me," Peter asked her, "did you sell the field for this price?" "Yes," she said, "for that price."


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Then Peter said to her, "Why did you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out!"


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Instantly she dropped dead at his feet. When the young men came in, they found her dead, carried her out, and buried her beside her husband.


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Many signs and wonders were being done among the people through the hands of the apostles. By common consent they would all meet in Solomon's Colonnade.


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As a result, they would carry the sick out into the streets and lay them on beds and pallets so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them.


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In addition, a multitude came together from the towns surrounding Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.


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Then the high priest took action. He and all his colleagues, those who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.


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In obedience to this, they entered the temple complex at daybreak and began to teach. When the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin-- the full Senate of the sons of Israel-- and sent [orders] to the jail to have them brought.


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But when the temple police got there, they did not find them in the jail, so they returned and reported,


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We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing in front of the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!"


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As the captain of the temple police and the chief priests heard these things, they were baffled about them, as to what could come of this.


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Someone came and reported to them, "Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple complex and teaching the people."


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Then the captain went with the temple police and brought them in without force, because they were afraid the people might stone them.


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Didn't we strictly order you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to bring this man's blood on us!"


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God exalted this man to His right hand as ruler and Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.


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We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him."


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A Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered the men to be taken outside for a little while.


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Not long ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about 400 men rallied to him. He was killed, and all his partisans were dispersed and came to nothing.


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After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and attracted a following. That man also perished, and all his partisans were scattered.


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And now, I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or this work is of men, it will be overthrown;


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but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God." So they were persuaded by him.


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After they called in the apostles and had them flogged, they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them.


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Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be dishonored on behalf of the name.


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Every day in the temple complex, and in various homes, they continued teaching and proclaiming the good news that the Messiah is Jesus.


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In those days, as the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.


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Then the Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, "It would not be right for us to give up preaching about God to wait on tables.


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Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty.


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The proposal pleased the whole company. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte from Antioch.


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So the preaching about God flourished, the number of the disciples in Jerusalem multiplied greatly, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.


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Then some from what is called the Freedmen's Synagogue, composed of both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and disputed with Stephen.


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They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; so they came up, dragged him off, and took him to the Sanhedrin.


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They also presented false witnesses who said, "This man does not stop speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.


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For we heard him say that Jesus, this Nazarene, will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us."


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And all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.


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Brothers and fathers," he said, "listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he settled in Haran,


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and said to him: Get out of your country and away from your relatives, and come to the land that I will show you.


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Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. And from there, after his father died, God had him move to this land in which you now live.


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He didn't give him an inheritance in it, not even a foot of ground, but He promised to give it to him as a possession, and to his descendants after him, even though he was childless.


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God spoke in this way: His descendants would be strangers in a foreign country, and they would enslave and oppress them for 400 years.


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I will judge the nation that they will serve as slaves, God said. After this, they will come out and worship Me in this place.


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Then He gave him the covenant of circumcision. This being so, he fathered Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; Isaac did the same with Jacob, and Jacob with the 12 patriarchs.


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and rescued him out of all his troubles. He gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him governor over Egypt and over his whole household.


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Then a famine came over all of Egypt and Canaan, with great suffering, and our forefathers could find no food.


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were carried back to Shechem, and were placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.


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As the time was drawing near to fulfill the promise that God had made to Abraham, the people flourished and multiplied in Egypt


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He dealt deceitfully with our race and oppressed our forefathers by making them leave their infants outside so they wouldn't survive.


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At this time Moses was born, and he was beautiful before God. He was nursed in his father's home three months,


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So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was powerful in his speech and actions.


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When he saw one of them being mistreated, he came to his rescue and avenged the oppressed man by striking down the Egyptian.


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He assumed his brothers would understand that God would give them deliverance through him, but they did not understand.


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The next day he showed up while they were fighting and tried to reconcile them peacefully, saying, 'Men, you are brothers. Why are you mistreating each other?'


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But the one who was mistreating his neighbor pushed him away, saying: Who appointed you a ruler and a judge over us?


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At this disclosure, Moses fled and became an exile in the land of Midian, where he fathered two sons.


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After 40 years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the desert of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning bush.


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When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight. As he was approaching to look at it, the voice of the Lord came:


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I am the God of your forefathers-- the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob. So Moses began to tremble and did not dare to look.


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


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I have certainly seen the oppression of My people in Egypt; I have heard their groaning and have come down to rescue them. And now, come, I will send you to Egypt.


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This Moses, whom they rejected when they said, Who appointed you a ruler and a judge?-- this one God sent as a ruler and a redeemer by means of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.


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This man led them out and performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in the desert for 40 years.


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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.


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He is the one who was in the congregation in the desert together with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our forefathers. He received living oracles to give to us.


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Our forefathers were unwilling to obey him, but pushed him away, and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.


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They told Aaron: Make us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we don't know what's become of him.


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They even made a calf in those days, offered sacrifice to the idol, and were celebrating what their hands had made.


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Then God turned away and gave them up to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: Did you bring Me offerings and sacrifices for 40 years in the desert, O house of Israel?


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No, you took up the tent of Moloch and the star of your god Rephan, the images that you made to worship. So I will deport you beyond Babylon!


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Our forefathers had the tabernacle of the testimony in the desert, just as He who spoke to Moses commanded him to make it according to the pattern he had seen.


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Our forefathers in turn received it and with Joshua brought it in when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our fathers, until the days of David.


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He found favor in God's sight and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.


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Heaven is My throne, and earth My footstool. What sort of house will you build for Me? says the Lord, or what is My resting place?


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You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit; as your forefathers did, so do you.


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Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They even killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become.


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But Stephen, filled by the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven. He saw God's glory, with Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and he said,


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They threw him out of the city and began to stone him. And the witnesses laid their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul.


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Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin!" And saying this, he fell asleep.


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Saul agreed with putting him to death. On that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the land of Judea and Samaria.


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Saul, however, was ravaging the church, and he would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison.


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The crowds paid attention with one mind to what Philip said, as they heard and saw the signs he was performing.


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For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.


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A man named Simon had previously practiced sorcery in that city and astounded the Samaritan people, while claiming to be somebody great.


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They all paid attention to him, from the least of them to the greatest, and they said, "This man is called the Great Power of God!"


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But when they believed Philip, as he proclaimed the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.


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Then even Simon himself believed. And after he was baptized, he went around constantly with Philip and was astounded as he observed the signs and great miracles that were being performed.


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When the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had welcomed God's message, they sent Peter and John to them.


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For He had not yet come down on any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.


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When Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,


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But Peter told him, "May your silver be destroyed with you, because you thought the gift of God could be obtained with money!


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Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.


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Then, after they had testified and spoken the message of the Lord, they traveled back to Jerusalem, evangelizing many villages of the Samaritans.


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An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip: "Get up and go south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to desert Gaza."


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


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When Philip ran up to it, he heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you're reading?"


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Now the Scripture passage he was reading was this: He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb is silent before its shearer, so He does not open His mouth.


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In His humiliation justice was denied Him. Who will describe His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.


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The eunuch replied to Philip, "I ask you, who is the prophet saying this about-- himself or another person?"


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As they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, "Look, there's water! What would keep me from being baptized?"


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[And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart you may." And he replied, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."]


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Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.


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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. But he went on his way rejoicing.


text:
Philip appeared in Azotus, and passing through, he was evangelizing all the towns until he came to Caesarea.


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


text:
and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, either men or women, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.


text:
Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, <J>"Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"</J>


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


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Now in Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, <J>"Ananias!"</J> "Here I am, Lord!" he said.


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<J>Get up and go to the street called Straight,"</J> the Lord said to him, <J>"to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there.</J>


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<J>In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so he may regain his sight."</J>


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Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.


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But the Lord said to him, <J>"Go! For this man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before Gentiles, kings, and the sons of Israel.</J>


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So Ananias left and entered the house. Then he placed his hands on him and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling, has sent me so you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."


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At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized.


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And after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some days.


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But all who heard him were astounded and said, "Isn't this the man who, in Jerusalem, was destroying those who called on this name, and then came here for the purpose of taking them as prisoners to the chief priests?"


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But Saul grew more capable, and kept confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that this One is the Messiah.


text:
but their plot became known to Saul. So they were watching the gates day and night intending to kill him,


text:
but his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a large basket through [an opening in] the wall.


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When he arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to associate with the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, since they did not believe he was a disciple.


text:
Barnabas, however, took him and brought him to the apostles and explained to them how, on the road, Saul had seen the Lord, and that He had talked to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.


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So the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace, being built up and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, and it increased in numbers.


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Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your own bed," and immediately he got up.


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In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. She was always doing good works and acts of charity.


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Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him who begged him, "Don't delay in coming with us."


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So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they led him to the room upstairs. And all the widows approached him, weeping and showing him the robes and clothes that Dorcas had made while she was with them.


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Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down, prayed, and turning toward the body said, "Tabitha, get up!" She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up.


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He gave her his hand and helped her stand up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her alive.


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He was a devout man and feared God along with his whole household. He did many charitable deeds for the [Jewish] people and always prayed to God.


text:
At about three in the afternoon he distinctly saw in a vision an angel of God who came in and said to him, "Cornelius!"


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Looking intently at him, he became afraid and said, "What is it, Lord?" And he told him, "Your prayers and your acts of charity have come up as a memorial offering before God.


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When the angel who spoke to him had gone, he called two of his household slaves and a devout soldier, who was one of those who attended him.


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The next day, as they were traveling and nearing the city, Peter went up to pray on the housetop at about noon.


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Then he became hungry and wanted to eat, but while they were preparing something he went into a visionary state.


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He saw heaven opened and an object coming down that resembled a large sheet being lowered to the earth by its four corners.


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While Peter was deeply perplexed about what the vision he had seen might mean, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions to Simon's house, stood at the gate.


text:
While Peter was thinking about the vision, the Spirit told him, "Three men are here looking for you.


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Then Peter went down to the men and said, "Here I am, the one you're looking for. What is the reason you're here?"


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They said, "Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who has a good reputation with the whole Jewish nation, was divinely directed by a holy angel to call you to his house and to hear a message from you."


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Peter then invited them in and gave them lodging. The next day he got up and set out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him.


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The following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.


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Peter said to them, "You know it's forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a foreigner. But God has shown me that I must not call any person common or unclean.


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Cornelius replied, "Four days ago at this hour, at three in the afternoon, I was praying in my house. Just then a man in a dazzling robe stood before me


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and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your acts of charity have been remembered in God's sight.


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Therefore send someone to Joppa and invite Simon here, who is also named Peter. He is lodging in Simon the tanner's house by the sea.'


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Therefore I immediately sent for you, and you did the right thing in coming. So we are all present before God, to hear everything you have been commanded by the Lord."


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He sent the message to the sons of Israel, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ-- He is Lord of all.


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You know the events that took place throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John preached:


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how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and curing all who were under the tyranny of the Devil, because God was with Him.


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We ourselves are witnesses of everything He did in both the Judean country and in Jerusalem; yet they killed Him by hanging Him on a tree.


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not by all the people, but by us, witnesses appointed beforehand by God, who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.


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He commanded us to preach to the people, and to solemnly testify that He is the One appointed by God to be the Judge of the living and the dead.


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All the prophets testify about Him that through His name everyone who believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins."


text:
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who heard the message.


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


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For they heard them speaking in [other] languages and declaring the greatness of God. Then Peter responded,


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Can anyone withhold water and prevent these from being baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"


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And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.


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The apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles had welcomed God's message also.


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I was in the town of Joppa praying, and I saw, in a visionary state, an object coming down that resembled a large sheet being lowered from heaven by its four corners, and it came to me.


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When I looked closely and considered it, I saw the four-footed animals of the earth, the wild beasts, the reptiles, and the birds of the sky.


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But a voice answered from heaven a second time, 'What God has made clean, you must not call common.'


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At that very moment, three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea arrived at the house where we were.


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Then the Spirit told me to go with them with no doubts at all. These six brothers accompanied me, and we went into the man's house.


text:
He reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, 'Send to Joppa, and call for Simon, who is also named Peter.


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Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'


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Therefore, if God gave them the same gift that He also gave to us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, how could I possibly hinder God?"


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When they heard this they became silent. Then they glorified God, saying, "So God has granted repentance resulting in life to even the Gentiles!"


text:
Those who had been scattered as a result of the persecution that started because of Stephen made their way as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message to no one except Jews.


text:
But there were some of them, Cypriot and Cyrenian men, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Hellenists, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus.


text:
Then the report about them reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to travel as far as Antioch.


text:
When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he encouraged all of them to remain true to the Lord with a firm resolve of the heart--


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for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith-- and large numbers of people were added to the Lord.


text:
and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers, and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.


text:
Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine throughout the Roman world. This took place during the time of Claudius.


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So each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea.


text:
When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too, during the days of Unleavened Bread.


text:
After the arrest, he put him in prison and assigned four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.


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On the night before Herod was to bring him out [for execution], Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, while the sentries in front of the door guarded the prison.


text:
Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. Striking Peter on the side, he woke him up and said, "Quick, get up!" Then the chains fell off his wrists.


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Get dressed," the angel told him, "and put on your sandals." And he did so. "Wrap your cloak around you," he told him, "and follow me."


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So he went out and followed, and he did not know that what took place through the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.


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After they passed the first and second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went outside and passed one street, and immediately the angel left him.


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Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod's grasp and from all that the Jewish people expected."


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When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many had assembled and were praying.


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She recognized Peter's voice, and because of her joy she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gateway.


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You're crazy!" they told her. But she kept insisting that it was true. Then they said, "It's his angel!"


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Motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he explained to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. "Report these things to James and the brothers," he said. Then he departed and went to a different place.


text:
After Herod had searched and did not find him, he interrogated the guards and ordered their execution. Then Herod went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.


text:
He had been very angry with the Tyrians and Sidonians. Together they presented themselves before him, and having won over Blastus, who was in charge of the king's bedroom, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food from the king's country.


text:
So on an appointed day, dressed in royal robes and seated on the throne, Herod delivered a public address to them.


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At once an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give the glory to God, and he became infected with worms and died.


text:
And Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem after they had completed their relief mission, on which they took John Mark.


text:
In the local church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen, a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.


text:
As they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work that I have called them to."


text:
Being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they came down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.


text:
Arriving in Salamis, they proclaimed God's message in the Jewish synagogues. They also had John as their assistant.


text:
When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came across a sorcerer, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus.


text:
He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and desired to hear God's message.


text:
But Elymas, the sorcerer, which is how his name is translated, opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith.


text:
and said, "You son of the Devil, full of all deceit and all fraud, enemy of all righteousness! Won't you ever stop perverting the straight paths of the Lord?


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Now, look! The Lord's hand is against you: you are going to be blind, and will not see the sun for a time." Suddenly a mist and darkness fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.


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Then the proconsul, seeing what happened, believed and was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.


text:
Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. John, however, left them and went back to Jerusalem.


text:
They continued their journey from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia. On the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.


text:
After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent [word] to them, saying, "Brothers, if you have any message of encouragement for the people, you can speak."


text:
Then standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and spoke: "Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen!


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The God of this people Israel chose our forefathers, exalted the people during their stay in the land of Egypt, and led them out of it with a mighty arm.


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then after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, He gave their land to them as an inheritance.


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Then they asked for a king, so God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for 40 years.


text:
After removing him, He raised up David as their king, of whom He testified: 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will carry out all My will.'


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Before He came to public attention, John had previously proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.


text:
Then as John was completing his life work, he said, 'Who do you think I am? I am not the One. But look! Someone is coming after me, and I am not worthy to untie the sandals on His feet.'


text:
Brothers, sons of Abraham's race, and those among you who fear God, the message of this salvation has been sent to us.


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For the residents of Jerusalem and their rulers, since they did not recognize Him or the voices of the prophets that are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled their words by condemning Him.


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When they had fulfilled all that had been written about Him, they took Him down from the tree and put Him in a tomb.


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and He appeared for many days to those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now His witnesses to the people.


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God has fulfilled this to us their children by raising up Jesus, as it is written in the second Psalm: You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.


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Since He raised Him from the dead, never to return to decay, He has spoken in this way, I will grant you the faithful covenant blessings made to David.


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For David, after serving his own generation in God's plan, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and decayed.


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Therefore, let it be known to you, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you,


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and everyone who believes in Him is justified from everything, which you could not be justified from through the law of Moses.


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Look, you scoffers, marvel and vanish away, because I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will never believe, even if someone were to explain it to you."


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After the synagogue had been dismissed, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking with them and persuading them to continue in the grace of God.


text:
But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to oppose what Paul was saying by insulting him.


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Then Paul and Barnabas boldly said: "It was necessary that God's message be spoken to you first. But since you reject it, and consider yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles!


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For this is what the Lord has commanded us: I have appointed you as a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth."


text:
When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the message of the Lord, and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed.


text:
But the Jews incited the religious women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their district.


text:
The same thing happened in Iconium; they entered the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.


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But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against the brothers.


text:
So they stayed there for some time and spoke boldly, in reliance on the Lord, who testified to the message of His grace by granting that signs and wonders be performed through them.


text:
When an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to assault and stone them,


text:
they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian towns called Lystra and Derbe, and to the surrounding countryside.


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[Paul] said in a loud voice, "Stand up straight on your feet!" And he jumped up and started to walk around.


text:
When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in the form of men!"


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Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the town, brought oxen and garlands to the gates. He, with the crowds, intended to offer sacrifice.


text:
The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their robes when they heard this and rushed into the crowd, shouting:


text:
Men! Why are you doing these things? We are men also, with the same nature as you, and we are proclaiming good news to you, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.


text:
although He did not leave Himself without a witness, since He did good: giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, and satisfying your hearts with food and happiness."


text:
Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and when they had won over the crowds and stoned Paul, they dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead.


text:
After the disciples surrounded him, he got up and went into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.


text:
After they had evangelized that town and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch,


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strengthening the hearts of the disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith, and by telling them, "It is necessary to pass through many troubles on our way into the kingdom of God."


text:
When they had appointed elders in every church and prayed with fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.


text:
From there they sailed back to Antioch where they had been entrusted to the grace of God for the work they had completed.


text:
After they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported everything God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.


text:
Some men came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom prescribed by Moses, you cannot be saved!"


text:
But after Paul and Barnabas had engaged them in serious argument and debate, they arranged for Paul and Barnabas and some others of them to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem concerning this controversy.


text:
When they had been sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, explaining in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they created great joy among all the brothers.


text:
When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.


text:
But some of the believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses!"


text:
After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them: "Brothers, you are aware that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the gospel message and believe.


text:
And God, who knows the heart, testified to them by giving the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us.


text:
Why, then, are you now testing God by putting on the disciples' necks a yoke that neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear?


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On the contrary, we believe we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way they are."


text:
Then the whole assembly fell silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul describing all the signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.


text:
After these things I will return and will rebuild David's tent, which has fallen down. I will rebuild its ruins and will set it up again,


text:
so that those who are left of mankind may seek the Lord-- even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does these things,


text:
Therefore, in my judgment, we should not cause difficulties for those who turn to God from among the Gentiles,


text:
but instead we should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from blood.


text:
For since ancient times, Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, and he is read aloud in the synagogues every Sabbath day."


text:
Then the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas, called Barsabbas, and Silas, both leading men among the brothers.


text:
They wrote this letter to be delivered by them: From the apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers from among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.


text:
Because we have heard that some to whom we gave no authorization went out from us and troubled you with their words and unsettled your hearts,


text:
we have unanimously decided to select men and send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,


text:
Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will personally report the same things by word of mouth.


text:
For it was the Holy Spirit's decision-- and ours-- to put no greater burden on you than these necessary things:


text:
that you abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these things, you will do well. Farewell.


text:
Then, being sent off, they went down to Antioch, and after gathering the assembly, they delivered the letter.


text:
Both Judas and Silas, who were also prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers and strengthened them with a long message.


text:
After spending some time there, they were sent back in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them.


text:
But Paul and Barnabas, along with many others, remained in Antioch teaching and proclaiming the message of the Lord.


text:
After some time had passed, Paul said to Barnabas, "Let's go back and visit the brothers in every town where we have preached the message of the Lord, and see how they're doing."


text:
But Paul did not think it appropriate to take along this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work.


text:
There was such a sharp disagreement that they parted company, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed off to Cyprus.


text:
Then he went on to Derbe and Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman, but his father was a Greek.


text:
Paul wanted Timothy to go with him, so he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, since they all knew that his father was a Greek.


text:
As they traveled through the towns, they delivered to them the decisions reached by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.


text:
They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia and were prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the message in the province of Asia.


text:
When they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.


text:
During the night a vision appeared to Paul: a Macedonian man was standing and pleading with him, "Cross over to Macedonia and help us!"


text:
After he had seen the vision, we immediately made efforts to set out for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to evangelize them.


text:
and from there to Philippi, a Roman colony, which is a leading city of that district of Macedonia. We stayed in that city for a number of days.


text:
On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate by the river, where we thought there was a place of prayer. We sat down and spoke to the women gathered there.


text:
A woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was spoken by Paul.


text:
After she and her household were baptized, she urged us, "If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us.


text:
Once, as we were on our way to prayer, a slave girl met us who had a spirit of prediction and made a large profit for her owners by fortune-telling.


text:
As she followed Paul and us she cried out, "These men are the slaves of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation."


text:
And she did this for many days. But Paul was greatly aggravated, and turning to the spirit, said, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!" And it came out right away.


text:
When her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.


text:
And bringing them before the chief magistrates, they said, "These men are seriously disturbing our city. They are Jews,


text:
Then the mob joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrates stripped off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods.


text:
After they had inflicted many blows on them, they threw them in jail, ordering the jailer to keep them securely guarded.


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


text:
Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's chains came loose.


text:
When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped.


text:
He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away he and all his family were baptized.


text:
He brought them up into his house, set a meal before them, and rejoiced because he had believed God with his entire household.


text:
The jailer reported these words to Paul: "The magistrates have sent orders for you to be released. So come out now and go in peace."


text:
But Paul said to them, "They beat us in public without a trial, although we are Roman citizens, and threw us in jail. And now are they going to smuggle us out secretly? Certainly not! On the contrary, let them come themselves and escort us out!"


text:
Then the police reported these words to the magistrates. And they were afraid when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.


text:
After leaving the jail, they came to Lydia's house where they saw and encouraged the brothers, and departed.


text:
Then they traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.


text:
explaining and showing that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead, and saying: "This is the Messiah, Jesus, whom I am proclaiming to you."


text:
Then some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, including a great number of God-fearing Greeks, as well as a number of the leading women.


text:
But the Jews became jealous, and when they had brought together some scoundrels from the marketplace and formed a mob, they set the city in an uproar. Attacking Jason's house, they searched for them to bring them out to the public assembly.


text:
When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city officials, shouting, "These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too,


text:
and Jason has received them as guests! They are all acting contrary to Caesar's decrees, saying that there is another king-- Jesus!"


text:
As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas off to Beroea. On arrival, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.


text:
The people here were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, since they welcomed the message with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.


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Consequently, many of them believed, including a number of the prominent Greek women as well as men.


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But when the Jews from Thessalonica found out that God's message had been proclaimed by Paul at Beroea, they came there too, agitating and disturbing the crowds.


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Then the brothers immediately sent Paul away to go to the sea, but Silas and Timothy stayed on there.


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Those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving instructions for Silas and Timothy to come to him as quickly as possible, they departed.


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While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was troubled within him when he saw that the city was full of idols.


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So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with those who worshiped God, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.


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Then also, some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers argued with him. Some said, "What is this pseudo-intellectual trying to say?" Others replied, "He seems to be a preacher of foreign deities"-- because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.


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They took him and brought him to the Areopagus, and said, "May we learn about this new teaching you're speaking of?


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Now all the Athenians and the foreigners residing there spent their time on nothing else but telling or hearing something new.


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Then Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that you are extremely religious in every respect.


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For as I was passing through and observing the objects of your worship, I even found an altar on which was inscribed: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.


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The God who made the world and everything in it-- He is Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in shrines made by hands.


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Neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives everyone life and breath and all things.


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From one man He has made every nation of men to live all over the earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live,


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so that they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.


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For in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'


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Being God's offspring, then, we shouldn't think that the divine nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image fashioned by human art and imagination.


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Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent,


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because He has set a day on which He is going to judge the world in righteousness by the Man He has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead."


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When they heard about resurrection of the dead, some began to ridicule him. But others said, "We will hear you about this again."


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However, some men joined him and believed, among whom were Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.


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where he found a Jewish man named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul came to them,


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When Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with preaching the message and solemnly testified to the Jews that the Messiah is Jesus.


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But when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his clothes and told them, "Your blood is on your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."


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So he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next door to the synagogue.


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Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed the Lord, along with his whole household; and many of the Corinthians, when they heard, believed and were baptized.


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Then the Lord said to Paul in a night vision, <J>"Don't be afraid, but keep on speaking and don't be silent.</J>


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<J>For I am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you to hurt you, because I have many people in this city."</J>


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While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack against Paul and brought him to the judge's bench.


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And as Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, "If it were a matter of a crime or of moral evil, it would be reasonable for me to put up with you Jews.


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But if these are questions about words, names, and your own law, see to it yourselves. I don't want to be a judge of such things."


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Then they all seized Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the judge's bench. But none of these things concerned Gallio.


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So Paul, having stayed on for many days, said good-bye to the brothers and sailed away to Syria. Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He shaved his head at Cenchreae, because he had taken a vow.


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When they reached Ephesus he left them there, but he himself entered the synagogue and engaged in discussion with the Jews.


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but said good-bye and stated, "I'll come back to you again, if God wills." Then he set sail from Ephesus.


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He set out, traveling through one place after another in the Galatian territory and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.


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A Jew named Apollos, a native Alexandrian, an eloquent man who was powerful in the Scriptures, arrived in Ephesus.


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This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught the things about Jesus accurately, although he knew only John's baptism.


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He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. After Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him home and explained the way of God to him more accurately.


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When he wanted to cross over to Achaia, the brothers wrote to the disciples urging them to welcome him. After he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace.


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For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating through the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.


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While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples


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and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" "No," they told him, "we haven't even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."


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Paul said, "John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people that they should believe in the One who would come after him, that is, in Jesus."


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And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began to speak with [other] languages and to prophesy.


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Then he entered the synagogue and spoke boldly over a period of three months, engaging in discussion and trying to persuade them about the things related to the kingdom of God.


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But when some became hardened and would not believe, slandering the Way in front of the crowd, he withdrew from them and met separately with the disciples, conducting discussions every day in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.


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And this went on for two years, so that all the inhabitants of the province of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.


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


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Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists attempted to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "I command you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches!"


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Then the man who had the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them all, and prevailed against them, so that they ran out of that house naked and wounded.


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This became known to everyone who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. Then fear fell on all of them, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.


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while many of those who had practiced magic collected their books and burned them in front of everyone. So they calculated their value, and found it to be 50,000 pieces of silver.


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When these events were over, Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem. "After I've been there," he said, "I must see Rome as well!"


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So after sending two of those who assisted him, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, he himself stayed in the province of Asia for a while.


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For a person named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, provided a great deal of business for the craftsmen.


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When he had assembled them, as well as the workers engaged in this type of business, he said: "Men, you know that our prosperity is derived from this business.


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You both see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost the whole province of Asia, this man Paul has persuaded and misled a considerable number of people by saying that gods made by hand are not gods!


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So not only do we run a risk that our business may be discredited, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be despised and her magnificence come to the verge of ruin-- the very one whom the whole province of Asia and the world adore."


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When they had heard this, they were filled with rage and began to cry out, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"


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So the city was filled with confusion; and they rushed all together into the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's traveling companions.


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Even some of the provincial officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent word to him, pleading with him not to take a chance by going into the amphitheater.


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


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Then some of the crowd gave Alexander advice when the Jews pushed him to the front. So motioning with his hand, Alexander wanted to make his defense to the people.


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But when they recognized that he was a Jew, a united cry went up from all of them for about two hours: "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"


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However, when the city clerk had calmed the crowd down, he said, "Men of Ephesus! What man is there who doesn't know that the city of the Ephesians is the temple guardian of the great Artemis, and of the image that fell from heaven?


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So if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a case against anyone, the courts are in session, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another.


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In fact, we run a risk of being charged with rioting for what happened today, since there is no justification that we can give as a reason for this disorderly gathering."


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After the uproar was over, Paul sent for the disciples, encouraged them, and after saying good-bye, departed to go to Macedonia.


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and stayed three months. When he was about to set sail for Syria, a plot was devised against him by the Jews, so a decision was made to go back through Macedonia.


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


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but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread. In five days we reached them at Troas, where we spent seven days.


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On the first day of the week, we assembled to break bread. Paul spoke to them, and since he was about to depart the next day, he extended his message until midnight.


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and a young man named Eutychus was sitting on a window sill and sank into a deep sleep as Paul kept on speaking. When he was overcome by sleep he fell down from the third story, and was picked up dead.


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But Paul went down, threw himself on him, embraced him, and said, "Don't be alarmed, for his life is in him!"


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After going upstairs, breaking the bread, and eating, he conversed a considerable time until dawn. Then he left.


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Then we went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, from there intending to take Paul on board. For these were his instructions, since he himself was going by land.


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Sailing from there, the next day we arrived off Chios. The following day we crossed over to Samos, and the day after, we came to Miletus.


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For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so he would not have to spend time in the province of Asia, because he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if possible, for the day of Pentecost.


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And when they came to him, he said to them: "You know, from the first day I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time--


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


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and that I did not shrink back from proclaiming to you anything that was profitable, or from teaching it to you in public and from house to house.


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except that in town after town the Holy Spirit testifies to me that chains and afflictions are waiting for me.


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But I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God's grace.


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And now I know that none of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will ever see my face again.


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Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among whom the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.


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And men from among yourselves will rise up with deviant doctrines to lure the disciples into following them.


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Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for three years I did not stop warning each one of you with tears.


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And now I commit you to God and to the message of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified.


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In every way I've shown you that by laboring like this, it is necessary to help the weak and to keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus, for He said, <J>'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'</J>"


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grieving most of all over his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship.


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After we tore ourselves away from them and set sail, we came by a direct route to Cos, the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.


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After we sighted Cyprus, leaving it on the left, we sailed on to Syria and arrived at Tyre, because the ship was to unload its cargo there.


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So we found some disciples and stayed there seven days. They said to Paul through the Spirit not to go to Jerusalem.


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When our days there were over, we left to continue our journey, while all of them, with their wives and children, escorted us out of the city. After kneeling down on the beach to pray,


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When we completed our voyage from Tyre, we reached Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and stayed with them one day.


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The next day we left and came to Caesarea, where we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the Seven, and stayed with him.


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He came to us, took Paul's belt, tied his own feet and hands, and said, "This is what the Holy Spirit says: 'In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into Gentile hands.'"


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Then Paul replied, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."


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Some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us and brought us to Mnason, a Cypriot and an early disciple, with whom we were to stay.


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When they heard it, they glorified God and said, "You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law.


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But they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to abandon Moses, by telling them not to circumcise their children or to walk in our customs.


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Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay for them to get their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that what they were told about you amounts to nothing, but that you yourself are also careful about observing the law.


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With regard to the Gentiles who have believed, we have written a letter containing our decision that they should keep themselves from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality."


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Then the next day, Paul took the men, having purified himself along with them, and entered the temple, announcing the completion of the purification days when the offering for each of them would be made.


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As the seven days were about to end, the Jews from the province of Asia saw him in the temple complex, stirred up the whole crowd, and seized him,


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shouting, "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people, our law, and this place. What's more, he also brought Greeks into the temple and has profaned this holy place."


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For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple complex.


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The whole city was stirred up, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul, dragged him out of the temple complex, and at once the gates were shut.


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As they were trying to kill him, word went up to the commander of the regiment that all Jerusalem was in chaos.


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Taking along soldiers and centurions, he immediately ran down to them. Seeing the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.


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Then the commander came up, took him into custody, and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He asked who he was and what he had done.


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Some in the mob were shouting one thing and some another. Since he was not able to get reliable information because of the uproar, he ordered him to be taken into the barracks.


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As he was about to be brought into the barracks, Paul said to the commander, "Am I allowed to say something to you?" He replied, "Do you know Greek?


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Aren't you the Egyptian who raised a rebellion some time ago and led 4,000 Assassins into the desert?"


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Paul said, "I am a Jewish man from Tarsus of Cilicia, a citizen of an important city. Now I ask you, let me speak to the people."


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After he had given permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned with his hand to the people. When there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language:


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He continued, "I am a Jewish man, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and educated according to the strict view of our patriarchal law. Being zealous for God, just as all of you are today,


text:
as both the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. Having received letters from them to the brothers, I was traveling to Damascus to bring those who were prisoners there to be punished in Jerusalem.


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As I was traveling and near Damascus, about noon an intense light from heaven suddenly flashed around me.


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I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, <J>'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?'</J>


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I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' "He said to me, <J>'I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting!'</J>


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Now those who were with me saw the light, but they did not hear the voice of the One who was speaking to me.


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Then I said, 'What should I do, Lord?' "And the Lord told me, <J>'Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything that is assigned for you to do.'</J>


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Since I couldn't see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.


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Someone named Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good reputation with all the Jews residing there,


text:
came to me, stood by me, and said, 'Brother Saul, regain your sight.' And in that very hour I looked up and saw him.


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Then he said, 'The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the sound of His voice.


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and saw Him telling me, <J>'Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me!'</J>


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But I said, 'Lord, they know that in synagogue after synagogue I had those who believed in You imprisoned and beaten.


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And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving, and I guarded the clothes of those who killed him.'


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They listened to him up to this word. Then they raised their voices, shouting, "Wipe this person off the earth-- it's a disgrace for him to live!"


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the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, directing that he be examined with the scourge, so he could discover the reason they were shouting against him like this.


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As they stretched him out for the lash, Paul said to the centurion standing by, "Is it legal for you to scourge a man who is a Roman citizen and is uncondemned?"


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When the centurion heard this, he went and reported to the commander, saying, "What are you going to do? For this man is a Roman citizen."


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The commander replied, "I bought this citizenship for a large amount of money." "But I myself was born a citizen," Paul said.


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Therefore, those who were about to examine him withdrew from him at once. The commander too was alarmed when he realized Paul was a Roman citizen and he had bound him.


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The next day, since he wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews, he released him and instructed the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin to convene. Then he brought Paul down and placed him before them.


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Paul looked intently at the Sanhedrin and said, "Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience until this day."


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Then Paul said to him, "God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! You are sitting there judging me according to the law, and in violation of the law are you ordering me to be struck?"


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I did not know, brothers," Paul said, "that it was the high priest. For it is written, You must not speak evil of a ruler of your people."


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When Paul realized that one part of them were Sadducees and the other part were Pharisees, he cried out in the Sanhedrin, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees! I am being judged because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead!"


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When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.


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For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, and no angel or spirit, but the Pharisees affirm them all.


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The shouting grew loud, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party got up and argued vehemently: "We find nothing evil in this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"


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When the dispute became violent, the commander feared that Paul might be torn apart by them and ordered the troops to go down, rescue him from them, and bring him into the barracks.


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The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, <J>"Have courage! For as you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."</J>


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When it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under a curse: neither to eat nor to drink until they had killed Paul.


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These men went to the chief priests and elders and said, "We have bound ourselves under a solemn curse that we won't eat anything until we have killed Paul.


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So now you, along with the Sanhedrin, make a request to the commander that he bring him down to you as if you were going to investigate his case more thoroughly. However, before he gets near, we are ready to kill him."


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But the son of Paul's sister, hearing about their ambush, came and entered the barracks and reported it to Paul.


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Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the commander, because he has something to report to him."


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So he took him, brought him to the commander, and said, "The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, because he has something to tell you."


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Then the commander took him by the hand, led him aside, and inquired privately, "What is it you have to report to me?"


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The Jews," he said, "have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomorrow, as though they are going to hold a somewhat more careful inquiry about him.


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Don't let them persuade you, because there are more than 40 of them arranging to ambush him, men who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they kill him. Now they are ready, waiting for a commitment from you."


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So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, "Don't tell anyone that you have informed me about this."


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He summoned two of his centurions and said, "Get 200 soldiers ready with 70 cavalry and 200 spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight.


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When this man had been seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, I arrived with my troops and rescued him because I learned that he is a Roman citizen.


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Wanting to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down before their Sanhedrin.


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I found out that the accusations were about disputed matters in their law, and that there was no charge that merited death or chains.


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When I was informed that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you right away. I also ordered his accusers to state their case against him in your presence.


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Therefore, during the night, the soldiers took Paul and brought him to Antipatris as they were ordered.


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When these men entered Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.


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he said, "I will give you a hearing whenever your accusers get here too." And he ordered that he be kept under guard in Herod's palace.


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After five days Ananias the high priest came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus. These men presented their case against Paul to the governor.


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When he was called in, Tertullus began to accuse him and said: "Since we enjoy great peace because of you, and reforms are taking place for the benefit of this nation by your foresight,


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However, so that I will not burden you any further, I beg you in your graciousness to give us a brief hearing.


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For we have found this man to be a plague, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the Roman world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes!


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He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we apprehended him [and wanted to judge him according to our law.


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When the governor motioned to him to speak, Paul replied: "Because I know you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I am glad to offer my defense in what concerns me.


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And they didn't find me disputing with anyone or causing a disturbance among the crowd, either in the temple complex or in the synagogues, or anywhere in the city.


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But I confess this to you: that according to the Way, which they call a sect, so I worship my fathers' God, believing all the things that are written in the Law and in the Prophets.


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And I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there is going to be a resurrection, both of the righteous and the unrighteous.


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and while I was doing this, some Jews from the province of Asia found me ritually purified in the temple, without a crowd and without any uproar.


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or about this one statement I cried out while standing among them, 'Today I am being judged before you concerning the resurrection of the dead.'"


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Since Felix was accurately informed about the Way, he adjourned the hearing, saying, "When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case."


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He ordered that the centurion keep Paul under guard, though he could have some freedom, and that he should not prevent any of his friends from serving him.


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After some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and listened to him on the subject of faith in Christ Jesus.


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Now as he spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid and replied, "Leave for now, but when I find time I'll call for you."


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At the same time he was also hoping that money would be given to him by Paul. For this reason he sent for him quite often and conversed with him.


text:
After two years had passed, Felix received a successor, Porcius Festus, and because he wished to do a favor for the Jews, Felix left Paul in prison.


text:
Then the chief priests and the leaders of the Jews presented their case against Paul to him; and they appealed,


text:
asking him to do them a favor against Paul, that he might summon him to Jerusalem. They were preparing an ambush along the road to kill him.


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However, Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to go there shortly.


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Therefore," he said, "let the men of authority among you go down with me and accuse him, if there is any wrong in this man."


text:
When he had spent not more than eight or 10 days among them, he went down to Caesarea. The next day, seated at the judge's bench, he commanded Paul to be brought in.


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When he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him and brought many serious charges that they were not able to prove,


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while Paul made the defense that, "Neither against the Jewish law, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I sinned at all."


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Then Festus, wanting to do a favor for the Jews, replied to Paul, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem, there to be tried before me on these charges?"


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But Paul said: "I am standing at Caesar's tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as even you can see very well.


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If then I am doing wrong, or have done anything deserving of death, I do not refuse to die, but if there is nothing to what these men accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!"


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After Festus conferred with his council, he replied, "You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you will go!"


text:
After some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea and paid a courtesy call on Festus.


text:
Since they stayed there many days, Festus presented Paul's case to the king, saying, "There's a man who was left as a prisoner by Felix.


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When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews presented their case and asked for a judgment against him.


text:
I answered them that it's not the Romans' custom to give any man up before the accused confronts the accusers face to face and has an opportunity to give a defense concerning the charge.


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Therefore, when they had assembled here, I did not delay. The next day I sat at the judge's bench and ordered the man to be brought in.


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Instead they had some disagreements with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, a dead man whom Paul claimed to be alive.


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Since I was at a loss in a dispute over such things, I asked him if he wished to go to Jerusalem and be tried there concerning these matters.


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But when Paul appealed to be held for trial by the Emperor, I ordered him to be kept in custody until I could send him to Caesar."


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Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," he said, "you will hear him."


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So the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the auditorium with the commanders and prominent men of the city. When Festus gave the command, Paul was brought in.


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Then Festus said: "King Agrippa and all men present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish community has appealed to me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he should not live any longer.


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Now I realized that he had not done anything deserving of death, but when he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.


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I have nothing definite to write to the Emperor about him. Therefore, I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this examination is over, I may have something to write.


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Agrippa said to Paul, "It is permitted for you to speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense:


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I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that today I am going to make a defense before you about everything I am accused of by the Jews,


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especially since you are an expert in all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.


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All the Jews know my way of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem.


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They had previously known me for quite some time, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I lived as a Pharisee.


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[the promise] our 12 tribes hope to attain as they earnestly serve Him night and day. Because of this hope I am being accused by the Jews, O king!


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In fact, I myself supposed it was necessary to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus the Nazarene.


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This I actually did in Jerusalem, and I locked up many of the saints in prison, since I had received authority for that from the chief priests. When they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.


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In all the synagogues I often tried to make them blaspheme by punishing them. Being greatly enraged at them, I even pursued them to foreign cities.


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Under these circumstances I was traveling to Damascus with authority and a commission from the chief priests.


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At midday, while on the road, O king, I saw a light from heaven brighter than the sun, shining around me and those traveling with me.


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When we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew language, <J>'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'</J>


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But I said, 'Who are You, Lord?' "And the Lord replied: <J>'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.</J>


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<J>But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and a witness of things you have seen, and of things in which I will appear to you.</J>


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<J>to open their eyes that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'</J>


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Instead, I preached to those in Damascus first, and to those in Jerusalem and in all the region of Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy of repentance.


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Since I have obtained help that comes from God, to this day I stand and testify to both small and great, saying nothing else than what the prophets and Moses said would take place--


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that the Messiah must suffer, and that as the first to rise from the dead, He would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles."


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As he was making his defense this way, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, "You're out of your mind, Paul! Too much study is driving you mad!"


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But Paul replied, "I'm not out of my mind, most excellent Festus. On the contrary, I'm speaking words of truth and good judgment.


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For the king knows about these matters. It is to him I am actually speaking boldly. For I'm not convinced that any of these things escapes his notice, since this was not done in a corner!


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I wish before God," replied Paul, "that whether easily or with difficulty, not only you but all who listen to me today might become as I am-- except for these chains."


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and when they had left they talked with each other and said, "This man is doing nothing that deserves death or chains."


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When it was decided that we were to sail to Italy, they handed over Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the Imperial Regiment.


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So when we had boarded a ship of Adramyttium, we put to sea, intending to sail to ports along the coast of the province of Asia. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us.


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The next day we put in at Sidon, and Julius treated Paul kindly and allowed him to go to his friends to receive their care.


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When we had put out to sea from there, we sailed along the northern coast of Cyprus because the winds were against us.


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Sailing slowly for many days, we came with difficulty as far as Cnidus. But since the wind did not allow us to approach it, we sailed along the south side of Crete off Salmone.


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With yet more difficulty we sailed along the coast, and came to a place called Fair Havens near the city of Lasea.


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By now much time had passed, and the voyage was already dangerous. Since the Fast was already over, Paul gave his advice


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and told them, "Men, I can see that this voyage is headed toward damage and heavy loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives."


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But the centurion paid attention to the captain and the owner of the ship rather than to what Paul said.


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Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided to set sail from there, hoping somehow to reach Phoenix, a harbor on Crete open to the southwest and northwest, and to winter there.


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When a gentle south wind sprang up, they thought they had achieved their purpose; they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete.


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Since the ship was caught and was unable to head into the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along.


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After running under the shelter of a little island called Cauda, we were barely able to get control of the skiff.


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After hoisting it up, they used ropes and tackle and girded the ship. Then, fearing they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the drift-anchor, and in this way they were driven along.


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Because we were being severely battered by the storm, they began to jettison the cargo the next day.


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For many days neither sun nor stars appeared, and the severe storm kept raging; finally all hope that we would be saved was disappearing.


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Since many were going without food, Paul stood up among them and said, "You men should have followed my advice not to sail from Crete and sustain this damage and loss.


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Now I urge you to take courage, because there will be no loss of any of your lives, but only of the ship.


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saying, 'Don't be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar. And, look! God has graciously given you all those who are sailing with you.'


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When the fourteenth night came, we were drifting in the Adriatic Sea, and in the middle of the night the sailors thought they were approaching land.


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They took a sounding and found it to be 120 feet deep; when they had sailed a little farther and sounded again, they found it to be 90 feet deep.


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Then, fearing we might run aground in some rocky place, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight to come.


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Some sailors tried to escape from the ship; they had let down the skiff into the sea, pretending that they were going to put out anchors from the bow.


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Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved."


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When it was just about daylight, Paul urged them all to take food, saying, "Today is the fourteenth day that you have been waiting and going without food, having eaten nothing.


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Therefore I urge you to take some food. For this has to do with your survival, since not a hair will be lost from the head of any of you."


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After he said these things and had taken some bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of them all, and when he had broken it, he began to eat.


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And having eaten enough food, they began to lighten the ship by throwing the grain overboard into the sea.


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When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but sighted a bay with a beach. They planned to run the ship ashore if they could.


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After casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and headed for the beach.


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But they struck a sandbar and ran the ship aground. The bow jammed fast and remained immovable, but the stern began to break up with the pounding of the waves.


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But the centurion kept them from carrying out their plan because he wanted to save Paul, so he ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land.


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The rest were to follow, some on planks and some on debris from the ship. In this way, all got safely to land.


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The local people showed us extraordinary kindness, for they lit a fire and took us all in, since rain was falling and it was cold.


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As Paul gathered a bundle of brushwood and put it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself to his hand.


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When the local people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "This man is probably a murderer, and though he has escaped the sea, Justice does not allow him to live!"


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They expected that he would swell up or suddenly drop dead. But after they waited a long time and saw nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.


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Now in the area around that place was an estate belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days.


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It happened that Publius' father was in bed suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went to him, and praying and laying his hands on him, he healed him.


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After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island, with the Twin Brothers as its figurehead.


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From there, after making a circuit along the coast, we reached Rhegium. After one day a south wind sprang up, and the second day we came to Puteoli.


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Now the believers from there had heard the news about us and had come to meet us as far as Forum of Appius and Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.


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After three days he called together the leaders of the Jews. And when they had gathered he said to them: "Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our forefathers, I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans


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Because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar; it was not as though I had any accusation against my nation.


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So, for this reason I've asked to see you and speak to you. In fact, it is for the hope of Israel that I'm wearing this chain."


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And they said to him, "We haven't received any letters about you from Judea; none of the brothers has come and reported or spoken anything evil about you.


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But we consider it suitable to hear from you what you think. For concerning this sect, we are aware that it is spoken against everywhere."


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After arranging a day with him, many came to him at his lodging. From dawn to dusk he expounded and witnessed about the kingdom of God. He persuaded them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets.


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Disagreeing among themselves, they began to leave after Paul made one statement: "The Holy Spirit correctly spoke through the prophet Isaiah to your forefathers


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when He said, Go to this people and say: 'You will listen and listen, yet never understand; and you will look and look, yet never perceive.


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For this people's heart has grown callous, their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and be converted-- and I would heal them.'


