Matthew 14 Cross References - ISV

¹ The Death of John the Baptist
At that time Herod the tetrarch, hearing about the fame of Jesus, ² told his servants, “This is John the Baptist! He has been raised from the dead, and that’s why these miracles are being done by him.” ³ Herod had arrested John, bound him with chains, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife.
⁴ John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” ⁵ Although Herod wanted to kill him, he was afraid of the crowd, since they regarded John as a prophet.
⁶ But when Herod’s birthday celebration was held, the daughter of Herodias danced before the guests. She pleased Herod ⁷ so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked for. ⁸ Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me, right here on a platter, the head of John the Baptist.” ⁹ Under pressure because of his promises and his assembled guests, the king ordered that it be done. ¹⁰ So he sent word and had John beheaded in prison. ¹¹ His head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she took it to her mother. ¹² When John’s disciples came, they carried off the body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.
¹³ Jesus Feeds More than Five Thousand People
When Jesus heard this, he left that place and went by boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of it and followed him on foot from the neighboring towns. ¹⁴ When he got out of the boat, he saw a large crowd. He had compassion for them and healed their sick. ¹⁵ When evening had come, the disciples went to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and it’s already late. Send the crowds away so that they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”
¹⁶ But Jesus told them, “They don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
¹⁷ They told him, “We don’t have anything here except five loaves of bread and two fish.”
¹⁸ He said, “Bring them to me.” ¹⁹ Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed them. Then he broke the loaves in pieces and gave them to his disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. ²⁰ All of them ate and were filled. Then the disciples picked up what was left of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. ²¹ Now those who had eaten were about 5,000 men, besides women and children.
²² Jesus Walks on the Sea
Jesus immediately had the disciples get into a boat and cross to the other side ahead of him, while he sent the crowds away. ²³ After dismissing the crowds, he went up on a hillside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. ²⁴ By this time the boat was in the middle of the sea and was being battered by the waves, because the wind was against them. ²⁵ Shortly before dawn, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified and cried out, “It’s a ghost!” And they screamed in terror.
²⁷ “Have courage!” Jesus immediately told them. “It’s me. Stop being afraid!”
²⁸ Peter answered him, “Lord, if it’s you, order me to come to you on the water.”
²⁹ Jesus said, “Come on!” So Peter got down out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came to Jesus.
³⁰ But when he noticed the strong wind, he was frightened. As he began to sink, he shouted, “Lord, save me!”
³¹ At once Jesus reached out his hand, caught him, and asked him, “You who have so little faith, why did you doubt?” ³² As they got into the boat, the wind stopped blowing.
³³ Then the men in the boat began to worship Jesus, saying, “You certainly are the Son of God!”
³⁴ Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret
They crossed over and came ashore at Gennesaret. ³⁵ When the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word throughout that region and brought him everyone who was sick. ³⁶ They kept begging him to let them touch just the tassel of his garment, and everyone who touched it was completely healed.

¹⁴ The Death of John the Baptist
King Herod heard about this, because Jesus’ name had become well-known. He was saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead! That’s why he is able to do these miracles.”
¹⁵ Others were saying, “He is Elijah.”
Still others were saying, “He is a prophet like one of the other prophets.”
¹⁶ But when Herod heard about it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised,” ¹⁷ because Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him with chains, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom Herod had married.
¹⁸ John had been telling Herod, “It’s not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” ¹⁹ So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she couldn’t do it ²⁰ because Herod was afraid of John. He knew that John was a righteous and holy man, and so he protected him. Whenever he listened to John, he did much of what he said. In fact, he liked listening to him.
²¹ An opportunity came during Herod’s birthday celebration, when he gave a banquet for his top officials, military officers, and the most important people of Galilee. ²² When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. So the king told the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” ²³ He swore with an oath to her, “I’ll give you anything you ask for, up to half of my kingdom.”
²⁴ So she went out and asked her mother, “What should I ask for?”
Her mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist.”
²⁵ Immediately the girl hurried back to the king with her request, “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
²⁶ The king was deeply saddened, yet because of his oaths and his guests he was reluctant to refuse her. ²⁷ So without delay the king sent a soldier and ordered him to bring John’s head. The soldier went and beheaded him in prison. ²⁸ Then he brought John’s head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹ When John’s disciples heard about this, they came and carried off his body and laid it in a tomb.

¹⁵ Jesus had been warning them, “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod!”

¹ John the Baptist Prepares the Way for Jesus
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Caesar Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,

¹⁹ Now Herod the tetrarch had been rebuked by John because he had married his brother’s wife Herodias and because of all of the other evil things Herod had done.

⁷ Herod Tries to See Jesus
Now Herod the tetrarch heard about everything that was happening. He was puzzled because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, ⁸ by others that Elijah had appeared, and by still others that one of the ancient prophets had come back to life. ⁹ Herod said, “I beheaded John. But who is this man I’m hearing so much about?” So Herod kept trying to see Jesus.

³¹ Jesus Rebukes Jerusalem
At that hour some Pharisees came and told Jesus, “Leave and get away from here, because Herod wants to kill you!”
³² He told them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Listen! I am driving out demons and healing today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will finish my work.

⁷ When he learned with certainty that Jesus came from Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was in Jerusalem at that time. ⁸ Now Herod was very glad to see Jesus, because he had been wanting to see him for a long time on account of what he had heard about him. He was also hoping to see some sign done by him. ⁹ So he continued to question him for a long time, but Jesus gave him no answer at all. ¹⁰ Meanwhile, the high priests and the scribes stood nearby and continued to accuse him vehemently. ¹¹ Even Herod and his soldiers treated him with contempt and made fun of him. He put a magnificent robe on Jesus and sent him back to Pilate. ¹² So Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day. Before this they had been enemies.

¹⁵ Neither does Herod, because he sent him back to us! Indeed, this man has done nothing to deserve death.

²⁷ For in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate actually met together with unbelievers and the people of Israel to oppose your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed,

¹ An Angel Frees Peter from PrisonAbout that time, Herod arrested some people who belonged to the church and mistreated them.

¹¹ I tell all of you with certainty, among those born of women no one has appeared who is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least important person in the kingdom from heaven is greater than he.

¹⁴ They said, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

²⁸ They answered him, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and still others one of the prophets.”

⁴¹ Many people came to him and kept saying, “John never performed a sign, but everything that John said about this man is true!”

¹² Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee
Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he went back to Galilee.

² John the Baptist Sends Messengers to Jesus
Now when John heard in prison about the activities of the Messiah, he sent a message by his disciples

¹⁷ because Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him with chains, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom Herod had married.

¹⁹ So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she couldn’t do it

²² When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. So the king told the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.”

¹⁹ Now Herod the tetrarch had been rebuked by John because he had married his brother’s wife Herodias and because of all of the other evil things Herod had done. ²⁰ Added to all this, Herod locked John up in prison.

¹ Repent or DieAt that time, some people who were there told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.

²³ John was also baptizing in Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there. People kept coming and were being baptized, ²⁴ since John had not yet been thrown into prison.

¹⁶ “You are not to have sexual relations with your brother’s wife. She’s the nakedness of your brother.

²¹ “If a man takes his brother’s wife, it’s immoral. He has exposed his brother’s nakedness. They’ll be childless.”

⁵ Levirate Marriage“When two brothers are living together and one of them dies without leaving a son, his widow must not be married outside the family to a foreigner. Instead, the brother-in-law must go to her, take her as his wife, and by doing so perform the duty of a brother-in-law. ⁶ The firstborn whom she will bear will continue the name of the dead brother, so his name will not be erased from Israel.

⁷ But Nathan replied to David, “You are the man! This is what the LORD God of Israel says:
“‘I anointed you king—and you became king over Israel.
“‘I delivered you from Saul’s control.

¹⁹ Ask the king, ‘Did you commit murder? And now you’re going to steal as well?’ Also tell him, ‘This is what the LORD says: “Where the dogs were licking up Naboth’s blood, dogs will also lick up your blood—that’s right—yours!”’”

¹⁸ and they opposed King Uzziah. “Uzziah, it’s not for you to burn incense to the LORD,” they told him, “but for the priests to do, Aaron’s descendants who are consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary now, because you have been unfaithful and won’t receive any honor from the LORD God.”
¹⁹ Uzziah flew into a rage while he held in his hand a censer to burn incense. As he got angry at the priests, leprosy broke out all over his forehead right in front of the priests beside the incense altar in the LORD’s Temple.

¹ Contrasting Good and Evil The wicked flee, though no one pursues, but the righteous are bold like a lion.

²⁰ for instruction and for testimony? Surely they are speaking like this because the truth hasn’t dawned on them.

¹⁸ John had been telling Herod, “It’s not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

²⁴ Some days later, Felix arrived with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him talk about faith in Jesus the Messiah. ²⁵ As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became afraid and said, “For the present you may go. When I get a chance, I will send for you again.”

⁹ Really, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and even more than a prophet!

²⁶ But if we say, ‘From humans,’ we are afraid of the crowd, because everyone regards John as a prophet.”

³² John came to you living a righteous life, and you didn’t believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. But even when you saw that, you didn’t change your minds at last and believe him.”

¹⁹ So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she couldn’t do it ²⁰ because Herod was afraid of John. He knew that John was a righteous and holy man, and so he protected him. Whenever he listened to John, he did much of what he said. In fact, he liked listening to him.

³⁰ Was John’s authority to baptize from heaven or from humans? Answer me.”
³¹ They began discussing this among themselves. “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he’ll say, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ ³² But if we say, ‘From humans’…?” They were afraid of the crowd, because everyone really thought John was a prophet.

¹ The Plot to Kill Jesus
Now it was two days before the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The high priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus secretly and to have him put to death, ² because they kept saying, “This must not happen during the festival. Otherwise, there’ll be a riot among the people.”

⁶ But if we say, ‘From humans,’ all the people will stone us to death, because they are convinced that John was a prophet.”

²¹ So they threatened Peter and John even more and then let them go. They couldn’t find any way to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened,

²⁶ So the commander of the Temple guards went with his men to bring them back without force, because they were afraid of being stoned to death by the people.

²⁰ The Dreams are FulfilledOn the third day, which just happened to be Pharaoh’s birthday, he threw a party for all his servants. He lifted the head of both his senior security advisor and of his head chef in front of his servants—

² At that time King Ahasuerus was ruling from Susa the capital. ³ In the third year of his reign, he gave a banquet for all his officials and ministers, and the military leaders of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the provincial officials were present. ⁴ He displayed the enormous wealth of his kingdom, along with its splendid beauty and greatness for many days—for 180 days in all.
⁵ The Banquet of King AhasuerusWhen those days were over, the king held a seven-day banquet in the courtyard of the garden of his palace for all the people who were present in Susa the capital, from the greatest to the least important. ⁶ There were curtains of white and blue linen tied with cords of fine linen and purple material to silver rings on marble columns. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other precious stones. ⁷ Drinks were served in gold vessels of various kinds, and there was plenty of royal wine because the king was generous. ⁸ According to the king’s decree the drinking was not compulsory because the king instructed every steward in his house to serve each individual what he desired. ⁹ Queen Vashti also held a banquet in the royal palace of King Ahasuerus for the women.
¹⁰ Vashti Refuses to Obey the KingA week later, when the king was under the influence of all that wine, he ordered Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven eunuchs who served King Ahasuerus, ¹¹ to bring Queen Vashti to the king, wearing the royal crown to display her beauty to the people and the officials, since she was lovely to look at. ¹² Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s order that was brought by the eunuchs.
The King Removes Vashti as QueenThen the king flew into a rage.

¹⁸ The king put on a great banquet for all his officials and ministers to honor Esther. He declared a holiday for the provinces and gave generous gifts.

¹ Belshazzar’s FestivalKing Belshazzar put on a great festival for a thousand of his officials. He joined all one thousand of them in getting drunk. ² Under the influence of wine, Belshazzar ordered that the gold and silver vessels his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Temple in Jerusalem be brought in so the king, his officials, his wives, and his mistresses could drink from them. ³ As ordered, they brought in the gold vessels that had been taken from the sanctuary of God’s Temple in Jerusalem, and the king, his officials, his wives, and mistresses drank from them. ⁴ As they drank the wine, they praised gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

⁵ At that time I’ll shatter the military strength of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.”
⁶ Gomer conceived again and gave birth to a daughter, so the LORD told Hosea, “Name her ‘Lo-ruhamah,’ because I will no longer be showing mercy to the house of Israel, nor will I forgive them.

²⁴ “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and have children for his brother.’

²¹ An opportunity came during Herod’s birthday celebration, when he gave a banquet for his top officials, military officers, and the most important people of Galilee. ²² When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. So the king told the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” ²³ He swore with an oath to her, “I’ll give you anything you ask for, up to half of my kingdom.”

³ The king asked her, “What do you want, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even if it’s half of the kingdom, it will be given to you.”

⁶ While they were drinking wine, the king asked Esther, “What’s your petition? It will be given to you. What’s your request? Up to half of the kingdom, and it will be done.”

² On the second day the king again told Esther as they drank wine, “What’s your petition, Queen Esther? It will be given to you. What’s your request? Up to half of the kingdom, and it will be done.”

¹³ as his offering a silver dish weighing 130 shekels and a silver bowl weighing 70 shekels (calculated according to the shekel of the sanctuary), both filled with choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;

¹⁹ as his offering a silver dish weighing 130 shekels and a silver bowl weighing 70 shekels (calculated according to the shekel of the sanctuary), both filled with choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;

⁸⁴ Summary of OfferingsThis was what was presented at the dedication of the altar from the leaders of Israel on the same day that it was anointed: twelve silver bowls, twelve silver basins, twelve gold ladles. ⁸⁵ Each bowl weighed 130 silver shekels and each basin weighed 70 shekels. All the silver vessels weighed a total of 2,400 shekels, calculated according to the shekel of the sanctuary.

⁴ had taken 100 prophets and had hidden them by fifties in a cave, providing them with food and water when Jezebel was trying to destroy the LORD’s prophets.

¹³ Hasn’t anyone told you, my master, what I did when Jezebel was killing the LORD’s prophets? I hid 100 of the LORD’s prophets by fifties in a cave and provided food and water for them.

² Jezebel sent a messenger to tell Elijah, “May the gods do the same to me and even more if tomorrow about this time I haven’t made you like one of those prophets you had killed.”

¹ Athaliah Reigns as Queen of Judah
As soon as Ahaziah’s mother Athaliah learned that her son had died, she seized the throne and executed the entire royal bloodline.

² Ahaziah was 22 years old when he became king, and he reigned for one year in Jerusalem. His mother was Athaliah, Omri’s granddaughter.
³ He followed the example of Ahab’s dynasty because his mother gave him evil counsel.

⁹ Here is a partial inventory:
Gold dishes: 30
Silver dishes: 1,000
Sacrificial knives: 29

¹⁶ For they run toward evil; these enticers shed blood without hesitation.

¹⁰ Bloodthirsty men hate the innocent person, but the upright show concern for his life.

²⁴ So she went out and asked her mother, “What should I ask for?”
Her mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist.”

⁵ But if her father disallows her on the same day that he hears what she has said, then all her vows and every obligation she had pledged herself to fulfill are not to stand. The LORD will forgive her, because her father has forbidden her.”
⁶ Vows by Married Women“If she has a husband and she makes a vow that is binding on herself, or if she makes a hasty vow with her mouth that she pledges herself to fulfill, ⁷ and her husband hears her vow, yet remains silent on the day that he hears it, then her vows are to stand and the obligation to which she had pledged herself is to stand. ⁸ But if, on the same day her husband hears and disallows her, then he has revoked her vows that she made for herself, along with any hasty vows that she spoke and to which she pledged herself to fulfill. The LORD will forgive her.”

³⁰ Jephthah made this solemn vow to the LORD: “If you truly give the Ammonites into my control, ³¹ then if I return from the Ammonites without incident, whatever comes out the doors of my house to meet me will become the LORD’s, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.”

³⁹ Later, after the two months were concluded, she returned to her father, and he fulfilled what he had solemnly vowed—and she never married. That’s how the custom arose in Israel

¹ The Israelis Mourn the Tribe of BenjaminNow the people of Israel had taken a vow in Mizpah that went like this: “Not even one of us will give his daughter in marriage to a descendant of Benjamin!”

⁷ What can we do to find wives for the survivors who remain, since we’ve already taken an oath in the LORD’s presence not to give them any of our daughters in marriage?”
⁸ The Israelis Attempt to Mitigate Their DisasterThey asked, “What one group of the tribes of Israel didn’t come up to meet the LORD at Mizpah?” It turned out that no one had come to the encampment from Jabesh-gilead, ⁹ since when they took a census of the assembly, not even one of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead was in attendance. ¹⁰ So the congregation sent out 12,000 of their valiant soldiers, issuing these orders to them: “Go and attack the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with swords, including the women and little ones. ¹¹ You’re to completely destroy every man and every married woman.”
¹² They discovered among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead 400 young virgins who hadn’t had sex with a man, and they brought them to the encampment at Shiloh in the territory of Canaan. ¹³ Then the entire congregation sent for the surviving descendants of Benjamin who were living at the rock of Rimmon and assured them that their intentions toward them were peaceful. ¹⁴ So the survivors of the tribe of Benjamin returned at that time, and the Israelis gave them the women whom they had kept alive from the raid on Jabesh-gilead. Even so, there weren’t enough for them.
¹⁵ The people felt sorry for the tribe of Benjamin because the LORD had broken one of the tribes of Israel. ¹⁶ So the elders of the congregation asked, “What will we do to obtain wives for the survivors, since the women of Benjamin have been devastated?” ¹⁷ They continued, “Let’s make sure that there’s an inheritance for the survivors of the tribe of Benjamin, so that a tribe won’t be blotted out from Israel. ¹⁸ But we can’t give them wives from our own daughters, since we’ve taken this vow: ‘May the LORD curse anyone who gives his daughter as a wife to the tribe of Benjamin!’”
¹⁹ So they concluded, “Look, there’s a festival to the LORD every year in Shiloh on the north side of Bethel, south of Lebonah and on the east side of the highway that runs from Bethel to Shechem…” ²⁰ So they told the descendants of Benjamin, “Go and hide in the vineyards. ²¹ Watch when the unmarried women from Shiloh come out to participate in the dances. Then come out of the vineyards and each of you grab a wife from the unmarried women from Shiloh. Then go back home to the territory of Benjamin. ²² If their fathers or brothers come complaining to us, we’ll tell them ‘Be generous! Give them to us voluntarily, because we didn’t take anyone to be a wife for the men of the tribe of Benjamin as a result of the battle. And you haven’t incurred guilt by giving your daughters to them.’”
²³ So the descendants of Benjamin did all of this: they chose and carried away just enough wives from those who danced to meet the number needed, then they left to return to their inheritance, to rebuild their cities, and to live there.

²⁴ Saul Issues a Rash EdictThe men of Israel were hard pressed on that day, and Saul required the army to take an oath: “Cursed is the person who eats food before evening and before I’ve been avenged of my enemies.” So no one tasted food.

²⁸ Then one of the people responded: “Your father strictly ordered the army to take an oath. That’s why he said, ‘Cursed is the person who eats food today,’ and so the army is exhausted.”

³⁹ Indeed, as the LORD who delivers Israel lives, even if the sin is with my son Jonathan, he will surely die!” Not a single one of the soldiers answered him. ⁴⁰ Then he told all Israel, “You will be on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side.”
The people told Saul, “Do what seems good to you.”
⁴¹ Then Saul told the LORD God of Israel, “Judge us properly.” Jonathan and Saul were selected, but the army was cleared. ⁴² Saul said, “Cast lots between me and my son Jonathan,” and Jonathan was selected. ⁴³ Saul told Jonathan, “Tell me what you’ve done.”
So Jonathan spoke to him: “I did taste a little honey from the end of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am; I’m ready to die!”
⁴⁴ Saul said, “May God do this to me and even more, if you don’t surely die, Jonathan!”
⁴⁵ Then the army told Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who brought about this great deliverance in Israel? As the LORD lives, not one hair of his head will fall to the ground, because today he did this with God’s help.”

²² May the LORD do this to the enemies of David—and more also—if by the morning I’ve left alive a single male of all those who belong to him.”

³² David told Abigail, “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who sent you to meet me today. ³³ Blessed be your good judgment, and blessed be you, who today stopped me from shedding blood and delivering myself by my own actions. ³⁴ For as surely as the LORD God of Israel lives, the one who restrained me from harming you—indeed, had you not quickly come to meet me, by dawn there wouldn’t be a single male left to Nabal.”

¹⁰ Saul swore to her by the LORD: “As surely as the LORD lives, no punishment will come on you for this thing.”

³¹ He said, “May God do to me—and more also!—if the head of Shaphat’s son Elisha remains on his shoulders today!”
³² Meanwhile, Elisha was sitting in his house, along with the elders, when the king sent a man to kill him, but before the messenger arrived, Elisha told the elders, “Are you watching how this descendant of murderers has ordered my head be cut off? Look, when the messenger arrives, shut the door and hold it to shut them out! Don’t you hear the sound of his master’s feet right behind him?”
³³ While he was still talking with them, the messenger arrived to see him and delivered the king’s message to Elisha, “Look! This evil has come from the LORD! Why should I wait for the LORD anymore?”

² Don’t be impulsive with your mouth nor be in a hurry to talk in God’s presence. Since God is in heaven and you’re on earth, keep your speech short.

¹⁴ When the king heard this, he was greatly upset, because he was determined to make every effort to save Daniel before the sun set. ¹⁵ But the men who had gone as a group to the king told him, “Remember, your majesty, that according to the laws of the Medes and Persians, any decree or edict that the king establishes cannot be repealed.”
¹⁶ Daniel in the Lions’ PitAt this point, the king ordered Daniel brought in and thrown into the lions’ pit. The king spoke to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve constantly, will deliver you himself.”

¹ The Death of John the Baptist
At that time Herod the tetrarch, hearing about the fame of Jesus,

⁵ Although Herod wanted to kill him, he was afraid of the crowd, since they regarded John as a prophet.

¹⁷ So when the people had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which man do you want me to release for you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called ‘the Messiah’?” ¹⁸ He did this because he knew that they had handed him over out of jealousy.
¹⁹ While he was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him a message that said, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, because today I have suffered terribly due to a dream I had about him.”
²⁰ But the high priests and elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to demand that Jesus be put to death. ²¹ So the governor asked them, “Which of the two men do you want me to release for you?”
“Barabbas!” they replied.
²² Pilate asked them, “Then what should I do with Jesus, who is called the Messiah?”
They all said, “Let him be crucified!”
²³ He asked, “What has he done wrong?”
But they kept shouting louder and louder, “Let him be crucified!”
²⁴ Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was about to break out instead. So he took some water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. Attend to that yourselves.”
²⁵ All the people answered, “Let his blood be on us and our children!” ²⁶ Then he released Barabbas for them, but he had Jesus whipped and handed over to be crucified.

¹⁴ The Death of John the Baptist
King Herod heard about this, because Jesus’ name had become well-known. He was saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead! That’s why he is able to do these miracles.”

²⁰ because Herod was afraid of John. He knew that John was a righteous and holy man, and so he protected him. Whenever he listened to John, he did much of what he said. In fact, he liked listening to him.

²⁶ The king was deeply saddened, yet because of his oaths and his guests he was reluctant to refuse her.

³² He told them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Listen! I am driving out demons and healing today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will finish my work.

¹² From then on, Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you release this fellow, you’re not a friend of Caesar! Anyone who claims to be a king is defying Caesar!”
¹³ When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat down on the judgment seat in a place called The Pavement, which in Hebrew is called Gabbatha. ¹⁴ Now it was the Preparation Day for the Passover, about noon. He told the Jewish leaders, “Here is your king!”
¹⁵ Then they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”
Pilate asked them, “Should I crucify your king?”
The high priests responded, “We have no king but Caesar!” ¹⁶ Then Pilate handed him over to be crucified, and they took Jesus away.

²³ He ordered the centurion to guard Paul but to let him have some freedom and not to keep any of his friends from caring for his needs.
²⁴ Some days later, Felix arrived with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him talk about faith in Jesus the Messiah. ²⁵ As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became afraid and said, “For the present you may go. When I get a chance, I will send for you again.” ²⁶ At the same time he was hoping to receive a bribe from Paul, and so he would send for him frequently to talk with him.
²⁷ After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. Since Felix wanted to do the Jews a favor, he left Paul in prison.

³ and asking Festus to have Paul brought to Jerusalem as a favor. They were laying an ambush to kill him on the road.
⁴ Festus replied that Paul was being kept in custody at Caesarea and that he himself would be going there soon. ⁵ “Therefore,” he said, “have your authorities come down with me and present their charges against him there, if there is anything wrong with the man.”
⁶ Festus stayed with them no more than eight or ten days and then went down to Caesarea. The next day, he sat on the judge’s seat and ordered Paul brought in. ⁷ When Paul arrived, the Jewish leaders who had come down from Jerusalem surrounded him and began bringing a number of serious charges against him that they couldn’t prove. ⁸ Paul said in his defense, “I have done nothing wrong against the Law of the Jews, or of the Temple, or of the emperor.”
⁹ Then Festus, wanting to do the Jewish leaders a favor, asked Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to be tried there before me on these charges?”

¹⁶ but they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words, and scoffed at his prophets, until there was no remedy for the wrath of the LORD that arose to punish his people.

³⁰ “I’ve punished your children with no results, they have accepted no discipline. Your sword has devoured your prophets like a destroying lion.”

¹² But I tell you that Elijah has already come, yet people did not recognize him and treated him just as they pleased. In the same way, the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.”

³⁵ But the farmers took his servants and beat one, killed another, and attacked another with stones. ³⁶ Again, he sent other servants to them, a greater number than the first, but the tenant farmers treated them the same way.

³ He sent his servants to call those who had been invited to the wedding, but they refused to come. ⁴ So he sent other servants after saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Look! I’ve prepared my dinner. My oxen and fattened calves have been slaughtered. Everything is ready. Come to the wedding!”’ ⁵ But they paid no attention to this and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. ⁶ The rest grabbed the king’s servants, treated them brutally, and then killed them.

³⁴ “That is why I am sending you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will whip in your synagogues and persecute from town to town. ³⁵ As a result, you will be held accountable for all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of the righteous Abel to the blood of Berechiah’s son Zechariah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. ³⁶ I tell all of you with certainty, all these things will happen to those living today.”

¹³ But I tell you that Elijah has come, yet people treated him just as they pleased, as it is written about him.”

⁹ Herod said, “I beheaded John. But who is this man I’m hearing so much about?” So Herod kept trying to see Jesus.

⁷ When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the bottomless pit will wage war against them, conquer them, and kill them.

⁷ Their anger is cursed, because it is so fierce, as is their vehemence, because it is so cruel. I will separate them throughout Jacob’s territory and disperse them throughout Israel.”

⁴ Wrath can be fierce and anger overwhelms but who can stand up to jealousy?

¹⁷ But your eyes and heart are on nothing but your dishonest gain, shedding the blood of innocent people, and practicing oppression and extortion.”

³ You are to declare, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says to Jerusalem: “Your birth place was the territory that belonged to the Canaanites. Your father was an Ammonite and your mother was a Hittite. ⁴ Now as to your birth, on the day you were born your umbilical cord wasn’t cut. You weren’t washed with water to clean you, and nobody rubbed you with salt. And it’s certain that you weren’t wrapped in strips of cloth.

² Tell them: ‘What a lioness your mother was among lions! She reared her cubs in the midst of fierce young males. ³ She raised one cub in particular, teaching that fierce lion to become a hunter-prowler— to eat human beings.

⁶ therefore as I’m alive and living,” declares the Lord GOD, “I’m turning you over to bloodshed, and bloodshed will certainly overtake you, since you never have hated shedding blood. That’s why bloodshed will certainly pursue you.

⁶ You have given them blood to drink because they spilled the blood of saints and prophets. This is what they deserve.”

⁶ I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the witnesses to Jesus. I was very surprised when I saw her.

⁵⁸ He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, and Pilate ordered it to be done. ⁵⁹ So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth. ⁶⁰ Then he placed it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out of the rock. After rolling a large stone across the door of the tomb, he left, ⁶¹ but Mary Magdalene and the other Mary remained there, sitting in front of the tomb.

² Devout men buried Stephen as they mourned loudly for him.

²³ So when they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, because I tell all of you with certainty that you will not have gone through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

¹⁵ Jesus, God’s Chosen ServantWhen Jesus became aware of this, he left that place. Many crowds followed him, and he healed all of them,

¹ The Death of John the Baptist
At that time Herod the tetrarch, hearing about the fame of Jesus, ² told his servants, “This is John the Baptist! He has been raised from the dead, and that’s why these miracles are being done by him.”

³² Jesus Feeds More than Four Thousand People
Then Jesus called his disciples and said, “I have compassion for the crowd because they have already been with me for three days and have nothing to eat. I don’t want to send them away without food, or they may faint on the road.”
³³ The disciples asked him, “Where in the wilderness are we to get enough bread to feed such a crowd?”
³⁴ Jesus asked them, “How many loaves of bread do you have?”
They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.”
³⁵ Ordering the crowd to sit down on the ground, ³⁶ he took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks. Then he broke them in pieces and kept giving them to his disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. ³⁷ All of them ate until they were filled, then the disciples picked up what was left of the broken pieces—seven baskets full. ³⁸ Now those who had eaten were four thousand men, besides women and children.

³⁰ Jesus Feeds More than Five Thousand People
The apostles gathered around Jesus and told him everything they had done and taught. ³¹ He told them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest for a while,” because so many people were coming and going that they didn’t even have time to eat. ³² So they went away in a boat to a deserted place by themselves. ³³ But when many people saw them leave and recognized them, they hurried on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. ³⁴ When he got out of the boat, he saw a large crowd. He had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things.
³⁵ When it was quite late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and it’s already late. ³⁶ Send the crowds away so that they can go to the neighboring farms and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”
³⁷ But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.”
They asked him, “Should we go and buy 200 denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?”
³⁸ He asked them, “How many loaves of bread do you have? Go and see.”
They found out and told him, “Five loaves and two fish.”
³⁹ Then he ordered them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. ⁴⁰ So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. ⁴¹ Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed them. Then he broke the loaves in pieces and kept giving them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. ⁴² All of them ate and were filled. ⁴³ Then the disciples picked up twelve baskets full of leftover bread and fish. ⁴⁴ There were 5,000 men who had eaten the loaves.

¹⁰ Jesus Feeds More than Five Thousand People
The apostles came back and told Jesus everything they had done. Then he took them away with him privately to a city called Bethsaida. ¹¹ But the crowds found out about this and followed him. He welcomed them and began to speak to them about the kingdom of God and to heal those who needed healing.
¹² As the day was drawing to a close, the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away to the neighboring villages and farms so they can rest and get some food, because we are here in a deserted place.”
¹³ But he told them, “You give them something to eat.”
They replied, “We have nothing more than five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all these people.”
¹⁴ Now there were about 5,000 men. So he told his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about 50.” ¹⁵ They did this and got all of them seated. ¹⁶ Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed them. Then he broke the loaves in pieces and kept giving them to the disciples to pass on to the crowd. ¹⁷ All of them ate and were filled. When they collected the leftover pieces, there were twelve baskets.

¹ Jesus Feeds More than Five Thousand
After this, Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (that is, to Tiberias). ² A large crowd kept following him because they had seen the signs that he was performing by healing the sick. ³ But Jesus went up on a hillside and sat down there with his disciples.
⁴ Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. ⁵ When Jesus looked up and saw that a large crowd was coming toward him, he asked Philip, “Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?” ⁶ Jesus said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do.
⁷ Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread isn’t enough for each of them to have a little.”
⁸ One of his disciples, Andrew, who was Simon Peter’s brother, told him, ⁹ “There’s a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two small fish. But what are these among so many people?”
¹⁰ Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was plenty of grass in that area, so they sat down, numbering about 5,000 men.
¹¹ Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were seated. He also distributed as much fish as they wanted. ¹² When they were completely satisfied, Jesus told his disciples, “Collect the pieces that are left over so that nothing is wasted.” ¹³ So they collected and filled twelve baskets full of pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
¹⁴ When the people saw the sign that he had done, they kept saying, “Truly this is the Prophet who was to come into the world!” ¹⁵ Then Jesus, realizing that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, withdrew again to the hillside by himself.

²³ Jesus Ministers to Many People
Then he went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every illness among the people.

³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he was deeply moved with compassion for them, because they were troubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

³² Jesus Feeds More than Four Thousand People
Then Jesus called his disciples and said, “I have compassion for the crowd because they have already been with me for three days and have nothing to eat. I don’t want to send them away without food, or they may faint on the road.”
³³ The disciples asked him, “Where in the wilderness are we to get enough bread to feed such a crowd?”
³⁴ Jesus asked them, “How many loaves of bread do you have?”
They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.”
³⁵ Ordering the crowd to sit down on the ground, ³⁶ he took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks. Then he broke them in pieces and kept giving them to his disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. ³⁷ All of them ate until they were filled, then the disciples picked up what was left of the broken pieces—seven baskets full. ³⁸ Now those who had eaten were four thousand men, besides women and children. ³⁹ After he sent the crowds away, he got into a boat and went to the region of Magadan.

³⁴ When he got out of the boat, he saw a large crowd. He had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things.

¹ Jesus Feeds More than Four Thousand People
At that time, after a large crowd again had gathered together with nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples and told them, ² “I have compassion for the crowd, because they’ve already been with me for three days and have nothing to eat.

²² The spirit has often thrown him into fire and into water to destroy him. But if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us!”

¹³ When the Lord saw her, he felt compassion for her. He told her, “You can stop crying.”

⁴¹ When he came closer and saw the city, he began to grieve over it:

³³ When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, he was greatly troubled in spirit and deeply moved. ³⁴ He asked, “Where have you put him?”
They told him, “Lord, come and see.”
³⁵ Jesus burst into tears.

¹⁷ thereby becoming like his brothers in every way, so that he could be a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God and could atone for the people’s sins.

¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses. Instead, we have one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet he never sinned.

² He can deal gently with people who are ignorant and easily deceived, since he himself is subject to weakness.

²³ But he didn’t answer her at all.
Then his disciples came up and kept urging him, “Send her away, because she keeps on screaming as she follows us.”

³⁵ When it was quite late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and it’s already late. ³⁶ Send the crowds away so that they can go to the neighboring farms and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

³ If I send them away to their homes hungry, they’ll faint on the road. Some of them have come a long distance.”

¹² As the day was drawing to a close, the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away to the neighboring villages and farms so they can rest and get some food, because we are here in a deserted place.”

⁴² Feeding of the Crowd
Later on, a man arrived from Baal-shalishah, bringing the man of God some bread as a first fruit offering. He had 20 loaves of barley and ripe ears of corn in his sack. So Elisha said, “Give them to the people so they can eat.”
⁴³ Elisha’s attendant asked, “What? Will this serve 100 men?”
But he replied, “Distribute it to the people so they can eat, because this is what the LORD says: ‘They will eat and have a surplus!’” ⁴⁴ So he served them, and they ate and had some left over, just as the LORD had indicated.

¹⁶ No Injustice on the Poor“If I refused to grant the desire of the poor or exhausted the eyes of the widow, ¹⁷ if I ate my meals by myself without feeding orphans,

²⁴ Those who give freely gain even more; others hold back what they owe, becoming even poorer.

² Apportion what you have into seven, or even eight parts, because you don’t know what disaster might befall the land.

¹¹ He answered them, “The person who has two coats must share with the one who doesn’t have any, and the person who has food must do the same.”

²⁹ Some thought that, since Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him to buy what they needed for the festival or to give something to the destitute.

² In spite of their terrible ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and deep poverty have led them to be abundantly generous. ³ I can testify that by their own free will they have given to the utmost of their ability, yes, even beyond their ability.

⁷ Each of you must give what you have decided in your heart, not with regret or under compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ Besides, God is able to make every blessing of yours overflow for you, so that in every situation you will always have all you need for any good work.

²¹ Moses Doubts God’s AbilityMoses responded, “I’m with 600,000 people on foot and you’re saying I am to give them enough meat to eat for a whole month? ²² What if we were to slaughter our entire inventory of flocks and herds for them? Would that be enough? What if we could gather all the fish in the sea in nets for them? Would that be enough, either?”
²³ God Rebukes MosesBut the LORD responded to Moses, “Is the LORD short on power? You’re now going to witness whether what I say will come to pass or not.”

¹⁹ They spoke against God by asking, “Is God able to prepare a feast in the desert? ²⁰ It’s true that Moses struck the rock so that water flowed forth and torrents of water gushed out, but is he also able to give bread or to supply meat for his people?”

³³ The disciples asked him, “Where in the wilderness are we to get enough bread to feed such a crowd?”
³⁴ Jesus asked them, “How many loaves of bread do you have?”
They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.”

⁹ Don’t you understand yet? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the 5,000 and how many baskets you collected,

³⁷ But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.”
They asked him, “Should we go and buy 200 denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?”
³⁸ He asked them, “How many loaves of bread do you have? Go and see.”
They found out and told him, “Five loaves and two fish.”

⁴ His disciples answered him, “Where could anyone get enough bread to feed these people out here in the wilderness?”
⁵ He asked them, “How many loaves of bread do you have?”
“Seven,” they said.

¹³ But he told them, “You give them something to eat.”
They replied, “We have nothing more than five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all these people.”

⁵ When Jesus looked up and saw that a large crowd was coming toward him, he asked Philip, “Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?” ⁶ Jesus said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do.
⁷ Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread isn’t enough for each of them to have a little.”
⁸ One of his disciples, Andrew, who was Simon Peter’s brother, told him, ⁹ “There’s a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two small fish. But what are these among so many people?”

¹³ When you come into town you can find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. For the people don’t eat until he arrives, because he must bless the sacrifice and then after that those who are invited will eat. So go up right now because you can find him now.”

³⁵ Ordering the crowd to sit down on the ground, ³⁶ he took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks. Then he broke them in pieces and kept giving them to his disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.

²⁶ The Lord’s Supper
While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and handed it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it. This is my body.”
²⁷ Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you,

³⁹ Then he ordered them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass.

⁴¹ Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed them. Then he broke the loaves in pieces and kept giving them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.

³⁴ Then he looked up to heaven, sighed, and told him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened!”

⁶ So he ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and gave thanks. He broke them in pieces and kept giving them to his disciples to distribute. So they served them to the crowd. ⁷ They also had a few small fish. He blessed them and said that the fish should also be distributed.

²² The Lord’s Supper
While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and handed it to them, saying, “Take some. This is my body.” ²³ Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it.

¹⁴ Now there were about 5,000 men. So he told his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about 50.”

¹⁶ Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed them. Then he broke the loaves in pieces and kept giving them to the disciples to pass on to the crowd.

¹⁹ Then he took a loaf of bread, gave thanks, broke it in pieces, and handed it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Keep on doing this in memory of me.”

³⁰ While he was at the table with them, he took the bread, blessed it, broke it in pieces, and gave it to them.

¹⁰ Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was plenty of grass in that area, so they sat down, numbering about 5,000 men.
¹¹ Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were seated. He also distributed as much fish as they wanted.

²³ Other small boats from Tiberias arrived near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.

⁴¹ So they removed the stone.
Then Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for hearing me.

³⁵ After he said this, he took some bread, thanked God in front of everyone, broke it, and began to eat.

⁶ The one who observes a special day, observes it to honor the Lord. The one who eats, eats to honor the Lord, since he gives thanks to God. And the one who does not eat, refrains from eating to honor the Lord; yet he, too, gives thanks to God.

¹⁶ The cup of blessing that we bless is our fellowship in the blood of the Messiah, isn’t it? The bread that we break is our fellowship in the body of the Messiah, isn’t it?

³¹ Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.

²⁴ gave thanks for it, and broke it in pieces, saying, “This is my body that is for you. Keep doing this in memory of me.”

¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether by speech or action, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

⁴ For everything God created is good, and nothing should be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, ⁵ because it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

⁸ Moses also said, “When the LORD gives you meat to eat in the evening, and bread in the morning to satisfy you, the LORD will hear your complaints directed against him. Who are we? Your complaints aren’t against us, but rather against the LORD.”

¹² “I’ve heard the complaints of the Israelis. Tell them, ‘At twilight you are to eat meat and in the morning you are to be filled with bread, so you may know that I am the LORD your God.’”

²⁶ When I destroy the source of your bread, ten women will bake bread in one oven. Then they’ll return back your bread by weight. You’ll eat but won’t be satisfied.

¹² “As the LORD your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have so much as a muffin, just a handful of flour in a bowl and some oil left in a bottle. Now I’m going to find some sticks so I can cook a last meal for my son and for me. Then we’re going to eat it and die.”
¹³ But Elijah told her, “You can stop being afraid. Go and do what you said, but first make me a muffin and bring it to me. Then make a meal for yourself and for your son, ¹⁴ because this is what the LORD God of Israel says: ‘That jar of flour will not run out, nor will that bottle of oil become empty until the very day that the LORD sends rain on the surface of the ground.’”
¹⁵ So she went out and did precisely what Elijah told her to do. As a result, Elijah, the widow, and her son were fed for days. ¹⁶ The jar of flour never ran out and the bottle of oil never became empty, just as the LORD had promised through Elijah.

¹ The Miracle of the Oil Vessels
Now there happened to be a certain woman who had been the wife of a member of the Guild of Prophets. She cried out to Elisha, “My husband who served you has died, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. But a creditor has come to take away my children into indentured servitude!”
² Elisha responded, “What shall I do for you? Tell me what you have in your house.”
She replied, “Your servant has nothing in the entire house except for a flask of oil.”
³ He told her, “Go out to all of your neighbors in the surrounding streets and borrow lots of pots from them. Don’t get just a few empty vessels, either. ⁴ Then go in and shut the door behind you, taking only your children, and pour oil into all of the pots. As each one is filled, set it aside.”
⁵ So she left Elisha, shut the door behind her and her children, and while they kept on bringing vessels to her, she kept on pouring oil. ⁶ When the last of the vessels had been filled, she told her son, “Bring me another pot!”
But he replied, “There isn’t even one pot left.” Then the oil stopped flowing. ⁷ After this, she went and told the man of God what had happened. So he said, “Go sell the oil, pay your debt, and you and your children will be able to live on the proceeds.”

²⁵ A righteous person eats to his heart’s content, but the stomach of the wicked remains hungry.

¹⁴ “Now, Lord GOD,” I replied, “I’ve never been defiled, ever since I was young until now. I haven’t eaten an animal that died on its own or was torn by beasts, and no unclean meat has ever entered my mouth!”
¹⁵ “Okay,” he responded. “I’ll allow you to substitute cow’s dung for human dung. Cook your food over that.”
¹⁶ He also told me, “Son of Man, look! I’m about to disrupt the source of bread in Jerusalem. As a result, they’ll ration bread by weight while their terror continues to grow and they’ll ration drinking water while their horror continues to mount!

⁶ You have sowed much but have reaped little. You have eaten but don’t have enough to become satisfied. You have drunk but don’t have enough to become intoxicated. You have clothed yourself but don’t have enough to keep warm. And the hired laborer deposits his salary in a bag full of holes!’”

⁶ “How blessed are those who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, because it is they who will be satisfied!

³³ The disciples asked him, “Where in the wilderness are we to get enough bread to feed such a crowd?”

⁸ Knowing this, Jesus asked them, “You who have little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you don’t have any bread? ⁹ Don’t you understand yet? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the 5,000 and how many baskets you collected, ¹⁰ or the seven loaves for the 4,000 and how many baskets you collected?

⁸ The people ate and were filled. Then the disciples picked up the leftover pieces—seven large baskets full. ⁹ Now about 4,000 men were there. Then he sent them on their way.

¹⁶ So they were discussing with one another the fact that they didn’t have any bread. ¹⁷ Knowing this, Jesus asked them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you don’t have any bread? Don’t you understand or perceive yet? Are your hearts hardened? ¹⁸ Do you have eyes, but fail to see? Do you have ears, but fail to hear? Don’t you remember? ¹⁹ When I broke the five loaves for the 5,000, how many baskets did you fill with leftover pieces?”
They told him, “Twelve.”
²⁰ “When I broke the seven loaves for the 4,000, how many large baskets did you fill with the leftover pieces?”
They told him, “Seven.”
²¹ Then he asked them, “Don’t you understand yet?”

⁵³ He filled hungry people with good things and sent rich people away with nothing.

¹⁷ All of them ate and were filled. When they collected the leftover pieces, there were twelve baskets.

⁷ Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread isn’t enough for each of them to have a little.”

¹¹ Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were seated. He also distributed as much fish as they wanted. ¹² When they were completely satisfied, Jesus told his disciples, “Collect the pieces that are left over so that nothing is wasted.” ¹³ So they collected and filled twelve baskets full of pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
¹⁴ When the people saw the sign that he had done, they kept saying, “Truly this is the Prophet who was to come into the world!”

¹⁰ Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was plenty of grass in that area, so they sat down, numbering about 5,000 men.

⁴ But many of those who heard their message believed, and the men grew to number about 5,000.

³⁴ since none of them needed anything, because everyone who had land or houses would sell them and bring the money received for the things sold

⁸ Besides, God is able to make every blessing of yours overflow for you, so that in every situation you will always have all you need for any good work. ⁹ As it is written, “He scatters everywhere and gives to the poor; his righteousness lasts forever.” ¹⁰ Now he who supplies seed to the farmer and bread to eat will also supply you with seed and multiply it and enlarge the harvest that results from your righteousness. ¹¹ In every way you will grow richer and become even more generous, and this will cause others to give thanks to God because of us,

¹⁹ And my God will fully supply your every need according to his glorious riches in the Messiah Jesus.

³⁶ Jesus Explains the Parable about the WeedsThen Jesus left the crowds and went into the house. His disciples came to him and asked, “Explain to us the parable about the weeds in the field.”

³⁹ After he sent the crowds away, he got into a boat and went to the region of Magadan.

⁴⁵ Jesus Walks on the Sea
Jesus immediately had his disciples get into a boat and cross to Bethsaida ahead of him, while he sent the crowd away. ⁴⁶ After saying goodbye to them, he went up on a hillside to pray. ⁴⁷ When evening had come, the boat was in the middle of the sea, while he was alone on the land. ⁴⁸ He saw that his disciples were straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he came to them, walking on the sea. He intended to go up right beside them, ⁴⁹ but when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and began to scream. ⁵⁰ All of them saw him and were terrified. Immediately he told them, “Have courage! It’s me. Stop being afraid!”
⁵¹ Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped blowing. The disciples were utterly astounded,

¹⁵ Then Jesus, realizing that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, withdrew again to the hillside by himself.
¹⁶ Jesus Walks on the Sea
When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, ¹⁷ got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. Darkness had already fallen, and Jesus had not yet come to them. ¹⁸ A strong wind was blowing, and the sea was getting rough. ¹⁹ After they had rowed about 25 or 30 stadia, they saw Jesus walking on the sea toward their boat. They became terrified. ²⁰ But he told them, “It is I. Stop being afraid!” ²¹ So they were glad to take him on board, and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going.

⁶ But whenever you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees from the hidden place will reward you.

³⁶ Jesus Prays in the Garden of Gethsemane
Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane. He told the disciples, “Sit down here while I go over there and pray.”

⁴⁶ After saying goodbye to them, he went up on a hillside to pray.

¹² Jesus Appoints Twelve Apostles
Now it was in those days that Jesus went to a mountain to pray, and he spent the whole night in prayer to God.

²⁸ Jesus’ Appearance is Changed
Now about eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John, and James with him and went up on a mountain to pray.

¹⁵ Then Jesus, realizing that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, withdrew again to the hillside by himself.
¹⁶ Jesus Walks on the Sea
When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, ¹⁷ got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. Darkness had already fallen, and Jesus had not yet come to them.

⁴ Then we’ll devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

¹¹ “O afflicted one, passed back and forth, and not comforted, Look! I am about to set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires.

²⁴ Suddenly, a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat began to be swamped by the waves. Yet Jesus kept sleeping.

⁴⁸ He saw that his disciples were straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he came to them, walking on the sea. He intended to go up right beside them,

¹⁸ A strong wind was blowing, and the sea was getting rough.

⁸ He alone spreads out the heavens, he walks on the waves of the sea.

³ The rivers have flooded, LORD; the rivers have spoken aloud, the rivers have lifted up their crushing waves. ⁴ More than the sound of surging waters— the majestic waves of the sea— the LORD on high is majestic.

³ He lays the beams of his roof loft on the water above, making clouds his chariot, walking on the wings of the wind.

⁴³ But be sure of this: if the owner of the house had known when during the night the thief would be coming, he would have stayed awake and not allowed his house to be broken into.

³⁸ How blessed they will be if their master comes in the middle of the night or near dawn and finds them awake!

¹⁹ After they had rowed about 25 or 30 stadia, they saw Jesus walking on the sea toward their boat. They became terrified.

² He held a small, opened scroll in his hand. Setting his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land,

⁵ Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven.

⁸ Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, “Go and take the opened scroll from the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.”

¹² When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out loudly. The woman told Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”
¹³ The king told her, “Don’t be afraid; but what do you see?”
The woman told Saul, “I see a divine being coming up out of the ground.”
¹⁴ Saul told her, “What does he look like?”
She said, “An old man is coming up, and he’s wrapped in a robe.” Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed low to the ground and prostrated himself.

¹⁴ A fear fell upon me, along with trembling that caused all my bones to shake in terror. ¹⁵ A spirit glided past me and made the hair on my skin to bristle. ¹⁶ It remained standing, but I couldn’t recognize its appearance. A form appeared before my eyes; At first there was silence, and then this voice:

⁶ His body was like beryl, his face flashed like lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and legs were like polished bronze, and his speech roared like that of a crowd.
⁷ “Now I, Daniel, was the only one to receive the vision—the men who were with me didn’t see it. However, an enormous fear overwhelmed them, so they ran away to hide, ⁸ and I was left alone to observe this magnificent vision. Nevertheless, no strength remained in me—my face lost its color, and I became weak. ⁹ As I listened to the sound of his words, I fell down on my face unconscious, with my face to the ground.”
¹⁰ Daniel is Given Understanding“All of a sudden, a hand touched me and lifted me upon my hands and knees. ¹¹ He told me, ‘Daniel, man highly regarded, understand the message that I’m about to relate to you. Stand up, because I’ve been sent to you.’ When he spoke this statement to me, I stood there trembling.
¹² “‘Don’t be afraid, Daniel,’ he told me, ‘because from the first day that you committed yourself to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard. I’ve come in answer to your prayers.

⁴⁹ but when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and began to scream. ⁵⁰ All of them saw him and were terrified. Immediately he told them, “Have courage! It’s me. Stop being afraid!”

¹¹ An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the incense altar. ¹² When Zechariah saw him, he was startled, and fear overwhelmed him.

⁵ While the women remained terrified, bowing their faces to the ground, the men asked them, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is living?

³⁷ They were startled and terrified, thinking they were seeing a ghost.

⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds so that they might understand the Scriptures.

¹⁵ The other people told her, “You’re out of your mind!” But she kept insisting that it was so. Then they said, “It’s his angel.”

¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell down at his feet like a dead man. But he placed his right hand on me and said, “Stop being afraid! I am the first and the last,

⁴ Who has performed and carried this out, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD—the first and will be with the last —I am the One!”

¹⁰ Don’t be afraid, because I’m with you; don’t be anxious, because I am your God. I keep on strengthening you; I’m truly helping you. I’m surely upholding you with my victorious right hand.”

¹⁴ Don’t be afraid, you little worm Jacob, and you insects of Israel! I myself will help you,’ declares the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.”

¹² “I—yes, I—am the one who comforts you. Who are you, that you are so afraid of humans who will die, descendants of mere men, who have been made like grass?

² All at once some people brought him a paralyzed man lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he told the paralyzed man, “Be courageous, son! Your sins are forgiven.”

⁷ But Jesus came up to them and touched them, saying, “Get up, and stop being afraid.”

¹⁰ Then Jesus told them, “Stop being frightened! Go and tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”

¹³ But the angel told him, “Stop being afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to name him John.

³⁰ Then the angel told her, “Stop being afraid, Mary, because you have found favor with God.

¹⁰ Then the angel told them, “Stop being afraid! Listen! I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people.

³⁸ But Jesus told them, “What’s frightening you? And why are you doubting? ³⁹ Look at my hands and my feet, because it’s really me. Touch me and look at me, because a ghost doesn’t have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”

²⁰ But he told them, “It is I. Stop being afraid!”

¹ Jesus the Way to the Father “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. ² There are many rooms in my Father’s house. If there weren’t, I wouldn’t have told you that I am going away to prepare a place for you, would I? ³ And since I’m going away to prepare a place for you, I’ll come back again and welcome you into my presence, so that you may be where I am.

³³ I have told you this so that through me you may have peace. In the world you’ll have trouble, but be courageous—I’ve overcome the world!”

¹¹ That night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Have courage! For just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, you must testify in Rome, too.”

¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell down at his feet like a dead man. But he placed his right hand on me and said, “Stop being afraid! I am the first and the last, ¹⁸ the living one. I was dead—but look!—I am alive forever and ever! I have the keys of Death and Hades.

²⁷ “Look!” Peter replied. “We have left everything and followed you. So what will we get?”

³³ But Peter told him, “Even if everyone else turns against you, I certainly won’t!”
³⁴ Jesus told him, “I tell you with certainty, before a rooster crows this very night, you will deny me three times.”
³⁵ Peter told him, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the disciples said the same thing.

³¹ But Peter kept saying emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I’ll never deny you!” And all the others kept saying the same thing.

³¹ Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
“Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has asked permission to sift all of you like wheat, ³² but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail. When you have come back, you must strengthen your brothers.”
³³ Peter told him, “Lord, I am ready to go even to prison and to die with you!”
³⁴ But Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you deny three times that you know me.”

⁴⁹ When those who were around Jesus saw what was about to take place, they asked, “Lord, should we attack with our swords?” ⁵⁰ Then one of them struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear.

⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.

³⁶ Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”
Jesus answered him, “I’m going where you cannot follow me now, though you will follow me later on.”
³⁷ “Lord, why can’t I follow you now?” Peter asked him. “I would lay down my life for you!”
³⁸ Jesus answered him, “Would you lay down your life for me? I tell you emphatically, a rooster will not crow until you have denied me three times.”

³ For by the grace given to me I ask every one of you not to think of yourself more highly than you should think, rather to think of yourself with sober judgment on the measure of faith that God has assigned each of you.

²⁰ He told them, “Because of your lack of faith. I tell all of you with certainty, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.

²¹ Jesus answered them, “I tell all of you with certainty, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you be able to do what has been done to the fig tree, but you will also say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen.

²³ Jesus told him, “‘If you are able?’ Everything is possible for the person who believes!”

²² Jesus told his disciples, “Have faith in God! ²³ I tell all of you with certainty, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ if he doesn’t doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.

⁶ The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you!

¹⁶ It is his name—that is, by faith in his name—that has healed this man whom you see and know. Yes, the faith that comes through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you.

¹⁹ His faith did not weaken when he thought about his own body (which was already as good as dead now that he was about a hundred years old) or about Sarah’s inability to have children,

¹³ I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

¹⁵ Meanwhile, the attendant to the man of God got up early in the morning and went outside, and there were the elite forces, surrounding the city, accompanied by horses and chariots! So Elisha’s attendant cried out to him, “Oh no! Master! What will we do!?”

⁷ Arise, LORD! Deliver me, my God! For you strike the jaw of all my enemies, and you break the teeth of the wicked.

¹ To the Director: To the tune of “The Lilies”. Davidic.
When God Seems Distant Deliver me, God, because the waters are up to my neck. ² I am sinking in deep mire, and there is no solid ground. I have come into deep water, and the flood overwhelms me.

²⁷ They reeled and staggered like a drunkard, as all their wisdom became useless. ²⁸ Yet when they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, the LORD brought them out of their distress. ²⁹ He calmed the storm and its waves quieted down. ³⁰ So they rejoiced that the waves became quiet, and he led them to their desired haven.

³ The ropes of death were wound around me and the anguish of Sheol came upon me; I encountered distress and sorrow. ⁴ Then I called on the name of the LORD, “LORD, please deliver me!”

⁵⁴ Water closed over my head, and I said, “I’m a dead man.” ⁵⁵ I called on your name, LORD, from the depths of the Pit, ⁵⁶ You heard my voice— don’t close your ear to my sighs and cries. ⁵⁷ You drew near when I called out to you. You said, “Stop being afraid”

² He said: “I called out to the LORD from the midst of affliction directed at me, and he answered me. From the depths of death I cried out for help; and you heard my cry. ³ You cast me into the deep— into the heart of the sea. Flood waters engulfed me. All your breakers and your waves swirled over me. ⁴ So I told myself, ‘I have been driven away from you. How will I again gaze on your holy Temple?’ ⁵ Flood waters encompassed me, the deep surrounded me while seaweed wrapped around my head. ⁶ I sank to the roots of the mountains; the earth’s prison bars closed around me forever. Yet you resurrect the dead from the Pit, LORD my God! ⁷ “As my life was fading away, I remembered the LORD; and my prayer came to you in your holy Temple.

²⁴ Suddenly, a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat began to be swamped by the waves. Yet Jesus kept sleeping. ²⁵ They went to him and woke him up. “Lord!” they cried, “Save us! We’re going to die!”

⁶⁹ Peter Denies Jesus
Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard when a servant girl came up to him and said, “You, too, were with Jesus the Galilean.”
⁷⁰ But he denied it in front of them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” he exclaimed.
⁷¹ As he went out to the gateway, another woman saw him and told those who were there, “This man was with Jesus from Nazareth.”
⁷² Again he denied it and swore with an oath, “I don’t know the man!”
⁷³ After a little while, the people who were standing there came up and told Peter, “Obviously you’re also one of them, because your accent gives you away.”
⁷⁴ Then he began to curse violently. “I don’t know the man!” he swore solemnly. Just then a rooster crowed. ⁷⁵ Peter remembered the words of Jesus when he said, “Before a rooster crows, you’ll deny me three times.” Then he went outside and cried bitterly.

³⁸ All of you must stay awake and pray that you won’t be tempted. The spirit is indeed willing, but the body is weak.”

⁶⁶ Peter Denies Jesus
While Peter was down in the courtyard, one of the high priest’s servant girls came by. ⁶⁷ When she saw Peter warming himself, she glared at him and said, “You, too, were with Jesus from Nazareth.”
⁶⁸ But he denied it, saying, “I don’t know—or even understand—what you’re talking about!” Then he went out into the entryway. Just then a rooster crowed.
⁶⁹ The servant girl saw him and again told those who were standing around, “This man is one of them!” ⁷⁰ Again he denied it.
After a little while, the people who were standing there began to say to Peter again, “Obviously you’re one of them, because you are a Galilean!”
⁷¹ Then he began to invoke a divine curse and to swear with an oath, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about!” ⁷² Just then a rooster crowed a second time.
Peter remembered that Jesus told him, “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” Then he broke down and cried.

⁵⁴ Peter Denies Jesus
Then they arrested him, led him away, and brought him to the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance. ⁵⁵ When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had taken their seats, Peter, too, sat down among them. ⁵⁶ A servant girl saw him sitting by the fire, stared at him, and said, “This man was with him, too.”
⁵⁷ But he denied it, “I don’t know him, woman!” he responded.
⁵⁸ A little later, a man looked at him and said, “You are one of them, too.”
But Peter said, “Mister, I am not!”
⁵⁹ About an hour later, another man emphatically asserted, “This man was certainly with him, because he is a Galilean!”
⁶⁰ But Peter said, “Mister, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just then, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.
⁶¹ Then the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. And Peter remembered the word from the Lord, and how he had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”

²⁵ Peter Denies Jesus Again
Meanwhile, Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. Some people asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples, too, are you?”
He denied it by saying, “I am not!”
²⁶ Then one of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “I saw you in the garden with Jesus, didn’t I?” ²⁷ Peter again denied it, and immediately a rooster crowed.

⁷ To keep me from becoming conceited because of the exceptional nature of these revelations, a thorn was given to me and placed in my body. It was Satan’s messenger to keep on tormenting me so that I would not become conceited.
⁸ I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me, ⁹ but he has told me, “My grace is all you need, because my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most happily boast about my weaknesses, so that the Messiah’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why I take such pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for the Messiah’s sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong.

¹⁶ At my first trial no one came to my defense. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be held against them! ¹⁷ However, the Lord stood by me and gave me strength so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the gentiles could hear it. I was rescued out of a lion’s mouth.

¹⁴ Abraham named that place, “The LORD Will Provide,” as it is told this day, “On the LORD’s mountain, he will provide.”

³⁶ For the LORD will vindicate his people and bring comfort to his servants, because he will observe that their power has waned, when neither prisoner nor free person remain.

⁷ Though I walk straight into trouble, you preserve my life, stretching out your hand to fight the vehemence of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.

¹² and who made his glorious arm march at Moses’ right hand, who divided the waters in front of them to win an everlasting name,

³⁰ Now if that is the way God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and thrown into an oven tomorrow, won’t he clothe you much better—you who have little faith?

²⁶ He asked them, “Why are you afraid, you who have little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

⁸ Knowing this, Jesus asked them, “You who have little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you don’t have any bread?

³¹ He went up to her, took her by the hand, and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began serving them.

⁴¹ Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand, touched him, and told him, “I do want to. Be made clean!”

⁴¹ He took her by the hand and told her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Young lady, I tell you, get up!”

²³ I tell all of you with certainty, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ if he doesn’t doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.

⁷ But go and tell his disciples—especially Peter—that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”

³¹ Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
“Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has asked permission to sift all of you like wheat, ³² but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail. When you have come back, you must strengthen your brothers.”

³⁴ They kept saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon!”

³⁰ as you stretch out your hand to heal and to perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

¹⁸ Hoping in spite of hopeless circumstances, he believed that he would become “the father of many nations,” just as he had been told: “This is how many descendants you will have.” ¹⁹ His faith did not weaken when he thought about his own body (which was already as good as dead now that he was about a hundred years old) or about Sarah’s inability to have children, ²⁰ nor did he doubt God’s promise out of a lack of faith. Instead, his faith became stronger and he gave glory to God,

⁸ Instructions to Men and WomenTherefore, I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without being angry or argumentative.

⁶ But he must ask in faith, without any doubts, for the one who has doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ Such a person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ He is a double-minded man, unstable in all he undertakes.

⁵ Through faith you are being protected by God’s power for a salvation that is ready to be revealed at the end of this era.

⁴¹ Overcome with fear, they kept saying to one another, “Who is this man? Even the wind and the sea obey him!”

⁵¹ Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped blowing. The disciples were utterly astounded,

²¹ So they were glad to take him on board, and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going.

⁷ The Anointed King SpeaksLet me announce the decree of the LORD that he told me: “You are my son, today I have become your father.

²⁵ “Look!” he told them, “I see four men walking untied and unharmed in the middle of the fire, and the appearance of the fourth resembles a divine being.”

³ Then the tempter came. “Since you are the Son of God,” he said, “tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”

²⁵ Then she came and fell down before him, saying, “Lord, help me!”

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!”

⁵ He was still speaking when a bright cloud suddenly overshadowed them.
A voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love. I am pleased with him. Keep on listening to him!”

⁶³ But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest told him, “I command you by the living God to tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God!”

⁴³ He trusts in God. Let God rescue him, if he wants to do so now. After all, he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”

⁵⁴ When the centurion and those guarding Jesus with him saw the earthquake and the other things that were taking place, they were terrified and said, “This man certainly was the Son of God!”

⁹ Suddenly, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They went up to him, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him.

¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshipped him, though some had doubts.

¹ John the Baptist Prepares the Way for Jesus
This is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.

⁶¹ But he kept silent and didn’t answer at all. The high priest asked him again, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

³⁹ When the centurion who stood facing Jesus saw how he had cried out and breathed his last, he said, “This man certainly was the Son of God!”

⁴¹ Even demons came out of many people, screaming, “You are the Son of God!” But Jesus rebuked them and ordered them not to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah.

²⁸ When he saw Jesus, he screamed, fell down in front of him, and cried out in a loud voice, “What do you want from me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you not to torture me!”

⁵² They worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy.

⁴⁹ Nathaniel replied to him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

⁶⁹ Besides, we have believed and remain convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

³⁵ Spiritual BlindnessJesus heard that they had thrown him out. So when he found him, he asked him, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
³⁶ He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.”
³⁷ Jesus told him, “You have seen him. He is the person who is talking with you.”
³⁸ He said, “Lord, I do believe,” and worshipped him.

²⁷ “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who was to come into the world.”

¹ Jesus Prays for Himself, His Disciples, and His Future FollowersAfter Jesus had said this, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, so that the Son may glorify you.

⁷ The Jewish leaders answered Pilate, “We have a law, and according to that Law he must die because he made himself out to be the Son of God.”

³⁶ As they were going along the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, “Look, there’s some water. What keeps me from being baptized?”

⁴ and was declared by the resurrection from the dead to be the powerful Son of God according to the spirit of holiness—Jesus the Messiah, our Lord.

⁵³ Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret
When they had crossed over, they came ashore at Gennesaret and anchored the boat. ⁵⁴ As soon as they got out of the boat, the people recognized Jesus. ⁵⁵ They ran all over the countryside and began carrying the sick on their mats to any place where they heard he was. ⁵⁶ Wherever he went, whether into villages, towns, or farms, people would place their sick in the marketplaces and beg him to let them touch even the tassel of his garment, and everyone who touched it was healed.

¹ Jesus Calls His First Disciples
One day, as the crowd was pressing in on him to listen to God’s word, Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret.

²⁴ When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into these boats and went to Capernaum to look for Jesus.
²⁵ When they had found him on the other side of the sea, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

²⁴ His fame spread throughout Syria, and people brought to him everyone who was sick—those afflicted with various diseases and pains, the demon-possessed, the epileptics, and the paralyzed—and he healed them. ²⁵ Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from across the Jordan followed him.

²⁸ At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
²⁹ Jesus Heals Many People
After they left the synagogue, they went directly to the house of Simon and Andrew, along with James and John. ³⁰ Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying in bed, sick with a fever, so they promptly told Jesus about her. ³¹ He went up to her, took her by the hand, and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began serving them. ³² When evening came, after the sun had set, people started bringing to him everyone who was sick or possessed by demons. ³³ In fact, the whole city gathered at the door. ³⁴ He healed many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons. However, he wouldn’t allow the demons to speak because they knew who he was.

¹ Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
Several days later, Jesus returned to Capernaum and it was reported that he was at home. ² Such a large crowd gathered that there wasn’t room for them, even in front of the door. Jesus was speaking his message to them ³ when some people came and brought him a paralyzed man being carried by four men. ⁴ Since they couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof over the place where he was. They dug through it and let down the mat on which the paralyzed man was lying.
⁵ When Jesus saw their faith, he told the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
⁶ Now some scribes were sitting there, arguing among themselves, ⁷ “Why does this man talk this way? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
⁸ At once, Jesus knew in his spirit what they were saying to themselves. “Why are you arguing about such things among yourselves?” he asked them. ⁹ “Which is easier: to say to the paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk’? ¹⁰ But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” Then he told the paralyzed man, ¹¹ “I say to you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home!” ¹² So the man got up, immediately picked up his mat, and went out in front of all of them.
As a result, all of the people were amazed and began to glorify God as they kept on saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

⁸ Jerusalem, Idumea, from across the Jordan, and from the region around Tyre and Sidon followed him. They came to him because they kept hearing about everything he was doing. ⁹ Jesus told his disciples to have a boat ready for him so that the crowd wouldn’t crush him, ¹⁰ because he had healed so many people that everyone who had diseases kept crowding up against him in order to touch him.

⁵⁵ They ran all over the countryside and began carrying the sick on their mats to any place where they heard he was.

³³ On its hem you are to make blue and purple and scarlet pomegranates, all around the skirt, with gold bells between them all the way around. ³⁴ You are to have a gold bell and a pomegranate, then a gold bell and a pomegranate, on the hem of the robe all the way around it. ³⁵ Aaron is to wear the robe when he ministers so its sound may be heard when he enters and leaves the Holy Place in the LORD’s presence, so that he won’t die.
³⁶ “You are to make a medallion of pure gold, and engrave on it ‘Holy to the LORD,’ like the engravings of a signet. ³⁷ You are to put it on a blue cord and place it on the turban. It is to be on the front of the turban ³⁸ and worn on Aaron’s forehead in order to take away any guilt contained in the holy things which the Israelis consecrate as holy gifts. It is to remain on his forehead continuously, so they may be accepted in the LORD’s presence.
³⁹ “You are to weave the checkered tunic of fine linen, you are to make a turban of fine linen, and you are to make an embroidered sash. ⁴⁰ “You are to make tunics for the sons of Aaron, you are to make sashes for them, and you are to make head coverings for them for dignity and beauty. ⁴¹ You are to put them on Aaron your brother, and on his sons with him, and you are to anoint them, ordain them, and consecrate them to serve as my priests.
⁴² “You are to make linen undergarments for them to cover their naked flesh, and they are to reach from the loins to the thighs. ⁴³ They shall be on Aaron and his sons when they enter the Tent of Meeting or when they approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place so they don’t incur guilt and die. This is to be a perpetual ordinance for him and for his descendants after him.”

³⁸ “Tell the Israelis that they are to make tassels at the edges of their garments throughout their generations and that they are to put a violet cord on the tassels at the edges of their garments. ³⁹ That way, when you see the tassel, you’ll remember all the commands of the LORD and you’ll observe them. Then you won’t seek your own interests and desires that lead you to be unfaithful.

²⁰ Just then a woman who had been suffering from chronic bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel of his garment, ²¹ because she had been saying to herself, “If I just touch his robe, I will get well.”

⁵ “They do everything to be seen by people. They increase the size of their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments.

¹⁰ because he had healed so many people that everyone who had diseases kept crowding up against him in order to touch him.

¹⁹ The entire crowd was trying to touch him, because power was coming out from him and healing all of them.

³⁷ Everything the Father gives me will come to me, and I’ll never turn away the one who comes to me.

²³ If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because I made a man perfectly well on the Sabbath?

⁹ If we are being questioned today for a good deed done for someone who was sick or to learn how this man was healed, ¹⁰ you and all the people of Israel must understand that this man stands healthy before you because of the name of Jesus from Nazareth, whom you crucified, but whom God raised from the dead.

¹⁴ And seeing the man who was healed standing with them, they could not say anything against them. ¹⁵ So they ordered them to leave the Council and began to discuss the matter among themselves. ¹⁶ They said, “What should we do with these men? For it’s obvious to everybody living in Jerusalem that an unmistakable sign has been done by them, and we cannot deny it.

¹¹ God continued to do extraordinary miracles through Paul. ¹² When handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched his skin were taken to the sick, their diseases left them and evil spirits went out of them.