Mark 6 Cross References - MSB

¹ Jesus went on from there and came to His hometown, accompanied by His disciples. ² When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished. “Where did this man get these ideas?” they asked. “What is this wisdom He has been given? And how can He perform such miracles? ³ Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with us as well?” And they took offense at Him. ⁴ Then Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own household is a prophet without honor.” ⁵ So He could not perform any miracles there, except to lay His hands on a few of the sick and heal them. ⁶ And He was amazed at their unbelief. And He went around from village to village, teaching the people. ⁷ Then Jesus called the Twelve to Him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits. ⁸ He instructed them to take nothing but a staff for the journey—no bag, no bread, no money in their belts— ⁹ and to wear sandals, but not a second tunic. ¹⁰ And He told them, “When you enter a house, stay there until you leave that area. ¹¹ If anyone will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that place, as a testimony against them. Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.” ¹² So they set out and preached that the people should repent. ¹³ They also drove out many demons and healed many of the sick, anointing them with oil. ¹⁴ Now King Herod heard about this (for Jesus’ name had become well known) and he said, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” ¹⁵ Others were saying, “He is Elijah,” and still others, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” ¹⁶ But when Herod heard this, he said, “This is John, whom I beheaded; he has risen from the dead!” ¹⁷ For Herod himself had ordered that John be arrested and bound and imprisoned, on account of his brother Philip’s wife Herodias, whom Herod had married. ¹⁸ For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife!” ¹⁹ So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she had been unable, ²⁰ because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. When he heard John’s words, he did many things, and he listened to him gladly. ²¹ On Herod’s birthday, her opportunity arose. Herod held a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. ²² When the daughter of Herodias came and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests, and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” ²³ And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom!” ²⁴ Then she went out and asked her mother, “What should I request?” And her mother answered, “The head of John the Baptist.” ²⁵ At once the girl hurried back to the king with her request: “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately.” ²⁶ The king was consumed with sorrow, but because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to refuse her. ²⁷ So without delay, the king commanded that John’s head be brought in. He sent an executioner, who went and beheaded him in the prison. ²⁸ The man brought John’s head on a platter and presented it to the girl, who gave it to her mother. ²⁹ When John’s disciples heard about this, they came and took his body and placed it in a tomb. ³⁰ Meanwhile, the apostles gathered around Jesus and brought Him news of all they had done and taught. ³¹ And He said to them, “Come with Me privately to a solitary place, and let us rest for a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. ³² So they went away in a boat by themselves to a solitary place. ³³ But many people saw them leaving and recognized Him. They ran together on foot from all the towns and arrived before them. ³⁴ When Jesus stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And He began to teach them many things. ³⁵ By now the hour was already late. So the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late. ³⁶ Dismiss the crowd so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves food, for they have nothing to eat.” ³⁷ But Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.” They asked Him, “Should we go out and spend two hundred denarii to give all of them bread to eat?” ³⁸ “Go and see how many loaves you have,” He told them. And after checking, they said, “Five—and two fish.” ³⁹ Then Jesus directed them to have the people sit 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 and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to His disciples to set before the people. And He divided the two fish among them all. ⁴² They all ate and were satisfied, ⁴³ and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. ⁴⁴ And there were five thousand men who had eaten the loaves. ⁴⁵ Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd. ⁴⁶ After bidding them farewell, He went up on the mountain to pray. ⁴⁷ When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and Jesus was alone on land. ⁴⁸ He could see that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. He intended to pass by them, ⁴⁹ but when they saw Him walking on the sea, they cried out, thinking He was a ghost— ⁵⁰ for they all saw Him and were terrified. But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” ⁵¹ Then He climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. And the disciples were utterly astounded beyond measure, and were marveling. ⁵² For they had not understood about the loaves because their hearts had been hardened. ⁵³ When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and moored the boat. ⁵⁴ As soon as they got out of the boat, the people recognized Jesus ⁵⁵ and ran through that whole surrounding region, carrying the sick on mats to wherever they heard He was. ⁵⁶ And wherever He went—villages and towns and countrysides—they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all who touched Him were healed.

²³ and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”

⁴ And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.

⁵⁴ Coming to His hometown, He taught the people in their synagogue, and they were astonished. “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers?” they asked. ⁵⁵ “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? ⁵⁶ Aren’t all His sisters with us as well? Where then did this man get all these things?” ⁵⁷ And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own household is a prophet without honor.” ⁵⁸ And He did not do many miracles there, because of their unbelief.

¹⁶ Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath. And when He stood up to read, ¹⁷ the scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it was written: ¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, ¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” ²⁰ Then He rolled up the scroll, returned it to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him, ²¹ and He began by saying, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” ²² All spoke well of Him and marveled at the gracious words that came from His lips. “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” they asked. ²³ Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to Me: ‘Physician, heal yourself! Do here in Your hometown what we have heard that You did in Capernaum.’” ²⁴ Then He added, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in his hometown. ²⁵ But I tell you truthfully that there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and great famine swept over all the land. ²⁶ Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to the widow of Zarephath in Sidon. ²⁷ And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet. Yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.” ²⁸ On hearing this, all the people in the synagogue were enraged. ²⁹ They got up, drove Him out of the town, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw Him over the cliff. ³⁰ But Jesus passed through the crowd and went on His way.

²³ Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

²⁸ When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at His teaching,

²¹ Then Jesus and His companions went to Capernaum, and right away Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach. ²² The people were astonished at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

³⁹ So He went throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

¹⁵ He taught in their synagogues and was glorified by everyone.

³¹ Then He went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath He began to teach the people. ³² They were astonished at His teaching, because His message had authority.

⁴² They were asking, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then can He say, ‘I have come down from heaven?’”

¹⁵ The Jews were amazed and asked, “How did this man attain such learning without having studied?”

¹³ When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus. ¹⁴ And seeing the man who had been healed standing there with them, they had nothing to say in response.

⁷ Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel, to Him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the Servant of rulers: “Kings will see You and rise, and princes will bow down, because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen You.”

² He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him. ³ He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

⁶ Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.”

⁴⁶ While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, His mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to Him.

⁵⁵ “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? ⁵⁶ Aren’t all His sisters with us as well? Where then did this man get all these things?” ⁵⁷ And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own household is a prophet without honor.”

¹⁸ Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot,

⁴⁰ And there were also women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.

³⁴ Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary: “Behold, this Child is appointed to cause the rise and fall of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,

²² All spoke well of Him and marveled at the gracious words that came from His lips. “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” they asked. ²³ Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to Me: ‘Physician, heal yourself! Do here in Your hometown what we have heard that You did in Capernaum.’” ²⁴ Then He added, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in his hometown. ²⁵ But I tell you truthfully that there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and great famine swept over all the land. ²⁶ Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to the widow of Zarephath in Sidon. ²⁷ And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet. Yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.” ²⁸ On hearing this, all the people in the synagogue were enraged. ²⁹ They got up, drove Him out of the town, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw Him over the cliff.

²³ Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.”

⁶⁰ On hearing it, many of His disciples said, “This is a difficult teaching. Who can accept it?” ⁶¹ Aware that His disciples were grumbling about this teaching, Jesus asked them, “Does this offend you?

²² Judas (not Iscariot) asked Him, “Lord, why are You going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?”

¹³ When they arrived, they went to the upper room where they were staying: Peter and James, John and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.

²³ but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Greeks,

⁴ Have we no right to food and to drink?

¹⁹ But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.

⁴ As you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight,

¹ Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and kept in Jesus Christ:

²¹ Therefore this is what the LORD says concerning the people of Anathoth who are seeking your life and saying, “You must not prophesy in the name of the LORD, or you will die by our hand.”

⁶ Even your brothers—your own father’s household—even they have betrayed you; even they have cried aloud against you. Do not trust them, though they speak well of you.

⁵⁷ And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own household is a prophet without honor.”

²⁴ Then He added, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in his hometown.

⁴⁴ Now He Himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.

²² Hurry! Run there quickly, for I cannot do anything until you reach it.” That is why the town was called Zoar.

²⁵ When the man saw that he could not overpower Jacob, he struck the socket of Jacob’s hip and dislocated it as they wrestled.

¹ Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear. ² But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.

⁵⁸ And He did not do many miracles there, because of their unbelief.

²³ and pleaded with Him urgently, “My little daughter is near death. Please come and place Your hands on her, so that she will be healed and live.”

²³ “If You can believe!” said Jesus. “All things are possible to him who believes!”

² For we also received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, since they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it.

¹⁶ He saw that there was no man; He was amazed that there was no one to intercede. So His own arm brought salvation, and His own righteousness sustained Him.

¹¹ Has a nation ever changed its gods, though they are no gods at all? Yet My people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols.

¹⁰ When Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those following Him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found even in Israel such great faith.

³⁵ Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

³¹ Then He went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath He began to teach the people.

⁴⁴ And He continued to preach in the synagogues of Galilee.

²² Then Jesus traveled throughout the towns and villages, teaching as He made His way toward Jerusalem.

³⁰ “That is remarkable indeed!” the man said. “You do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes.

³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.

¹⁴ Then the anger of the LORD burned against Moses, and He said, “Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well, and he is now on his way to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. ¹⁵ You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth. I will help both of you to speak, and I will teach you what to do.

⁹ Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. ¹⁰ For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up!

¹ And calling His twelve disciples to Him, Jesus gave them authority over unclean spirits, so that they could drive them out and heal every disease and sickness. ² These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; ³ Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus called Thaddaeus. ⁴ Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus. ⁵ These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go onto the road of the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.

⁹ Do not carry any gold or silver or copper in your belts. ¹⁰ Take no bag for the road, or second tunic, or sandals, or staffs; for the worker is worthy of his provisions. ¹¹ Whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy there and stay at his house until you move on. ¹² As you enter the home, greet its occupants. ¹³ If the home is worthy, let your peace rest on it; but if it is not, let your peace return to you. ¹⁴ And if anyone will not welcome you or heed your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.

¹³ Then Jesus went up on the mountain and called for those He wanted, and they came to Him. ¹⁴ He appointed twelve of them to accompany Him, to be sent out to preach,

¹⁷ And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;

¹³ When daylight came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated as apostles: ¹⁴ Simon, whom He named Peter, and his brother Andrew; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; ¹⁵ Matthew and Thomas; James son of Alphaeus and Simon called the Zealot; ¹⁶ Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

¹ Then Jesus called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and power to cure diseases. ² And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. ³ “Take nothing for the journey,” He told them, “no staffs, no bag, no bread, no money, no second tunic. ⁴ Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that area. ⁵ If anyone does not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that town, as a testimony against them.” ⁶ So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.

¹ After this, the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place He was about to visit.

³ Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. ⁴ Carry no purse or bag or sandals. Do not greet anyone along the road. ⁵ Whatever house you enter, begin by saying, ‘Peace to this house.’ ⁶ If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. ⁷ Stay at the same house, eating and drinking whatever you are offered. For the worker is worthy of his wages. Do not move around from house to house. ⁸ If you enter a town and they welcome you, eat whatever is set before you. ⁹ Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’ ¹⁰ But if you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go into the streets and declare, ¹¹ ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to us, we wipe off as a testimony against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near to you.’ ¹² I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

¹⁷ The seventy returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.” ¹⁸ So He told them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. ¹⁹ Behold, I am giving you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you. ²⁰ Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

³ And I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”

⁹ Do not carry any gold or silver or copper in your belts. ¹⁰ Take no bag for the road, or second tunic, or sandals, or staffs; for the worker is worthy of his provisions.

³ “Take nothing for the journey,” He told them, “no staffs, no bag, no bread, no money, no second tunic.

⁴ Carry no purse or bag or sandals. Do not greet anyone along the road.

³⁵ Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you out without purse or bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered.

⁸ “Get dressed and put on your sandals,” said the angel. Peter did so, and the angel told him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.”

¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace.

¹¹ Whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy there and stay at his house until you move on. ¹² As you enter the home, greet its occupants. ¹³ If the home is worthy, let your peace rest on it; but if it is not, let your peace return to you.

⁴ Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that area.

⁷ Stay at the same house, eating and drinking whatever you are offered. For the worker is worthy of his wages. Do not move around from house to house. ⁸ If you enter a town and they welcome you, eat whatever is set before you.

¹⁵ And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

⁵ The Jews, however, brought in some troublemakers they took from the marketplace, formed a mob, and sent the city into an uproar. They raided Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas, hoping to bring them out to the people. ⁶ But when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have now come here, ⁷ and Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, named Jesus!”

¹³ I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, “May God likewise shake out of His house and possession every man who does not keep this promise. May such a man be shaken out and have nothing!” The whole assembly said, “Amen,” and they praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.

⁴⁸ As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, your sister Sodom and her daughters never did as you and your daughters have done. ⁴⁹ Now this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed, and complacent; they did not help the poor and needy. ⁵⁰ Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them, as you have seen. ⁵¹ Furthermore, Samaria did not commit half the sins you did. You have multiplied your abominations beyond theirs, and all the abominations you have committed have made your sisters appear righteous.

¹⁴ And if anyone will not welcome you or heed your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. ¹⁵ Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

²⁰ Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. ²¹ “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. ²² But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. ²³ And you, Capernaum, which is lifted up to heaven, will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. ²⁴ But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

³⁶ But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.

⁵ If anyone does not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that town, as a testimony against them.”

¹⁰ But if you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go into the streets and declare, ¹¹ ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to us, we wipe off as a testimony against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near to you.’ ¹² I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. ¹³ Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. ¹⁴ But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. ¹⁵ And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven to heaven, will be brought down to Hades!

²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin. ²³ Whoever hates Me hates My Father as well. ²⁴ If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have seen and hated both Me and My Father.

⁵⁰ The Jews, however, incited the religious women of prominence and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their district. ⁵¹ So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.

⁶ But when they opposed and insulted him, he shook out his garments and told them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

⁵ But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

¹⁶ on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as proclaimed by my gospel.

⁴ It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, ⁵ who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age— ⁶ and then have fallen away—to be restored to repentance, because they themselves are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to open shame. ⁷ For land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is tended receives the blessing of God. ⁸ But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless, and its curse is imminent. In the end it will be burned.

²⁶ If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains, ²⁷ but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries. ²⁸ Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord,” and again, “The Lord will judge His people.” ³¹ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

⁶ if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes as an example of what is coming on the ungodly;

⁹ if all this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.

⁷ And by His word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

¹⁷ In this way, love has been perfected among us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment; for in this world we are just like Him.

⁷ In like manner, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, who indulged in sexual immorality and pursued strange flesh, are on display as an example of those who sustain the punishment of eternal fire.

³⁰ Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall.

² and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

⁸ Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance.

¹⁷ From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

¹³ But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

²⁰ Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.

³ “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’”

¹⁵ “The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!”

⁶ So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.

³² The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.

³ No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish.

⁵ No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

⁷ In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.

¹⁰ In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”

⁴⁷ and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.

³⁸ Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

¹⁹ Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away,

¹⁸ When they heard this, their objections were put to rest, and they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”

²¹ testifying to Jews and Greeks alike about repentance to God and faith in our Lord Jesus.

²⁰ First to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, then to everyone throughout the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I declared that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds worthy of their repentance.

⁹ And now I rejoice, not because you were made sorrowful, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you felt the sorrow that God had intended, and so were not harmed in any way by us. ¹⁰ Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

²⁵ He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth. ²⁶ Then they will come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, who has taken them captive to his will.

⁷ Then Jesus called the Twelve to Him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits.

¹⁷ The seventy returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.”

¹⁴ Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.

⁸ The Ammonites brought tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread as far as the border of Egypt, for he had become exceedingly powerful.

¹⁵ And in Jerusalem he made skillfully designed devices to shoot arrows and catapult large stones from the towers and corners. So his fame spread far and wide, for he was helped tremendously so that he became powerful.

³¹ But they went out and spread the news about Him throughout the land.

¹ At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus ² and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” ³ Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, ⁴ because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” ⁵ Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a prophet. ⁶ On Herod’s birthday, however, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod ⁷ so much that he promised with an oath to give to her whatever she asked. ⁸ Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” ⁹ The king was grieved, but because of his oaths and his guests, he ordered that her wish be granted ¹⁰ and sent to have John beheaded in the prison. ¹¹ John’s head was brought in on a platter and presented to the girl, who carried it to her mother. ¹² Then John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. And they went and informed Jesus.

²⁸ And the news about Jesus spread quickly through the whole region of Galilee.

⁴⁵ But the man went out and openly began to proclaim and spread the news. Consequently, Jesus could no longer enter a town in plain view, but He stayed out in solitary places. Yet people came to Him from every quarter.

¹⁴ Now King Herod heard about this (for Jesus’ name had become well known) and he said, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” ¹⁵ Others were saying, “He is Elijah,” and still others, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” ¹⁶ But when Herod heard this, he said, “This is John, whom I beheaded; he has risen from the dead!” ¹⁷ For Herod himself had ordered that John be arrested and bound and imprisoned, on account of his brother Philip’s wife Herodias, whom Herod had married. ¹⁸ For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife!” ¹⁹ So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she had been unable, ²⁰ because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. When he heard John’s words, he did many things, and he listened to him gladly. ²¹ On Herod’s birthday, her opportunity arose. Herod held a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. ²² When the daughter of Herodias came and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests, and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” ²³ And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom!” ²⁴ Then she went out and asked her mother, “What should I request?” And her mother answered, “The head of John the Baptist.” ²⁵ At once the girl hurried back to the king with her request: “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately.” ²⁶ The king was consumed with sorrow, but because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to refuse her. ²⁷ So without delay, the king commanded that John’s head be brought in. He sent an executioner, who went and beheaded him in the prison. ²⁸ The man brought John’s head on a platter and presented it to the girl, who gave it to her mother. ²⁹ When John’s disciples heard about this, they came and took his body and placed it in a tomb.

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

¹ In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,

⁷ When Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was being done by Him, he was perplexed. For some were saying that John had risen from the dead, ⁸ others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that a prophet of old had arisen. ⁹ “I beheaded John,” Herod said, “but who is this man I hear such things about?” And he kept trying to see Jesus.

³¹ On that very day, some Pharisees came to Jesus and told Him, “Leave this place and get away, because Herod wants to kill You.”

⁷ And learning that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself was in Jerusalem at that time. ⁸ When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased. He had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had heard many things about Him and was hoping to see Him perform a miracle. ⁹ Herod questioned Jesus at great length, but He gave no answer. ¹⁰ Meanwhile, the chief priests and scribes stood there, vehemently accusing Him. ¹¹ And even Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked Him. Dressing Him in a fine robe, they sent Him back to Pilate. ¹² That day Pilate and Herod became friends; before this time they had been enemies.

⁸ For not only did the message of the Lord ring out from you to Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone out to every place, so that we have no need to say anything more.

⁵ Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD.

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

¹⁰ His disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” ¹¹ Jesus replied, “Elijah does indeed come first, and he will restore all things.

¹¹ The crowds replied, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

¹² He replied, “Elijah does indeed come first, and he restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected? ¹³ But I tell you that Elijah has indeed come, and they have done to him whatever they wished, just as it is written about him.”

³⁵ When some of those standing nearby heard this, they said, “Behold, He is calling Elijah.” ³⁶ And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine. He put it on a reed and held it up for Jesus to drink, saying, “Leave Him alone. Let us see if Elijah comes to take Him down.”

¹⁷ And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

¹⁶ A sense of awe swept over all of them, and they glorified God. “A great prophet has appeared among us!” they said. “God has visited His people!”

³⁹ When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He would know who this is and what kind of woman is touching Him—for she is a sinner!”

⁸ others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that a prophet of old had arisen.

¹⁹ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that a prophet of old has arisen.”

²¹ “Then who are you?” they inquired. “Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”

²⁵ asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

¹⁴ When the people saw the sign that Jesus had performed, they began to say, “Truly this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

⁴⁰ On hearing these words, many of the people therefore said, “This is truly the Prophet.”

¹⁷ So once again they asked the man who had been blind, “What do you say about Him, since it was your eyes He opened?” “He is a prophet,” the man replied.

²² For Moses said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to Him in everything He tells you. ²³ Everyone who does not listen to Him will be completely cut off from among his people.’

¹⁰ and on the vine were three branches. As it budded, its blossoms opened and its clusters ripened into grapes. ¹¹ Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into his cup, and placed the cup in his hand.”

⁵ There they are, overwhelmed with dread, where there was nothing to fear. For God has scattered the bones of those who besieged you. You put them to shame, for God has despised them.

² and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

⁴ “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.”

⁹ “I beheaded John,” Herod said, “but who is this man I hear such things about?” And he kept trying to see Jesus.

¹⁰ And those who dwell on the earth will gloat over them, and will celebrate and give one another gifts, because these two prophets had tormented them. ¹¹ But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered the two witnesses, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell upon those who saw them. ¹² And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud as their enemies watched them. ¹³ And in that day there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand were killed in the quake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

¹² When Jesus heard that John had been imprisoned, He withdrew to Galilee.

² Meanwhile John heard in prison about the works of Christ, and he sent two of his disciples

¹⁹ But when he rebuked Herod the tetrarch regarding his brother’s wife Herodias and all the evils he had done, ²⁰ Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.

¹⁶ You must not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; that would shame your brother.

²¹ If a man marries his brother’s wife, it is an act of impurity. He has uncovered the nakedness of his brother; they shall be childless.

¹⁴ But Micaiah said, “As surely as the LORD lives, I will speak whatever the LORD tells me.”

¹⁸ If I say to the wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ but you do not warn him or speak out to warn him from his wicked way to save his life, that wicked man will die in his iniquity, and I will hold you responsible for his blood. ¹⁹ But if you warn a wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness and his wicked way, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved yourself.

³ Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, ⁴ because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”

²⁶ Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. ²⁷ For I did not shrink back from declaring to you the whole will of God.

²⁴ After several days, Felix returned with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Christ. ²⁵ As Paul expounded on righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “You may go for now. When I find the time, I will call for you.” ²⁶ At the same time, he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe to release him. So he sent for Paul frequently and talked with him.

¹⁷ Then she told him the same story: “The Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me, ¹⁸ but when I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.” ¹⁹ When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is what your slave did to me,” he burned with anger. ²⁰ So Joseph’s master took him and had him thrown into the prison where the king’s prisoners were confined. While Joseph was there in the prison,

²⁰ When Elijah arrived, Ahab said to him, “So you have found me out, my enemy.” He replied, “I have found you out because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD.

⁹ Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger settles in the lap of a fool.

²⁶ “Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger, ²⁷ and do not give the devil a foothold.

³ And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and by the people.

¹² Jehoshaphat affirmed, “The word of the LORD is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him. ¹³ Elisha, however, said to the king of Israel, “What have we to do with each other? Go to the prophets of your father and of your mother!” “No,” replied the king of Israel, “for it is the LORD who has summoned these three kings to deliver them into the hand of Moab.”

²¹ And when the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?”

¹⁴ When Elisha had fallen sick with the illness from which he would die, Jehoash king of Israel came down to him and wept over him, saying, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!”

² And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.

¹⁵ When Jehoiada was old and full of years, he died at the age of 130. ¹⁶ And Jehoiada was buried with the kings in the City of David, because he had done what was good in Israel for God and His temple. ¹⁷ After the death of Jehoiada, however, the officials of Judah came and paid homage to the king, and he listened to them. ¹⁸ They abandoned the house of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherah poles and idols. So wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs. ¹⁹ Nevertheless, the LORD sent prophets to bring the people back to Him and to testify against them; but they would not listen. ²⁰ Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood up before the people and said to them, “This is what God says: ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He has forsaken you.’” ²¹ But they conspired against Zechariah, and by order of the king, they stoned him in the courtyard of the house of the LORD. ²² Thus King Joash failed to remember the kindness that Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had extended to him. Instead, Joash killed Jehoiada’s son. As he lay dying, Zechariah said, “May the LORD see this and call you to account.”

⁵ He sought God throughout the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. And as long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success.

¹² Then they believed His promises and sang His praise. ¹³ Yet they soon forgot His works and failed to wait for His counsel.

⁵ And whether they listen or refuse to listen—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them. ⁶ But you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns surround you, and you dwell among scorpions. Do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their presence, though they are a rebellious house. ⁷ But speak My words to them, whether they listen or refuse to listen, for they are rebellious.

³² Indeed, you are to them like a singer of love songs with a beautiful voice, who skillfully plays an instrument. They hear your words but do not put them into practice.

¹⁸ This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because none of the wise men of my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you are able, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”

²⁷ Therefore, may my advice be pleasing to you, O king. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed. Perhaps there will be an extension of your prosperity.”

¹⁷ In response, Daniel said to the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the inscription for the king and interpret it for him.

⁵ Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a prophet.

²⁶ But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the people, for they all regard John as a prophet.”

¹⁶ Some are like the seeds sown on rocky ground. They hear the word and at once receive it with joy.

¹⁸ When the chief priests and scribes heard this, they looked for a way to kill Him. For they were afraid of Him, because the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching.

³⁵ John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you were willing for a season to bask in his light.

⁴¹ Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. And Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

²⁰ On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he held a feast for all his officials, and in their presence he lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker.

²³ Two years later, when Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, he invited all the sons of the king. ²⁴ And he went to the king and said, “Your servant has just hired shearers. Will the king and his servants please come with me?” ²⁵ “No, my son,” the king replied, “we should not all go, or we would be a burden to you.” Although Absalom urged him, he was not willing to go, but gave him his blessing. ²⁶ “If not,” said Absalom, “please let my brother Amnon go with us.” “Why should he go with you?” the king asked. ²⁷ But Absalom urged him, so the king sent Amnon and the rest of his sons. ²⁸ Now Absalom had ordered his young men, “Watch Amnon until his heart is merry with wine, and when I order you to strike Amnon down, you are to kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant!” ²⁹ So Absalom’s young men did to Amnon just as Absalom had ordered. Then all the other sons of the king got up, and each one fled on his mule.

³ In the third year of his reign, Xerxes held a feast for all his officials and servants. The military leaders of Persia and Media were there, along with the nobles and princes of the provinces. ⁴ And for a full 180 days he displayed the glorious riches of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness. ⁵ At the end of this time, in the garden court of the royal palace, the king held a seven-day feast for all the people in the citadel of Susa, from the least to the greatest. ⁶ Hangings of white and blue linen were fastened with cords of fine white and purple material to silver rings on the marble pillars. Gold and silver couches were arranged on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones. ⁷ Beverages were served in an array of goblets of gold, each with a different design, and the royal wine flowed freely, according to the king’s bounty.

¹⁸ Then the king held a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his officials and servants. He proclaimed a tax holiday in the provinces and gave gifts worthy of the king’s bounty.

⁷ In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the Pur (that is, the lot) was cast before Haman to determine a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.

¹² The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them, ¹³ but the Lord laughs, seeing that their day is coming.

⁴ It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink, ⁵ lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.

¹ Later, King Belshazzar held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he drank wine with them. ² Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king could drink from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines. ³ Thus they brought in the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king drank from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines. ⁴ As they drank the wine, they praised their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.

⁵ The princes are inflamed with wine on the day of our king; so he joins hands with those who mock him.

² He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. ³ And seeing that this pleased the Jews, Herod proceeded to seize Peter during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. ⁴ He arrested him and put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out to the people after the Passover.

³ For we have spent enough of our past lifetime carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry.

¹⁰ And those who dwell on the earth will gloat over them, and will celebrate and give one another gifts, because these two prophets had tormented them.

¹⁰ On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was merry with wine, he ordered the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas— ¹¹ to bring Queen Vashti before him, wearing her royal crown, to display her beauty to the people and officials. For she was beautiful to behold. ¹² Queen Vashti, however, refused to come at the king’s command brought by his eunuchs. And the king became furious, and his anger burned within him.

¹⁶ The LORD also says: “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty—walking with heads held high and wanton eyes, prancing and skipping as they go, jingling the bracelets on their ankles— ¹⁷ the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will make their foreheads bare.” ¹⁸ In that day the Lord will take away their finery: their anklets and headbands and crescents; ¹⁹ their pendants, bracelets, and veils; ²⁰ their headdresses, ankle chains, and sashes; their perfume bottles and charms; ²¹ their signet rings and nose rings; ²² their festive robes, capes, cloaks, and purses; ²³ and their mirrors, linen garments, tiaras, and shawls. ²⁴ Instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of styled hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; instead of beauty, shame. ²⁵ Your men will fall by the sword, and your warriors in battle. ²⁶ And the gates of Zion will lament and mourn; destitute, she will sit on the ground.

² Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king could drink from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines.

⁶ On Herod’s birthday, however, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod

¹⁰ Then Saul swore to her by the LORD: “As surely as the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this.”

³¹ He announced, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders through this day!”

³ “What is it, Queen Esther?” the king inquired. “What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given to you.”

⁶ And as they drank their wine, the king said to Esther, “What is your petition? It will be given to you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be fulfilled.”

² and as they drank their wine on that second day, the king asked once more, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given to you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be fulfilled.”

² if you have been trapped by the words of your lips, ensnared by the words of your mouth,

⁹ “All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will fall down and worship me.”

³⁴ But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; ³⁵ or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶ Nor should you swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. ³⁷ Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.

⁷ so much that he promised with an oath to give to her whatever she asked.

⁸ Now, my son, listen to my voice and do exactly as I tell you. ⁹ Go out to the flock and bring me two choice young goats, so that I can make them into a tasty dish for your father—the kind he loves. ¹⁰ Then take it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before he dies.” ¹¹ Jacob answered his mother Rebekah, “Look, my brother Esau is a hairy man, but I am smooth-skinned.

³ Ahaziah also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor in wickedness. ⁴ And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as the house of Ahab had done, for to his destruction they were his counselors after the death of his father.

³¹ if the men of my house have not said, ‘Who is there who has not had his fill?’—

² When the wicked came upon me to devour my flesh, my enemies and foes stumbled and fell.

¹² The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them,

¹⁴ The wicked have drawn the sword and bent the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.

³ A stone is heavy and sand is a burden, but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both. ⁴ Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?

² and say: ‘What was your mother? A lioness among the lions! She lay down among the young lions; she reared her cubs. ³ She brought up one of her cubs, and he became a young lion. After learning to tear his prey, he devoured men.

⁸ Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”

¹² When daylight came, some of the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. ¹³ More than forty of them were involved in this plot.

¹³ His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;

¹⁹ The offering he presented was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ²⁰ one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ²¹ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; ²² one male goat for a sin offering; ²³ and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar. ²⁴ On the third day Eliab son of Helon, the leader of the Zebulunites, drew near. ²⁵ His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ²⁶ one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ²⁷ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; ²⁸ one male goat for a sin offering; ²⁹ and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon. ³⁰ On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur, the leader of the Reubenites, drew near. ³¹ His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ³² one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ³³ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; ³⁴ one male goat for a sin offering; ³⁵ and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur. ³⁶ On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, the leader of the Simeonites, drew near. ³⁷ His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ³⁸ one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ³⁹ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; ⁴⁰ one male goat for a sin offering; ⁴¹ and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai. ⁴² On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel, the leader of the Gadites, drew near. ⁴³ His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ⁴⁴ one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ⁴⁵ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; ⁴⁶ one male goat for a sin offering; ⁴⁷ and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel. ⁴⁸ On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud, the leader of the Ephraimites, drew near. ⁴⁹ His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ⁵⁰ one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ⁵¹ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; ⁵² one male goat for a sin offering; ⁵³ and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud. ⁵⁴ On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, the leader of the Manassites, drew near. ⁵⁵ His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ⁵⁶ one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ⁵⁷ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; ⁵⁸ one male goat for a sin offering; ⁵⁹ and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur. ⁶⁰ On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni, the leader of the Benjamites, drew near. ⁶¹ His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ⁶² one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ⁶³ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; ⁶⁴ one male goat for a sin offering; ⁶⁵ and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni. ⁶⁶ On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai, the leader of the Danites, drew near. ⁶⁷ His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ⁶⁸ one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ⁶⁹ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; ⁷⁰ one male goat for a sin offering; ⁷¹ and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai. ⁷² On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Ocran, the leader of the Asherites, drew near. ⁷³ His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ⁷⁴ one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ⁷⁵ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; ⁷⁶ one male goat for a sin offering; ⁷⁷ and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Pagiel son of Ocran. ⁷⁸ On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan, the leader of the Naphtalites, drew near. ⁷⁹ His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ⁸⁰ one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ⁸¹ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; ⁸² one male goat for a sin offering; ⁸³ and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan. ⁸⁴ So these were the offerings from the leaders of Israel for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed: twelve silver platters, twelve silver bowls, and twelve gold dishes. ⁸⁵ Each silver platter weighed a hundred and thirty shekels, and each silver bowl seventy shekels. The total weight of the silver articles was two thousand four hundred shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel. ⁸⁶ The twelve gold dishes filled with incense weighed ten shekels each, according to the sanctuary shekel. The total weight of the gold dishes was a hundred and twenty shekels. ⁸⁷ All the livestock for the burnt offering totaled twelve bulls, twelve rams, and twelve male lambs a year old—together with their grain offerings—and twelve male goats for the sin offering. ⁸⁸ All the livestock sacrificed for the peace offering totaled twenty-four bulls, sixty rams, sixty male goats, and sixty male lambs a year old. This was the dedication offering for the altar after it was anointed. ⁸⁹ When Moses entered the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the mercy seat on the ark of the Testimony. Thus the LORD spoke to him.

¹⁶ For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood.

¹⁵ “Their feet are swift to shed blood;

⁹ The king was grieved, but because of his oaths and his guests, he ordered that her wish be granted

³ When Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was filled with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. ⁴ “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.” ⁵ So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

²⁴ When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. “I am innocent of this righteous man’s blood,” he said. “You bear the responsibility.” ²⁵ All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”

¹⁰ and sent to have John beheaded in the prison. ¹¹ John’s head was brought in on a platter and presented to the girl, who carried it to her mother.

²⁹ So the old prophet lifted up the body of the man of God, laid it on the donkey, and brought it back to his own city to mourn for him and bury him. ³⁰ Then he laid the body in his own tomb, and they lamented over him, “Oh, my brother!”

¹⁶ And Jehoiada was buried with the kings in the City of David, because he had done what was good in Israel for God and His temple.

¹² Then John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. And they went and informed Jesus.

⁵⁷ When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who himself was a disciple of Jesus. ⁵⁸ He went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus, and Pilate ordered that the body be given to him. ⁵⁹ So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, ⁶⁰ and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut into the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance to the tomb and went away.

² God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him.

² These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;

⁷ Then Jesus called the Twelve to Him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits. ⁸ He instructed them to take nothing but a staff for the journey—no bag, no bread, no money in their belts— ⁹ and to wear sandals, but not a second tunic. ¹⁰ And He told them, “When you enter a house, stay there until you leave that area. ¹¹ If anyone will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that place, as a testimony against them. Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.” ¹² So they set out and preached that the people should repent. ¹³ They also drove out many demons and healed many of the sick, anointing them with oil.

¹³ When daylight came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated as apostles:

¹⁰ Then the apostles returned and reported to Jesus all that they had done. Taking them away privately, He withdrew to a deserted place of the city called Bethsaida.

⁵ The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”

¹⁴ When the hour had come, Jesus reclined at the table with His twelve apostles.

¹⁰ It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles.

¹ In my first book, O Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach, ² until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen.

²⁶ Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

¹⁸ When they came to him, he said, “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I arrived in the province of Asia. ¹⁹ I served the Lord with great humility and with many tears, especially in the trials that came upon me through the plots of the Jews. ²⁰ I did not shrink back from declaring anything that was helpful to you as I taught you publicly and from house to house, ²¹ testifying to Jews and Greeks alike about repentance to God and faith in our Lord Jesus.

¹² Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. ¹³ Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, and to teaching. ¹⁴ Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given you through the prophecy spoken over you at the laying on of the hands of the elders. ¹⁵ Be diligent in these matters and absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. ¹⁶ Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

⁶ In the same way, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. ⁷ In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity, incorruptibility,

² Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but willingly; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; ³ not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

¹³ When Jesus heard about John, He withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. But the crowds found out about it and followed Him on foot from the towns.

⁷ So Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea, accompanied by a large crowd from Galilee, Judea,

²⁰ Then they went into a house, and once again a crowd gathered, so that they could not even eat.

¹ After this, Jesus crossed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias).

¹³ When Jesus heard about John, He withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. But the crowds found out about it and followed Him on foot from the towns. ¹⁴ When Jesus stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick. ¹⁵ When evening came, His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late. Dismiss the crowds so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” ¹⁶ “They do not need to go away,” Jesus replied. “You give them something to eat.” ¹⁷ “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. ¹⁸ “Bring them here to Me,” Jesus said. ¹⁹ And He directed the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He spoke a blessing. Then He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. ²⁰ They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. ²¹ About five thousand men were fed, in addition to women and children.

⁹ Jesus asked His disciples to have a boat ready for Him so that the crowd would not crush Him.

³⁶ After they had dismissed the crowd, they took Jesus with them, since He was already in the boat. And there were other little boats with Him.

⁴⁵ Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd.

² “I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. ³ If I send them home hungry, they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a great distance.” ⁴ His disciples replied, “Where in this desolate place could anyone find enough bread to feed all these people?” ⁵ “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied. ⁶ And He instructed the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then He took the seven loaves, gave thanks and broke them, and gave them to His disciples to set before the people. And they distributed them to the crowd. ⁷ They also had a few small fish, and Jesus blessed them and ordered that these be set before them as well. ⁸ The people ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. ⁹ And about four thousand men who had eaten were present. As soon as Jesus had dismissed the crowd,

¹⁰ Then the apostles returned and reported to Jesus all that they had done. Taking them away privately, He withdrew to a deserted place of the city called Bethsaida. ¹¹ But the crowds found out and followed Him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and He healed those who needed healing. ¹² As the day neared its end, the Twelve came to Jesus and said, “Dismiss the crowd so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside for lodging and provisions. For we are in a desolate place here.” ¹³ But Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.” “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered, “unless we go and buy food for all these people.” ¹⁴ (There were about five thousand men.) He told His disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of fifty each.” ¹⁵ They did so, and everyone was seated. ¹⁶ Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke them. Then He gave them to the disciples to set before the people. ¹⁷ They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

⁵ When Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?” ⁶ But He was asking this to test him, for He knew what He was about to do. ⁷ Philip answered, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to have a small piece.” ⁸ One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, ⁹ “Here is a boy with five barley loaves and two small fish. But what difference will these make among so many?” ¹⁰ “Have the people sit down,” Jesus said. Now there was plenty of grass in that place, so the men sat down, about five thousand of them. ¹¹ Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those who were seated—and the fish—as much as they wanted. ¹² And when everyone was full, He said to His disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” ¹³ So they collected them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

²⁹ Moving on from there, Jesus went along the Sea of Galilee. Then He went up on a mountain and sat down. ³⁰ Large crowds came to Him, bringing the lame, the blind, the mute, the crippled, and many others, and laid them at Jesus' feet, and He healed them. ³¹ The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled restored, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.

⁵⁴ As soon as they got out of the boat, the people recognized Jesus ⁵⁵ and ran through that whole surrounding region, carrying the sick on mats to wherever they heard He was.

² A large crowd followed Him because they saw His signs He was performing on the sick.

¹⁹ So then, my beloved brothers, everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,

¹⁷ who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the LORD will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”

¹⁷ So Micaiah declared: “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These people have no master; let each one return home in peace.’”

¹⁶ So Micaiah declared: “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These people have no master; let each one return home in peace.’”

¹ The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners, ² to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of our God’s vengeance, to comfort all who mourn, ³ to console the mourners in Zion—to give them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

⁶ My people are lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray, causing them to roam the mountains. They have wandered from mountain to hill; they have forgotten their resting place.

² For idols speak deceit and diviners see illusions; they tell false dreams and offer empty comfort. Therefore the people wander like sheep, oppressed for lack of a shepherd.

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

¹⁴ When Jesus stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick.

³² Then Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may faint along the way.”

¹¹ But the crowds found out and followed Him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and He healed those who needed healing.

² Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. ³ For even Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written: “The insults of those who insult You have fallen on Me.”

¹⁷ For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, in order to make atonement for the sins of the people.

¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin.

⁵ When Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?” ⁶ But He was asking this to test him, for He knew what He was about to do. ⁷ Philip answered, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to have a small piece.” ⁸ One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, ⁹ “Here is a boy with five barley loaves and two small fish. But what difference will these make among so many?” ¹⁰ “Have the people sit down,” Jesus said. Now there was plenty of grass in that place, so the men sat down, about five thousand of them. ¹¹ Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those who were seated—and the fish—as much as they wanted. ¹² And when everyone was full, He said to His disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” ¹³ So they collected them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. ¹⁴ When the people saw the sign that Jesus had performed, they began to say, “Truly this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” ¹⁵ Then Jesus, realizing that they were about to come and make Him king by force, withdrew to a mountain by Himself.

²³ But Jesus did not answer a word. So His disciples came and urged Him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

²² Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. “Far be it from You, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to You!”

²¹ When His family heard about this, they went out to take custody of Him, saying, “He is out of His mind.”

³¹ His disciples answered, “You can see the crowd pressing in on You, and yet You ask, ‘Who touched Me?’”

¹³ Where can I get meat for all these people? For they keep crying out to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’

²¹ But Moses replied, “Here I am among 600,000 men on foot, yet You say, ‘I will give them meat, and they will eat for a month.’ ²² If all our flocks and herds were slaughtered for them, would they have enough? Or if all the fish in the sea were caught for them, would they have enough?” ²³ The LORD answered Moses, “Is the LORD’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not My word will come to pass.”

⁴² Now a man from Baal-shalishah came to the man of God with a sack of twenty loaves of barley bread from the first ripe grain. “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha. ⁴³ But his servant asked, “How am I to set twenty loaves before a hundred men?” “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha, “for this is what the LORD says: ‘They will eat and have some left over.’” ⁴⁴ So he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD.

² But the officer on whose arm the king leaned answered the man of God, “Look, even if the LORD were to make windows in heaven, could this really happen?” “You will see it with your own eyes,” replied Elisha, “but you will not eat any of it.”

¹⁶ “They do not need to go away,” Jesus replied. “You give them something to eat.”

³² Then Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may faint along the way.” ³³ His disciples replied, “Where in this desolate place could we find enough bread to feed such a large crowd?”

² “I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. ³ If I send them home hungry, they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a great distance.”

¹³ But Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.” “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered, “unless we go and buy food for all these people.”

⁴ Now the Jewish Feast of the Passover was near. ⁵ When Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?” ⁶ But He was asking this to test him, for He knew what He was about to do. ⁷ Philip answered, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to have a small piece.” ⁸ One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, ⁹ “Here is a boy with five barley loaves and two small fish. But what difference will these make among so many?” ¹⁰ “Have the people sit down,” Jesus said. Now there was plenty of grass in that place, so the men sat down, about five thousand of them.

¹⁷ “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. ¹⁸ “Bring them here to Me,” Jesus said.

³⁴ “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”

⁵ “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied.

⁹ “Here is a boy with five barley loaves and two small fish. But what difference will these make among so many?”

⁵ the food at his table, the seating of his servants, the service and attire of his attendants and cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he presented at the house of the LORD, it took her breath away.

⁵ At the end of this time, in the garden court of the royal palace, the king held a seven-day feast for all the people in the citadel of Susa, from the least to the greatest. ⁶ Hangings of white and blue linen were fastened with cords of fine white and purple material to silver rings on the marble pillars. Gold and silver couches were arranged on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones.

³⁵ And He commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground.

³³ For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace—as in all the churches of the saints.

⁴⁰ But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner.

¹⁴ (There were about five thousand men.) He told His disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of fifty each.” ¹⁵ They did so, and everyone was seated.

¹⁰ When you eat and are satisfied, you are to bless the LORD your God for the good land that He has given you.

¹³ As soon as you enter the city, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; after that, the guests will eat. Go up at once; you will find him.”

¹⁹ And He directed the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He spoke a blessing. Then He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.

³⁶ Taking the seven loaves and the fish, He gave thanks and broke them. Then He gave them to His disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.

²⁶ While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.”

³⁴ And looking up to heaven, He sighed deeply and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means, “Be opened!”).

⁶ And He instructed the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then He took the seven loaves, gave thanks and broke them, and gave them to His disciples to set before the people. And they distributed them to the crowd. ⁷ They also had a few small fish, and Jesus blessed them and ordered that these be set before them as well.

²² While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.”

¹⁶ Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke them. Then He gave them to the disciples to set before the people.

³⁰ While He was reclining at the table with them, He took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to them.

¹¹ Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those who were seated—and the fish—as much as they wanted.

²³ However, some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.

⁴¹ So they took away the stone from where the dead man was lying. Then Jesus lifted His eyes upward and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.

¹ When Jesus had spoken these things, He lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may also glorify You.

³⁵ After he had said this, Paul took bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat.

⁶ He who observes a special day does so to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord does not observe it. He who eats does so to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.

³¹ So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.

¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

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

³ He humbled you, and in your hunger He gave you manna to eat, which neither you nor your fathers had known, so that you might understand that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

¹⁵ The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in season. ¹⁶ You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

³⁷ They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. ³⁸ A total of four thousand men were fed, in addition to women and children.

¹⁷ They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

¹² And when everyone was full, He said to His disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over, so that nothing will be wasted.”

¹⁹ When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces did you collect?” “Twelve,” they answered. ²⁰ “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces did you collect?” “Seven,” they said.

²¹ “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

²² Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds. ²³ After He had sent them away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone, ²⁴ but the boat was already in the middle of the sea, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. ²⁵ During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. ²⁶ When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and cried out in fear. ²⁷ But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” ²⁸ “Lord, if it is You,” Peter replied, “command me to come to you on the water.” ²⁹ “Come,” said Jesus. Then Peter got down out of the boat and walked on the water to go toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” ³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?” ³² And when they had climbed back into the boat, the wind died down. ³³ Then those who were in the boat came and worshipped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God!”

³² So they went away in a boat by themselves to a solitary place.

²² When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.

¹³ Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

¹⁵ Then Jesus, realizing that they were about to come and make Him king by force, withdrew to a mountain by Himself. ¹⁶ When evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, ¹⁷ got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was already dark, and Jesus had not gone out to them. ¹⁸ A strong wind was blowing, and the sea grew agitated. ¹⁹ When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the sea—and they were terrified. ²⁰ But Jesus spoke up: “It is I; do not be afraid.” ²¹ Then they were willing to take Him into the boat, and at once the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

⁶ But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you openly.

²³ After He had sent them away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone,

³⁵ Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and slipped out to a solitary place to pray.

¹² In those days Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and He spent the night in prayer to God.

²¹ For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:

¹⁶ When evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, ¹⁷ got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was already dark, and Jesus had not gone out to them.

² and said, “My lords, please turn aside into the house of your servant; wash your feet and spend the night. Then you can rise early and go on your way.” “No,” they answered, “we will spend the night in the square.”

²⁶ Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

²⁴ At morning watch, however, the LORD looked down on the army of the Egyptians from the pillar of fire and cloud, and He threw their camp into confusion.

¹¹ The next day Saul organized the troops into three divisions, and during the morning watch they invaded the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them, until the hottest part of the day. And the survivors were so scattered that no two of them were left together.

⁸ He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.

⁴ Above the roar of many waters—the mighty breakers of the sea—the LORD on high is majestic.

³ laying the beams of His chambers in the waters above, making the clouds His chariot, walking on the wings of the wind.

¹¹ “O afflicted city, lashed by storms, without solace, surely I will set your stones in antimony and lay your foundations with sapphires.

²⁴ but the boat was already in the middle of the sea, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

³⁸ Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night and finds them alert, those servants will be blessed.

²⁸ As they approached the village where they were headed, He seemed to be going farther.

¹³ children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.

¹⁴ fear and trembling came over me and made all my bones shudder. ¹⁵ Then a spirit glided past my face, and the hair on my body bristled. ¹⁶ It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance; a form loomed before my eyes, and I heard a whispering voice:

²⁵ During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. ²⁶ When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and cried out in fear.

³⁷ But they were startled and frightened, thinking they had seen a spirit.

² When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.

²⁷ But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”

³⁸ “Why are you troubled,” Jesus asked, “and why do doubts arise in your hearts? ³⁹ Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself. Touch Me and see—for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” ⁴⁰ And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and feet. ⁴¹ While they were still in disbelief because of their joy and amazement, He asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”

¹⁹ When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the sea—and they were terrified. ²⁰ But Jesus spoke up: “It is I; do not be afraid.”

¹⁹ It was the first day of the week, and that very evening, while the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace be with you!” He said to them. ²⁰ After He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

³ The floodwaters have risen, O LORD; the rivers have raised their voice; the seas lift up their pounding waves. ⁴ Above the roar of many waters—the mighty breakers of the sea—the LORD on high is majestic.

²⁸ Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress. ²⁹ He calmed the storm to a whisper, and the waves of the sea were hushed. ³⁰ They rejoiced in the silence, and He guided them to the harbor they desired.

²⁶ “You of little faith,” Jesus replied, “why are you so afraid?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it was perfectly calm. ²⁷ The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey Him!”

²⁸ “Lord, if it is You,” Peter replied, “command me to come to you on the water.” ²⁹ “Come,” said Jesus. Then Peter got down out of the boat and walked on the water to go toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” ³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?” ³² And when they had climbed back into the boat, the wind died down.

²⁷ All the people were amazed and began to ask one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!”

¹² And immediately the man got up, picked up his mat, and walked out in front of them all. As a result, they were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

³⁹ Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm.

⁴¹ Overwhelmed with fear, they asked one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

⁴² Immediately the girl got up and began to walk around. She was twelve years old, and at once they were utterly astounded.

³⁷ The people were utterly astonished and said, “He has done all things well! He makes even the deaf hear and the mute speak!”

²⁴ The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then Jesus arose and rebuked the wind and the raging waters, and they subsided, and all was calm. ²⁵ “Where is your faith?” He asked. Frightened and amazed, they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him!”

²¹ Then they were willing to take Him into the boat, and at once the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

¹⁷ Why, O LORD, do You make us stray from Your ways and harden our hearts from fearing You? Return, for the sake of Your servants, the tribes of Your heritage.

⁹ Do you still not understand? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? ¹⁰ Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? ¹¹ How do you not understand that I was not telling you about bread, but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?”

⁵ Jesus looked around at them with anger and sorrow at their hardness of heart. Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored, as sound as the other.

¹⁸ “Are you still so dull?” He asked. “Do you not understand? Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him,

¹⁷ Aware of their conversation, Jesus asked them, “Why are you debating about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Do you still have such hard hearts? ¹⁸ ‘Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear?’ And do you not remember? ¹⁹ When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces did you collect?” “Twelve,” they answered. ²⁰ “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces did you collect?” “Seven,” they said. ²¹ Then He asked them, “How do you still not understand?”

¹⁴ Later, as they were eating, Jesus appeared to the Eleven and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.

²⁵ Then Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones, how slow are your hearts to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

⁷ What then? What Israel was seeking, it failed to obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened,

³⁴ When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret. ³⁵ And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding region. People brought all the sick to Him ³⁶ and begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all who touched Him were healed.

¹ On one occasion, while Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret with the crowd pressing in on Him to hear the word of God,

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

¹⁰ Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.

¹⁰ I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death,

²⁴ News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed—and He healed them.

¹ A few days later Jesus went back to Capernaum. And when the people heard that He was home, ² immediately they gathered in such large numbers that there was no more room, not even outside the door, as Jesus spoke the word to them. ³ Then a paralytic was brought to Him, carried by four men.

⁷ So Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea, accompanied by a large crowd from Galilee, Judea, ⁸ Jerusalem, Idumea, the region beyond the Jordan, and the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon. The large crowd came to Him when they heard what great things He was doing. ⁹ Jesus asked His disciples to have a boat ready for Him so that the crowd would not crush Him. ¹⁰ For He had healed so many that all who had diseases were pressing forward to touch Him. ¹¹ And when the unclean spirits saw Him, they fell down before Him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!”

³⁸ “Speak to the Israelites and tell them that throughout the generations to come they are to make for themselves tassels for the corners of their garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. ³⁹ These will serve as tassels for you to look at, so that you may remember all the commandments of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by following your own heart and your own eyes.

¹² You are to make tassels on the four corners of the cloak you wear.

²¹ Once, as the Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders, so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. And as soon as his body touched the bones of Elisha, the man was revived and stood up on his feet.

²⁰ Suddenly a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak.

¹⁰ For He had healed so many that all who had diseases were pressing forward to touch Him.

²⁷ When the woman heard about Jesus, she came up through the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. ²⁸ For she kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be healed.”

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

⁴⁴ She came up behind Jesus and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

⁵¹ But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And He touched the man’s ear and healed him.

⁹ If we are being examined today about a kind service to a man who was lame, to determine how he was healed,

¹² Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name given to men by which we must be saved.”

¹⁵ As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.