Acts 16 Cross References - VIN

¹ Now he went to Derbe and Lystra too. At Lystra there was a disciple named Timothy, whose mother was a Christian Jewess, but his father was a Greek. ² The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. ³ Paul wanted to have him go out with him, and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts; for they all knew that his father was a Greek. ⁴ As they went from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for them to obey. ⁵ So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers. ⁶ Then Paul and his companions passed through Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Message in the province of Asia. ⁷ And when they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit them. ⁸ So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. ⁹ During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” ¹⁰ As soon as Paul had seen the vision, we got ready to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. ¹¹ We left by ship from Troas and sailed to Samothrace, and the next day to Neapolis. ¹² From there, we went to the Roman colony of Philippi, the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. ¹³ On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river, where it was customary to find a place of prayer. After sitting down, we spoke to the women who had gathered there. ¹⁴ Among those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. 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. ¹⁶ One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of clairvoyance, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling. ¹⁷ This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.” ¹⁸ She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit left her at that very moment. ¹⁹ But when her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities, ²⁰ They brought them to the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews and are throwing our city into turmoil ²¹ by promoting customs that are unlawful for us Romans to adopt or practice.” ²² The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered that they be stripped and beaten with rods. ²³ after they had been severely lash'd, they were thrown into prison, the jayler being charg'd to keep them safe. ²⁴ On receiving this order, he placed them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. ²⁵ About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶ Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. ²⁷ When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped. ²⁸ but Paul shouted aloud, "Do not harm yourself, we are all here!" ²⁹ The jailer called for lights. He rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. ³⁰ He then brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” ³¹ They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.” ³² Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. ³³ And at that hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. ³⁴ Then he brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he was really rejoicing, having believed in God with his whole family. ³⁵ When daylight came, the magistrates sent their officers with the order: “Release those men.” ³⁶ so the jayler told Paul, the magistrates had order'd them to be discharg'd. depart then, said he, and go in peace. ³⁷ But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us publicly, without trial, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now cast us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out." ³⁸ The police reported his words to the Magistrates, who, on hearing that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, were alarmed, ³⁹ They came to appease them and led them out, requesting that they leave the city. ⁴⁰ After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house to see the brothers and encourage them. Then they left the city.

² "They have taken their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons. They have mingled the holy race with peoples around them. In fact the leaders and officials were first to do this evil."

¹ At Iconium, Paul and Barnabas entered the Jewish synagogue as usual, and they spoke so well that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed.

⁶ they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe, and to the surrounding region,

²¹ They proclaimed the good news in that town and made a number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,

¹⁴ The brothers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy remained in Berea.

⁵ When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.

²² He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed for a time in the province of Asia.

⁴ He had as companions Sopater, the son of Pyrrhus, from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. ⁵ These men went on ahead and waited for us in Troas.

²¹ Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my relatives.

¹⁷ That is why I have sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which is exactly what I teach everywhere in every church.

¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but as it is they are holy.

¹ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:

¹⁹ For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed among you by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in Him it has always been “Yes.”

¹ Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:

¹⁹ I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news of you.

¹ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

¹ Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.

² We sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,

⁶ But Timothy has just now returned from visiting you and has told us the good news about your faith and love. He also told us that you always have fond memories of us and want to see us, just as we want to see you.

¹ Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: ² To Timothy, my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

¹⁸ Timothy, my child, I am instructing you in keeping with the prophecies made earlier about you, so that by following them you may continue to fight the good fight

² to Timothy, my dear child. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

⁵ I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced is in you as well.

¹¹ my persecutions, and the sufferings that came upon me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.

¹⁵ From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

²³ Be aware that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you.

³ Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will appoint this responsibility to them

⁵¹ So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.

⁴⁰ After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house to see the brothers and encourage them. Then they left the city.

⁷ He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

¹⁰ and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work.

²⁵ In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.

¹⁵ From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

² This is why the ancients were commended.

²⁰ Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood.

³⁷ Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them.

⁴⁰ but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.

¹⁹ Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what matters.

²⁰ To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the Law I became like one under the Law (though I myself am not under the Law), to win those under the Law.

³ Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.

⁸ For God, who was at work in Peter’s apostleship to the Jews, was also at work in my apostleship to the Gentiles.

¹ It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery. ² Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. ³ Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole Law.

⁶ For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love.

³⁰ This they did, sending their gifts to the elders with Barnabas and Saul.

² So Paul and Barnabas engaged these men in sharp debate. The two of them were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.

⁶ The apostles and elders met to consider the matter;

²⁸ It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements: ²⁹ You must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.”

²⁰ They rose early in the morning, and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. As they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, so you will be established! Believe his prophets, so you will prosper.”

⁹ "'"The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah's son. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all."'"

⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

⁴ But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.

¹⁴ And multitudes both of men and women believing were the more added to the Lord:)

⁷ So the word of God continued to spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly, and a great number of priests became obedient to the faith.

³¹ Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a time of peace. It grew in strength and numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.

²¹ The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

²⁴ But the word of God continued to grow and spread.

⁴⁸ When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord, and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. ⁴⁹ And the word of the Lord spread through the whole region.

⁴¹ He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

¹⁸ And many of those who believed came, confessing and openly declaring their deeds. ¹⁹ And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books and burned them in front of everyone. When the value of the books was calculated, it came to fifty thousand drachmas. ²⁰ So the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. ²¹ After these things had happened, Paul purposed in spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must see Rome as well.”

²⁵ Now to Him who is able to strengthen you by my gospel and by the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery concealed for ages past,

⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

¹ It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery.

¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ. ¹⁴ Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵ rather, speaking the truth in love, let us in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, Christ; ¹⁶ From Him the whole body is fitted and held together by every supporting ligament. And as each individual part does its work, the body grows and builds itself up in love.

⁶ Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him,

¹³ so as to strengthen your hearts and make them blameless in holiness before our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. [Amen.]

¹⁶ May our Lord Jesus, the Messiah himself, and may God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope,

⁹ Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace and not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those devoted to them.

²⁰ Now may the God of peace—who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep— ²¹ equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

⁷ "My father David had his heart set on building a Temple for the name of the LORD the God of Israel. ⁸ But the LORD said to David my father, Because it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart. ⁹ Nevertheless, you are not to build the temple, but your son who will be born to you shall build a temple for my name.'

²¹ and when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, This is the way, walk in it.

¹¹ "Look! The days are coming," declares the Lord GOD, "when I will send a famine throughout the land not a famine of food or a thirst for water but rather a famine of hearing the words of the LORD. ¹² People will stagger from sea to sea, from north to east. They will run back and forth, searching for the word of the LORD, but they won't find it.

⁹ Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome,

¹⁹ Peter was still thinking about the vision when the Spirit said to him, "Look! Three men are looking for you.

¹² The Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house.

² While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul, for the work to which I have called them." ³ So after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off. ⁴ Being sent out in this way by the holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.

⁷ And when they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit them.

²³ After spending some time there, he departed and went from place to place through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

¹⁰ This continued for two years so that all the Jews and Greeks [ i.e., Gentiles] who lived in [the province of] Asia heard the message of the Lord.

²⁶ And as you see and hear, not only in Ephesus, but in nearly the whole province of Asia, Paul has persuaded a great number of people to turn away. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. ²⁷ There is danger not only that our business will fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited and her majesty deposed—she who is worshiped by all the province of Asia and the whole world.”

⁴ He had as companions Sopater, the son of Pyrrhus, from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.

¹⁶ Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, because he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.

²⁸ Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.

¹¹ All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, who apportions them to each one as He determines.

¹ About the collection for God's people, I want you to do as I told the churches of Galatia to do.

⁸ We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the hardships we encountered in the province of Asia. We were under a burden far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.

² and all the brothers with me, To the churches of Galatia:

¹ O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.

¹⁵ You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.

¹⁰ for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.

⁸ By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

¹ Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

⁴ John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from Him who is and was and is to come, and from the sevenfold Spirit before His throne,

¹¹ saying, “Write in a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”

²⁹ The Spirit said to Philip, "Approach that chariot and stay near it."

⁹ You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

⁶ Because you are sons, God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

¹⁹ for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance,

¹¹ trying to determine the time and setting to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.

¹¹ We left by ship from Troas and sailed to Samothrace, and the next day to Neapolis.

⁵ These men went on ahead and waited for us in Troas.

¹² Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and a door stood open for me in the Lord,

¹³ When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.

¹⁷ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people; your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. ¹⁸ Even on My servants, both men and women, I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.

²⁶ Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go south to the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” ²⁷ So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official in charge of the entire treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship, ²⁸ and on his return was sitting in his chariot, reading Isaiah the prophet. ²⁹ The Spirit said to Philip, "Approach that chariot and stay near it." ³⁰ So Philip ran up and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. ³¹ "How can I", the eunuch said: "unless someone explains it to me?" He invited Philip to come and sit with him.

¹⁰ In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Here I am, Lord,” he answered. ¹¹ “Get up!” the Lord told him. “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. ¹² In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

³⁸ Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him and begged him, "Come here quickly!"

³ One day about three in the afternoon he had a vision and clearly saw an angel of God coming to him and saying to him, "Cornelius!"

¹⁰ He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. ¹¹ He saw heaven open and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. ¹² It contained all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, as well as birds of the air. ¹³ Then a voice spoke to him: “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” ¹⁴ “No, Lord!” Peter answered, “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” ¹⁵ The voice spoke to him a second time: “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” ¹⁶ This happened three times, and immediately the thing was taken up to heaven. ¹⁷ While Peter was puzzling over the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house and approached the gate.

³⁰ Cornelius answered: “Four days ago, I was in my house praying at this, the ninth hour. Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me

³² Therefore send to Joppa for Simon, who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’ ³³ So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. All of us are here now in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has ordered you to say."

⁵ “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision of something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came right down to me. ⁶ I looked at it closely and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds of the air. ⁷ Then I heard a voice saying to me, 'Get up, Peter. Kill and eat!' ⁸ But I replied, 'Absolutely not, Lord, for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth!' ⁹ But the voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ ¹⁰ And this happened three times, and everything was pulled up into heaven again. ¹¹ Just then, three men sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. ¹² The Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. ¹³ He told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. ¹⁴ He will convey to you a message by which you and all your household will be saved.’

⁹ One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent. ¹⁰ for I am with you and no one shall attack and harm you, for I have many people in this city."

²¹ After these things had happened, Paul purposed in spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must see Rome as well.”

¹ When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples. After he had encouraged them, he said goodbye to them and left for Macedonia.

³ where he stayed three months. And when the Jews formed a plot against him as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia.

¹⁷ "When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance ¹⁸ And saw Jesus saying to me 'Make haste and leave Jerusalem at once, because they will not accept your testimony about me.' ¹⁹ ‘Lord,’ I answered, ‘they know very well that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in You. ²⁰ And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ ²¹ Then He said to me, ‘Go! I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”

²³ This night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood by me ²⁴ and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And look, God has granted you the lives of all who sail with you.’

¹⁴ How then can they call on the One they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? ¹⁵ And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

²⁶ For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.

⁵ For even when we came into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turnconflicts on the outside and fears within.

¹ Now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace God has given the churches of Macedonia.

² For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting to the Macedonians that since last year you in Achaia were prepared to give. And your zeal has stirred most of them to do likewise.

⁹ And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.

¹ I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to gain, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. ² I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. ³ And I know that this manwhether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows ⁴ was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, which a man is not permitted to tell.

⁷ And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me.

⁷ As a result, you became a model for all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. ⁸ For the Lord’s message sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith toward God [also] spread everywhere [else], so that we do not have to say anything [about you].

¹⁰ and indeed you do love all the brethren throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to do so more and more.

⁶⁰ I will hurry, and not delay, to obey your commandments.

²⁷ Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. ²⁸ Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come back. I will pay you tomorrow," when you have cash with you.

²⁹ So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. I ask then why you sent for me."

⁷ where they continued to preach the gospel.

¹⁰ As soon as Paul had seen the vision, we got ready to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. ¹¹ We left by ship from Troas and sailed to Samothrace, and the next day to Neapolis. ¹² From there, we went to the Roman colony of Philippi, the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. ¹³ On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river, where it was customary to find a place of prayer. After sitting down, we spoke to the women who had gathered there. ¹⁴ Among those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. 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. ¹⁶ One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of clairvoyance, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling. ¹⁷ This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.”

⁵ These men went on ahead and waited for us in Troas. ⁶ But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days came to them at Troas, where we stayed seven days. ⁷ On the first day of the week, when we had met to break bread, Paul began to address the people. Since he intended to leave the next day, he went on speaking until midnight. ⁸ Now there were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting.

¹³ We went on ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, where we were to take Paul aboard. He had arranged this because he was going there on foot. ¹⁴ When he met us at Assos we took him aboard and went on to Mityline. ¹⁵ On the next day we sailed from there and arrived off Chios. On the next day we crossed to Samos, and the next we reached Miletus.

¹ When we had torn ourselves away from those brothers, we sailed straight to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. ² We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, went on board and set sail. ³ After sighting Cyprus and passing south of it, we sailed on to Syria and landed at Tyre, where the ship was to unload its cargo. ⁴ We sought out the disciples in Tyre and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they kept telling Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. ⁵ But when our time there had ended, we set out on our journey. All the disciples, with their wives and children, accompanied us out of the city and knelt down on the beach to pray with us. ⁶ After saying goodbye to each other, we went on board the ship, and they returned home again. ⁷ When we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for a day. ⁸ Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea, and we went to stay at the home of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the Seven. ⁹ He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. ¹⁰ After we had been there several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. ¹¹ Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own feet and hands, and said, “The Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and hand him over to the Gentiles.’” ¹² When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. ¹³ Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” ¹⁴ When he would not be dissuaded, we fell silent and said, “The Lord’s will be done.” ¹⁵ After this we got ready and started up to Jerusalem. ¹⁶ Some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us. They took us to the home of Mnason to be his guests. He was from Cyprus and had been an early disciple. ¹⁷ When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. ¹⁸ The next day Paul, with us, went to see James, and all the elders were present.

¹³ About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my companions.

¹ When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Augustan Regiment. ² We boarded an Adramyttian ship about to sail for ports along the coast of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us. ³ The next day we put in at Sidon; and Julius treated Paul kindly, and allowed him to go to his friends and be cared for. ⁴ And from there we put out to sea and sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us. ⁵ When we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia. ⁶ There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy, and he put us on board. ⁷ We sailed slowly for many days and had problems arriving off Cnidus. The wind did not allow us to hold our course. So we sailed to the downwind part of Crete near Salmone. ⁸ After we had moved along the coast with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea. ⁹ By now much time had passed, and the voyage had already become dangerous because it was after the Fast. So Paul advised them, ¹⁰ “Men, I can see that our voyage will be filled with disaster and great loss, not only to ship and cargo, but to our own lives as well.” ¹¹ But contrary to Paul’s advice, the centurion was persuaded by the pilot and the owner of the ship. ¹² Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided to sail on, if somehow they could reach Phoenix to winter there. Phoenix was a harbor in Crete facing both southwest and northwest. ¹³ When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had their opportunity. So they weighed anchor and sailed along, hugging the coast of Crete. ¹⁴ But it was not long before a violent wind (called a northeaster) swept down from the island. ¹⁵ Well the ship was caught and could not head into the wind, so we gave up and were driven along. ¹⁶ Passing to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we barely managed to secure the lifeboat.

¹ When we were safely on shore, we learned that the island was called Malta. ² The islanders showed us extraordinary kindness. They kindled a fire and welcomed all of us because it was raining and cold. ³ Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and as he laid them on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself to his hand. ⁴ When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer. Although he was saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” ⁵ But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. ⁶ They were expecting him to swell up or suddenly drop dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. ⁷ Nearby stood an estate belonging to the Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days. ⁸ The father of Publius was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, and after praying and placing his hands on him, he healed the man. ⁹ After this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured as well. ¹⁰ They honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed. ¹¹ Now after three months we put to sea in a ship that had wintered on the island, belonging to Alexandria, with the figurehead of the Twin Brothers. ¹² We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days; ¹³ From there we cast off and arrived at Rhegium. After one day, a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli, ¹⁴ There we found some brothers who invited us to spend the week with them. And so we came to Rome. ¹⁵ The Brethren there had heard about us, and came out as far as the Market of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At sight of them Paul thanked God and was much cheered. ¹⁶ When we reached Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself with a soldier who guarded him.

¹² Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and a door stood open for me in the Lord, ¹³ I had no peace of mind because I did not find my brother Titus [there]. So, I said “good-bye” to them and went on to Macedonia.

⁸ So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.

¹ When we had torn ourselves away from those brothers, we sailed straight to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.

⁹ During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

²¹ by promoting customs that are unlawful for us Romans to adopt or practice.”

⁶ But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days came to them at Troas, where we stayed seven days.

² Rather, in spite of having already suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, we made bold in our God to speak to you the Gospel of God, in the face of strong opposition.

¹ When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain and sat down. His disciples came to Him, ² and he began to teach them, saying:

² Such large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat down, while all the people stood on the shore.

¹⁵ He said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to all the creation.

²⁰ Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him. ²¹ And he began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

¹⁰ One Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues,

² At daybreak he appeared again in the temple, and all the people came to him. So he sat down and began to teach them.

¹⁴ but they passed on from Perga and arrived at Pisidian Antioch. On the sabbath they went into the synagogue and sat down;

⁴² As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people urged them to continue this message on the next Sabbath.

⁶ Then Paul and his companions passed through Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Message in the province of Asia.

² As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

⁴ Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks alike.

⁷ On the first day of the week, when we had met to break bread, Paul began to address the people. Since he intended to leave the next day, he went on speaking until midnight.

⁵ But when our time there had ended, we set out on our journey. All the disciples, with their wives and children, accompanied us out of the city and knelt down on the beach to pray with us.

²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

²³ if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

³ Your people will volunteer in the day of your power. In holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn, you will have the dew of your youth.

⁴ My beloved thrust his hand in through the latch opening. My heart pounded for him.

⁵ The Sovereign LORD has opened my ear. I was not rebellious. I have not turned back.

⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds, so they could understand the Scriptures.

⁴⁴ No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. ⁴⁵ It is written in the Prophets: ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from Him comes to Me—

²⁰ Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast.

²⁷ So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official in charge of the entire treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship,

² He and all his household were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly.

⁷ So Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God.

¹⁶ So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.

⁶ I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. ⁷ So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

¹⁴ But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed. ¹⁵ And even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. ¹⁶ But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

⁴ The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ⁵ For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. ⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

¹⁷ and asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him. ¹⁸ I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

¹³ For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good pleasure.

¹⁶ Do not be deceived, my dear brothers. ¹⁷ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.

¹⁸ To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like a blazing fire and whose feet are like polished bronze. ¹⁹ I know your works, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that your works are now more than at the first. ²⁰ But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads My servants to be sexually immoral and to eat food sacrificed to idols. ²¹ Even though I have given her time to repent of her immorality, she is unwilling. ²² So I will cast her on a sickbed, and I will throw those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her ways. ²³ Then I will strike her children dead, and all the churches will know that I am the One who searches minds and hearts, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. ²⁴ But I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned the so-called deep things of Satan: I will place no further burden upon you.

⁷ To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of the One who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What He opens, no one will shut; and what He shuts, no one will open.

²⁰ Lo, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and sup with him, and he with me.

⁴ Let a little water be brought and wash your feet, and rest under the tree. ⁵ I will get a morsel of bread so you can refresh your heart. After that you may go your way, now that you have come to your servant." They said, "Very well, do as you have said."

³ But he urged them strongly, and they turned aside with him and came into his house. And he made a meal for them and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

¹¹ Please take my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he accepted.

¹⁹ Yet we have both straw and fodder for our donkeys and bread and wine also for me and for the maidservant and for the young man who is with us. We don't need anything. ²⁰ And the old man said, "Peace be to you. I will take care of all your needs; however, do not spend the night in the square." ²¹ So he brought him into his house, and fed the donkeys. And they washed their feet, and ate and drank.

²³ But he refused and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, urged him, so he listened to them. He got up from the earth and sat on the bed.

⁸ One day Elisha went to Shunem, where there was a prominent woman; and she persuaded him to eat bread. So it was, that as often as he passed by, he turned in there to eat bread.

⁴¹ Every one who receives a prophet, because he is a prophet, will receive a prophet's reward, and every one who receives a righteous man, because he is a righteous man, will receive a righteous man's reward.

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.”

⁵ And whenever you go into a house, first say, Peace be 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.

²³ Then the master told the servant, 'Go out into the streets and the lanes and make the people come in, so that my house may be full.

²⁹ But they pleaded with Him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So He went in to stay with them.

¹² But when they believed Philip as he preached the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

³⁸ And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

¹⁴ He will convey to you a message by which you and all your household will be saved.’

³³ And at that hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.

⁸ Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his whole household believed in the Lord. And many of the Corinthians who heard the message believed and were baptized.

²³ Gaius, who is host to me and the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus greet you.

¹³ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? ¹⁴ I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, ¹⁵ so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. ¹⁶ Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that I do not remember baptizing anyone else.

¹⁴ For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died.

¹¹ I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not in the least inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing.

¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, especially to those who belong to the household of faith.

¹ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:

⁷ It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me.

¹⁷ So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.

² Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for, by so doing, some have entertained angels, without knowing them.

¹² Through Silvanus, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.

¹⁰ If any one comes to you and does not bring this Teaching, do not receive him into your house or welcome him;

⁵ Dear friend, you act faithfully in whatever you do for the brothers, even though they are strangers.

⁸ We therefore ought to welcome such, so that we may work together for the Truth.

¹¹ Then Pharaoh sent for his wise men and sorcerers. These Egyptian magicians did the same thing using their magic spells. ¹² So each one threw down his staff and it became a serpent, but Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs.

³¹ Regard not mediums, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.

¹ If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, ² and the sign or the wonder which he foretold to you occurs, saying, Let us go after other gods which you have not known, and let us serve them, ³ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

⁹ "When you enter the land that the LORD your God is about to give you, don't learn the detestable practices of those nations there. ¹⁰ There must never be found among you anyone who sacrifices his son or daughter in fire, practices divination, interprets omens, practices sorcery, ¹¹ Or casts spells, or is a medium, or a wizard, or consults the dead.

³ Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land.

⁷ Saul ordered his officials: "Find me a woman who is a medium. I will go and consult her." "There is one in Endor," they answered.

¹³ Saul died because of his unfaithfulness to the LORD. He did not obey the word of the LORD (YHWH). He asked a medium to request information from a dead person.

¹⁹ Now if they tell you, "Consult the ghosts and the spirits, those who chirp and those who mutter. Should not a people consult its gods, the dead on behalf of the living,

⁹ Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great, ¹⁰ and all the people, from the least to the greatest, heeded his words and said, “This man is the divine power called the Great Power.” ¹¹ They paid close attention to him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery.

¹³ On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river, where it was customary to find a place of prayer. After sitting down, we spoke to the women who had gathered there.

¹⁸ She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit left her at that very moment.

²⁴ For a certain silversmith named Demetrius who makes silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little work to the craftsmen,

²⁰ Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, strife, jealousy, fits of rage, selfishness, dissensions, factions,

¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

⁸ Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these oppose the truth—men of depraved mind, disqualified as regards the faith—

³ And in their greed they will exploit you with false words; from long ago their condemnation has not been idle, and their destruction has not been asleep.

¹¹ And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargoes any more ¹² cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble; ¹³ cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and chariots; and slaves and human souls.

¹⁸ Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High. ¹⁹ And he blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Maker of heaven and earth. ²⁰ And blessed be God Most High who delivered your enemies into your hand." And he gave to him a tenth of everything. ²¹ The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, and take the goods for yourself.” ²² And Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Maker of heaven and earth,

² I cry out to God Most High, to God who accomplishes my requests for me.

³⁵ They remembered that God was their rock, that the Most High was their defender.

²⁶ Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the opening of the blazing fire furnace. He shouted out, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out and come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire.

²⁸ Nebuchadnezzar spoke up and said: 'Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego! He sent his angel to deliver his servants who trusted in him. They disobeyed the king's command and were willing to risk their lives in order not to serve or worship any god except their own God.

² It gives me great pleasure to tell about the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.

¹⁸ O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honor.

²¹ He was driven away from human society and given the mind of an animal. He lived with wild donkeys, ate grass like cattle, and his body was soaked with dew from the sky until he realized that the Most High God is sovereign over human kingdoms and places over them whomever he desires.

¹⁶ Then the king gave orders and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den. And the king said to Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually will himself deliver thee.

²⁰ And when he drew near to the den, he cried out with a loud voice, Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lion's mouth?

⁹ He replied: "I am Hebrew and I respect the LORD, the God of heaven, who has made the sea and the dry land."

⁶ With what shall I come before the LORD and bow myself before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?

¹³ Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.

²⁹ “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have You come here to torture us before the proper time?”

¹⁶ They sent their disciples to Him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and that You teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You defer to no one, because You pay no attention to external appearance.

²⁴ "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"

⁷ And he shouted in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You before God not to torture me.”

¹⁴ They came up and said to him, "Teacher, we know you are sincere and fearless; you do not court human favour, you teach the Way of God honestly. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?

⁷⁷ to give His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.

⁷⁹ to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

³⁴ "Stop! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"

⁴¹ Demons also came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God.” But He rebuked the demons and would not allow them to speak, because they knew He was the Christ.

²⁸ When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before Him, shouting in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You not to torture me!”

²¹ So they questioned Him, saying: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and you do not show favoritism but teach the way of God in truth.

⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

³⁰ He then brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” ³¹ They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.”

²⁶ So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

¹³ Now certain Jews, who went about exorcising evil spirits, invoked the name of our LORD Jesus over those who were possessed, saying, We adjure you in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches.

¹⁹ Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body, ²¹ and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

¹⁶ Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a covering for evil; live as servants of God.

²⁵ Jesus rebuking him, said, Be silent, and come out of him. ²⁶ The evil spirit shook the man hard, gave a loud scream, and came out of him.

³⁴ And Jesus healed many who were ill with various diseases and drove out many demons. But He would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.

²⁵ When Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to him, "You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again." ²⁶ Then it yelled, convulsed him violently, and came out. Well he looked to be dead; so much so that many said, “He’s dead”.

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

¹ Then he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.

¹⁷ The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.” ¹⁸ He said to them, I saw Satan falling like lightning from heaven. ¹⁹ See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you.

⁶ But Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!”

³⁴ “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and put away your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up,

¹³ The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates, hoping to offer a sacrifice along with the crowds. ¹⁴ But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, ¹⁵ “Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.

¹² so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and the diseases and evil spirits left them. ¹³ Now certain Jews, who went about exorcising evil spirits, invoked the name of our LORD Jesus over those who were possessed, saying, We adjure you in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches. ¹⁴ Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. ¹⁵ But the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" ¹⁶ The man who had the evil spirit jumped on them, and overpowered them. He gave them such a beating that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. ¹⁷ This became known to all the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, and fear came over all of them. So the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.

¹⁵ And having disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

¹⁶ Look, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. ¹⁷ Be on your guard against men, for they will turn you over to the courts and will flog you in their synagogues, ¹⁸ On My account, you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.

⁹ Then they will hand you over to be persecuted and killed, and you will be hated by all nations on account of My name.

⁹ So be on your guard. You will be handed over to the councils and beaten in the synagogues. On My account, you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.

³ But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.

¹⁶ I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."

⁵ But when a plot was hatched by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat and stone them,

¹⁹ Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, presuming he was dead.

²² Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers,

²⁶ men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

¹⁶ One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of clairvoyance, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling.

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,

¹² While Gallio was Proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one mind made an attack on Paul and brought him before the court, ¹³ “This man is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the Law,” they said.

²⁴ For a certain silversmith named Demetrius who makes silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little work to the craftsmen, ²⁵ They gathered together along with similar related workmen, and said: "Sirs, You know we receive a good income from this business.

³⁰ And the whole city was moved, and the people ran together; and laying hold on Paul, they dragged him out of the temple: and immediately the gates were shut.

⁵ in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights, and hunger;

⁶ But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court?

¹⁷ When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?” ¹⁸ Then he said in answer: "I have not made trouble for Israel. You and your family have. You have disobeyed the LORD's commands and have gone after the Baals.

¹² be it known to the king that the Jews who have come up from near you to us have gone to Jerusalem. They are building the rebellious and wicked city. They are finishing the wall and repairing the foundation. ¹³ Now be it known to the king that if this city is built and the walls are finished, they will not pay tribute and toll, and the royal revenue will be reduced. ¹⁴ Now, since we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not right for us to see the king`s injury, therefore have we sent and informed the king; ¹⁵ that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. You will see in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and provinces, and that they have started rebellions within it in the past. That is why this city was destroyed.

⁸ Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered and divided among the people throughout the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws are different than all the other people, they don't obey the king's laws, and it's not in the king's best interest to leave them alone. ⁹ If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to those who do the job, to bring to the treasury of the king."

³ When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.

¹⁸ If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me first, ¹⁹ If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world--that is why the world hates you. ²⁰ "Remember the word I said to you. A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they obeyed my word, they will obey yours also.

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 there is another king, named Jesus!” ⁸ On hearing this, the crowd and city officials were greatly disturbed.

² There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to visit them,

³⁴ But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

²² But we consider your views worth hearing, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.”

² Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

⁴ You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.

⁸ Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered and divided among the people throughout the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws are different than all the other people, they don't obey the king's laws, and it's not in the king's best interest to leave them alone.

³ For the customs of the peoples are vanity; for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the ax.

¹² From there, we went to the Roman colony of Philippi, the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.

³ especially since you are acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. I beg you, therefore, to listen to me patiently.

¹⁷ Be on your guard against men, for they will turn you over to the courts and will flog you in their synagogues,

²⁶ Then he released Barabbas for them, and he had Jesus flogged and handed him over to be crucified.

⁴⁰ So they took his advice, and they called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

³⁷ But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us publicly, without trial, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now cast us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out."

⁵ The Jews, however, became jealous. So they brought in some troublemakers 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.

¹² While Gallio was Proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one mind made an attack on Paul and brought him before the court,

²⁸ When they heard this, they became furious and began to shout, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" ²⁹ And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theater. ³⁰ Paul wanted to go in among the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. ³¹ Some of the officials and his friends sent him a message begging him not to enter the theatre. ³² The assembly was in confusion: some were shouting one thing and some another; most of them did not know why they had come together. ³³ Then the Jews pushed Alexander forward, out from the crowd. So Alexander motioned with his hand and would have made a defense to the people. ³⁴ But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” ³⁵ Finally the city clerk quieted the crowd and declared, “Men of Ephesus, doesn’t everyone know that the city of Ephesus is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? ³⁶ Therefore, since these things are undeniable, you ought to be quiet and not do anything rash. ³⁷ For you have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed our temple nor blasphemed our goddess. ³⁸ If then Demetrius and his craftsmen have a grievance against any one, the courts are open and there are the proconsuls; let them accuse one another. ³⁹ But if you are seeking anything beyond this, it must be settled in a legal assembly. ⁴⁰ As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of today's events. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it." ⁴¹ After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

³⁰ And the whole city was moved, and the people ran together; and laying hold on Paul, they dragged him out of the temple: and immediately the gates were shut. ³¹ As they were trying to kill him, news came to the commander of the garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.

²² The crowd listened to Paul until he made this statement. Then they lifted up their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He is not fit to live!” ²³ As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and tossing dust into the air, ²⁴ the tribune ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks and told the soldiers to beat and question him in order to find out why the people were yelling at him like this. ²⁵ But as they stretched him out to strap him down, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it lawful for you to flog a Roman citizen without a trial?” ²⁶ When the officer heard this, he went to the commander and said to him, "What are you going to do? This man is a Roman citizen."

²³ Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself.) I am more so: in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, and in deaths often. ²⁴ Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the open sea.

³⁶ Others endured mockings and scourgings, still others were delivered to bonds and imprisonment:

²⁴ He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

²² Please go and make sure and find out where his haunt is and who has seen him there, for they tell me that he is very crafty. ²³ So find out all the hiding places he uses and come back to me with definite information, and I will go with you. If he is in the area I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah.

⁴⁸ Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest Him.”

⁶³ “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while He was alive that deceiver said ‘After three days I will rise again.’ ⁶⁴ So give the order that the tomb be secured until the third day. Otherwise, His disciples may come and steal Him away and tell the people He has risen from the dead. And this last deception would be worse than the first.” ⁶⁵ “You have a guard,” Pilate said. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” ⁶⁶ So off they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the boulder and setting the guard.

¹² "But before all these things happen they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you up to synagogues and to prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my sake.

¹⁸ They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.

²³ “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards posted at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”

² He asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, that if he found any there who belonged to The Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

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.

¹⁸ At daybreak there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter.

²⁷ When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped.

³⁶ so the jayler told Paul, the magistrates had order'd them to be discharg'd. depart then, said he, and go in peace.

¹ For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles...

¹ As a prisoner in the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received:

⁹ for which I am suffering even to the point of wearing chains like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained.

⁹ I prefer to appeal to you on the ground of love. Well then, as Paul the old man, who now-a-days is a prisoner for Christ Jesus,

⁹ I, John, your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

¹⁰ Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

²⁷ and say: Thus saith the king: Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with scant bread and with scant water, until I come in peace.'

¹⁰ Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in prison, burning with wrath against him because of this thing. And at the same time Asa was cruel to some of the people.

²⁷ "You fasten my feet in shackles. You keep close watch on all my paths by putting marks on the soles of my feet.

¹¹ "He fastens my feet in shackles and he keeps close watch on all my paths.

¹⁸ They bruised his feet with shackles. His neck was locked in irons,

² Pashur struck Jeremiah the prophet and put him in the stocks that were at the upper Benjamin Gate of the temple. ³ The next day Pashur released Jeremiah from the stocks, and Jeremiah said to him, "The LORD has not named you Pashur, but rather Magor-missabib.

²⁶ 'the LORD made you priest instead of Jehoiada so that there would be officials for the LORD's temple. You should put every madman who acts like a prophet in prison and in shackles.

¹⁵ The princes were angry with Jeremiah and struck him and imprisoned him in the house of Jonathan the scribe; for they had made that the prison. ¹⁶ Jeremiah went into a prison cell, and he stayed there a long time.

²⁶ "Just tell them you were begging me not to send you back to prison to die there."

⁵³ They have cut off my life in the pit, and cast a stone at me. ⁵⁴ Waters flowed over my head; then I said, I am cut off. ⁵⁵ I called on your name, LORD, out of the depths of the pit.

¹² But many of the elderly priests, Levites, and heads of the families who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house, but many shouted aloud with joy. ¹³ No person could distinguish the sound of joyful acclaim from the sound of people weeping, for the people shouted with great joyful acclaim and the sound was heard from afar.

¹⁰ But no one says, Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night,

² O my God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not answer; and in the night, and am not silent.

¹ I will bless the LORD at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth.

⁸ By day the LORD commands his loyal love, and in the night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.

¹⁵ Call on me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you, and you will honor me."

⁷ I have become like a portent to many, Yet You are my strong Refuge."

² In the day of my trouble, I sought the Lord: my hand was stretched out in the night, and slacked not; my soul refused to be comforted.

⁶ I remember my song in the night,—With my own heart, I commune, And my spirit, maketh search:—

¹⁵ He will call upon me and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him.

⁵⁵ In the night I remember your name, LORD, and keep your instruction.

⁶² At midnight I will get up to thank you for your righteous ordinances.

²⁹ You will have a song as in the night when a holy feast is kept and gladness of heart, as he who goes with a pipe to come to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel.

⁸ Listen, please, O Joshua the high priest, you and your companions that are sitting before you. For the men are a sign that, look, I am going to bring my servant the Branch.

¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹ Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

³⁸ Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.” ³⁹ Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”

²² Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil because of the Son of Man. ²³ Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For their fathers treated the prophets in the same way.

⁴⁴ And being in agony, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.

⁴¹ The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.

³ Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;

¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.

⁸ We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed.

¹⁶ Therefore, as I said, we do not lose heart. No, even though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and temporary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that far outweighs our troubles.

¹⁰ sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

¹⁹ Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,

¹⁷ But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is near. ⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

²⁴ Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the church.

¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to this; and be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to 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.

¹⁶ Be joyful always, ¹⁷ Pray continually! ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

⁷ During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence.

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,

¹³ Is anyone of you in trouble? let him pray. Is anyone thriving? let him sing praise.

⁶ In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer various trials, ⁷ so that your tested faith, much more precious than gold that perishes though tested by fire, may be found to your praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed, ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy,

¹⁴ If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

¹¹ Let the cries of the prisoners reach you. With the strength of your power, release those condemned to death.

²⁰ to hear the groans of the prisoner; to free those who are condemned to death;

⁷ He executes justice for the oppressed. He gives food to the hungry. the LORD sets the prisoners free.

⁷ To open eyes that are blind,—To bring forth Out of the dungeon the captive Out of the prison, the dwellers in darkness.

¹ The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me; because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to those who are bound;

¹¹ As for you also, because of the blood of your covenant, I will release your prisoners from the waterless pit. ¹² Turn to the fortress, you prisoners of hope: even today I tell you that I return double to you;

² And there was a great earthquake. For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and went and rolled the stone back and sat upon it.

³¹ After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

¹⁹ But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying,

⁷ Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists.

¹⁰ They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city, which opened for them by itself. When they had gone outside and walked the length of one block, the angel suddenly left him.

¹² And I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake, the sun became as black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon turned the colour of blood.

¹³ In that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

⁵⁴ whereupon he cried hastily to the young man who carried his armour, and said to him, Draw my sword, and kill me, that they may not say, A woman killed him. So his servant run him through, and he died.

⁴ And Saul said to his armor-bearer, Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised ones come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armor-bearer would not, for he was very much afraid. So Saul took a sword and fell on it. ⁵ When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword and died with him.

²³ When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey, and arose, and went home, to his city, and set his house in order, and hanged himself; and he died, and was buried in the tomb of his father.

¹⁸ And when Zambri saw that the city was taken, he went into a cellar of the king's house and set the house on fire over him. So he died

⁵ So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

¹⁹ Herod had a thorough search made for him and could not find him. He cross examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Herod went from Judea to Caesarea to stay for a while.

²³ after they had been severely lash'd, they were thrown into prison, the jayler being charg'd to keep them safe. ²⁴ On receiving this order, he placed them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

¹³ You shall not murder.

¹⁸ "'Do not seek revenge. Never hold a grudge against any of your people. Instead, love your neighbor as you love yourself. I am the LORD.

⁴ if I have rewarded evil to him who was at peace with me, or oppressed my enemy without cause,

¹⁴ I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother. I bowed down mourning, as he who weeps for his mother.

³⁶ "But he who sins against me wrongs himself. All who hate me love death."

¹¹ Rescue those who are being led away to death, and save those who stumble toward slaughter. ¹² if you say, "Look, we do not know this," does not he who weighs hearts perceive it? And he who keeps your soul, he knows and will repay humankind according to his deeds.

¹⁷ Do not be very wicked, and do not be a fool; why should you die before your time?

⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

²⁷ "But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸ bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

³² So likewise, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where he was, and saw him, and took pity on him, ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Take care of him,’ he said, ‘and on my return I will repay you for any additional expense.’ ³⁶ Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” ³⁷ He said, "The one who showed mercy on him." And Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

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

³⁴ And Jesus said: Father, forgive them. For they do not know what they do. And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

¹⁵ Make sure that no one pays back evil for evil. Instead, always pursue what is good for each other and for everyone else.

¹ the LORD reigns! Let the nations tremble. He sits enthroned between the cherubim: let the earth be moved.

¹²⁰ My flesh trembles for fear of you. I am afraid of your judgments.

¹⁴ "The sons of those who oppress you will bow in front of you. All who loathe you will bow at your feet. They will call you the city of the LORD, Zion, the city of the Holy One of Israel.

² And my hand has made all these things, and all these came to be," declares the LORD, "but I look to this one: to the humble and the contrite of spirit and the one frightened at my word.

⁵ Hear the word of the LORD, you who tremble at his word: Your brothers who hate you, who cast you out for my name's sake, have said, Let the LORD be glorified, that we may see your joy. But it is those who will be put to shame.

²² "Do you not reverence (respect) me?" Asks the LORD. "Do you not tremble [with awe] in my presence? I made the sand a boundary for the sea, a permanent barrier it cannot cross. Although the waves toss continuously, they cannot break through. Although they roar, they cannot cross it.

¹⁰ But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king. Because of his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his anger.

²⁶ "I hereby decree that in every area of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, who endures forever. His kingdom is one that will not be destroyed, and his dominion continues forever.

⁵ “Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied. ⁶ “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

²⁵ And as he reasoned about righteousness, self control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid, and answered: Go away for now. When I have a convenient time I will call for you.

⁹ I will make some who belong to that synagogue of Satan and claim to be Jews when they are not so, but are lying—I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and learn that I loved you.

⁴ "How then can a man be righteous before God? How can one born of woman be pure?

³² teach me yourself what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not repeat it'?

¹⁶ "Wash yourselves! Become clean! Get your evil deeds out of my sight. Stop doing evil. ¹⁷ Learn to do well—Seek justice, Correct the oppressor,—Vindicate the fatherless, Plead the cause of the widow,

⁶ Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke

⁹ Then you will call, and the LORD will answer. You will cry for help, and he will say, 'Here I am.' “If you take away from among you the yoke, finger pointing, and speaking wickedly;

⁸ Produce fruit worthy of repentance.

⁷ Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

¹⁰ "What are we to do then?" the people asked.

²⁷ Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.” ²⁸ Then they asked him, "What must we do to perform the works of God?" ²⁹ Jesus replied, “This is the work of God: to believe in the One He has sent.”

³⁷ When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

⁶ “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

¹⁵ “Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.

¹⁷ This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.”

²⁴ On receiving this order, he placed them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

¹⁰ Then I asked, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ ‘Get up and go into Damascus,’ He told me. ‘There you will be told all that you have been appointed to do.’

¹³ For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

⁷ "I will establish my covenant as a long lasting covenant between us. It will be for your descendants after you, for the generations to come. I will be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

¹⁹ For I know him that he will command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do after right and conscience, that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that he hath promised him."

²² Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.

³⁹ I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their good, and the good of their children after them.

⁴ Behold, his soul is puffed up. It is not upright in him, but the righteous will live by his faith.

¹⁶ Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

¹² But to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God

¹⁵ that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. ¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

³⁶ Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”

⁴⁰ For it is My Father’s will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

⁴⁷ Truly, truly, I tell you, he who believes has everlasting life.

³⁷ Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. ³⁸ Whoever believes in Me, just as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’”

²⁵ Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies. ²⁶ And whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

³¹ But these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing, you may have life in his name.

³⁸ Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, for all whom the Lord our God will call to himself."

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

³⁶ And as they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?"

³⁸ Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. ³⁹ Through Him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the Law of Moses.

¹¹ On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

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.

³² Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.

¹ Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of the glory of God.

⁹ that if you confess with your mouth "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.

¹⁶ If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole lump is holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

¹⁴ He redeemed us so that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

²² But the scripture has declared all to be prisoners of sin, so that the promise, given on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

²⁶ You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

⁷ in order that in the coming ages, he might show the surpassing riches of his grace in kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,

¹⁰ Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony God has given about His Son. ¹¹ And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. ¹² He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. ¹³ I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

³³ So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. All of us are here now in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has ordered you to say." ³⁴ Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism, ³⁵ but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right. ³⁶ As to the message which he sent to the children of Israel telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ — who is Lord of all — ³⁷ You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached. 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. ³⁹ We are witnesses of everything that He did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. Yet they murdered Him by hanging Him upon a tree. ⁴⁰ but God raised him up on the third day and caused him to be seen, ⁴¹ not by all the people, but by the witnesses God had chosen beforehand, by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. ⁴² And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”

¹⁴ I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish.

¹⁶ I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.

⁸ Though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

²⁷ to whom God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. ²⁸ We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

⁸ We cared so deeply that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our own lives as well. That is how beloved you have become to us.

¹³ Even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor, I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; ¹⁴ the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ It is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinnersof whom I am the foremost. ¹⁶ But for this very reason I was shown mercy, so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His perfect patience, as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life.

⁷ When a man's ways please the LORD He makes even his enemies live at peace with him.

⁶ The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, the calf, the young lion, and the fattened calf together; and a little child will lead them. ⁷ Also the cow and the bear will graze. Their young will lie down together. And the lion will eat straw like the ox. ⁸ The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra. The weaned child will put his hand on the viper's den. ⁹ They will not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, ³⁶ I was unclothed and you clothed me, I was ill and you looked after me, I was in prison and you visited me.' ³⁷ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' ⁴⁰ And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’

³³ But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where he was, and saw him, and took pity on him, ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

⁹ Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham.

²³ after they had been severely lash'd, they were thrown into prison, the jayler being charg'd to keep them safe.

²⁵ About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

¹⁶ Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that I do not remember baptizing anyone else.

¹³ For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.

¹ In that day you will say: "I will praise you, O LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. ² "Truly God is my salvation! I will trust and not be afraid. the LORD… the LORD is my strength and my song! He has become my salvation." ³ With joy (gladness) you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

¹² "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

¹⁷ For I was angry and struck him for the iniquity of his gain; I hid Myself and was angry; yet he went, turning in his heart's way. ¹⁸ I have seen his ways, and will heal him. I will also lead him, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners.

⁷ "Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house? When you see the naked, should you cover him and not hide yourself from your own flesh? ⁸ »Your light will break out like the dawn. Your recovery will speedily spring forth. Your righteousness will go before you and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. ⁹ Then you will call, and the LORD will answer. You will cry for help, and he will say, 'Here I am.' “If you take away from among you the yoke, finger pointing, and speaking wickedly; ¹⁰ and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will be like midday. ¹¹ the LORD will continually guide you. He will satisfy your desire in scorched places and give strength to your bones. You will be like a watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.

¹⁰ I will rejoice greatly in the LORD. I will exult in my God for he has clothed me with garments of salvation. He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

²⁹ Then Levi made a great banquet for Him at his house; and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining with them.

²² But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³ Bring the fatted calf and kill it. Let us feast and celebrate. ²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate. ²⁵ Meanwhile the older son was in the field, and as he approached the house, he heard music and dancing.

³² But it was fitting to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

⁶ He came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

⁴⁶ And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they ate together with glad and sincere hearts,

³⁹ When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any more, for he went on his way rejoicing.

²⁷ When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped. ²⁸ but Paul shouted aloud, "Do not harm yourself, we are all here!" ²⁹ The jailer called for lights. He rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.

² through whom we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of the glory of God.

¹¹ Not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

¹³ Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

¹⁷ Not that I am seeking a gift, but I am looking for the fruit that may be credited to your account.

⁹ Now about brotherly love, you do not need anyone to write to you, because you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another. ¹⁰ and indeed you do love all the brethren throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to do so more and more.

⁷ I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶ If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it does not prove itself with actions, is dead.

¹⁸ Little children, let us not love in word or tongue but in deed and in truth.

¹⁰ Surely the wrath of man praises you. The survivors of your wrath are restrained.

²¹ So the Council members threatened them further and let them go. They could not find a way to punish them, because all the people were glorifying God for what had happened.

¹⁸ And Moses went back to Jethro, his father-in-law, and said to him, Let me go back now to my relations in Egypt and see if they are still living. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.

⁶ The priest said to them, Go in peace. Your way has the approval of the LORD.

¹⁷ Eli answered: "Go in peace. May the God of Israel give you what you have asked of him."

⁴² Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, because we have both sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, 'The LORD shall be between me and you, and between my descendants and your descendants, forever.'" He arose and departed; and Jonathan went into the city.

³⁵ Then David accepted what she brought him. He said: "Go home in peace. I have listened to what you said and I grant your request."

⁷ Now return and go in peace, so you do nothing to displease the Philistine leaders."

¹⁹ "Go in peace," he said. So Naaman left. After Naaman had gone only a short distance,

³⁴ But he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be well from your suffering."

²⁷ Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.

³³ After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers in peace to return to those who had sent them.

¹ Do you indeed speak righteousness, silent ones? Do you judge blamelessly, you sons of men? ² No, in your heart you plan injustices; in the land you weigh out the violence of your hands.

¹ A Psalm by Asaph. God presides in the great assembly. He judges among the gods. ² "How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked?" Selah.

²⁰ Can wicked rulers be allied with you? They frame mischief by decree (the law).

¹ The wicked flee when no one pursues; but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

²⁵ He said: "Look, I see four men walking in the midst of the fire. They are not hurt! The appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!" ²⁶ Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the opening of the blazing fire furnace. He shouted out, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out and come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire.

¹⁸ Then the king retired to his palace to spend the night fasting. He enjoyed no entertainment, and he couldn't sleep. ¹⁹ Then the king rose up in the dawn, in the daylight, and hurried to the lions' den.

¹⁶ Look, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

²⁰ They brought them to the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews and are throwing our city into turmoil ²¹ by promoting customs that are unlawful for us Romans to adopt or practice.” ²² The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered that they be stripped and beaten with rods.

²⁵ But as they stretched him out to strap him down, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it lawful for you to flog a Roman citizen without a trial?” ²⁶ When the officer heard this, he went to the commander and said to him, "What are you going to do? This man is a Roman citizen." ²⁷ The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes,” he answered. ²⁸ The commander replied, "I had to pay a large sum for this citizenship." "But I was born a citizen," said Paul. ²⁹ Then those who were about to interrogate Paul stepped back, and the commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put a Roman citizen in chains.

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

⁴⁶ So they wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the people, because they regarded him as a prophet.

²⁹ Then those who were about to interrogate Paul stepped back, and the commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put a Roman citizen in chains.

⁸ All these officials of yours will come down to me, prostrate themselves to me, and say, 'Get out, you and all the people following you!' After that I'll go out." Then Moses angrily left Pharaoh.

¹⁴ This is what the LORD says: "The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush, and those tall Sabeans will come over to you and will be yours. They will walk behind you. They will come to you in chains. They will bow down before you and plead with you. They will say: 'God is with you and there is no other. There is no other god!'

²³ Kings shall be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow down to you with their faces to the earth, and lick the dust of your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD; and those who wait for me shall not be disappointed.”

²³ The king was very happy. He commanded that they take Daniel out of the den. So Daniel was taken out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found on him, because he trusted in his God.

⁹ I will bear the rage of Yahweh, for I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes my justice. He will bring me out to the light; I will see his righteousness. ¹⁰ And my hater will see it and be covered with shame; she who said to me, Where is the Lord your God? my eyes will see their desire effected on her, now she will be crushed under foot like the dust of the streets.

³⁴ Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to leave their region.

¹⁷ And the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

²³ On their release, Peter and John returned to their own people and reported everything that the chief priests and elders had said to them.

¹² And when he had realized this, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people were gathered together praying. ¹³ He knocked at the outer gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer it. ¹⁴ When she recognized Peter's voice she was so overjoyed she ran back into the house to tell others he was there. She forgot to open the door for him. ¹⁵ “You are out of your mind,” they told her. But when she kept insisting it was so, they said, “It is his angel.” ¹⁶ But Peter kept on knocking; so when they opened the door and saw him, they were astounded. ¹⁷ Peter motioned with his hand for silence, and he described how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. “Send word to James and to the brothers,” he said, and he left for another place.

²² strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

² The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.

¹⁴ Among those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. ⁵ For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. ⁶ If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which accomplishes in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we experience. ⁷ And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

⁸ We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed. ¹⁰ We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹ For we who are alive are always consigned to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal bodies. ¹² So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

¹⁶ Therefore, as I said, we do not lose heart. No, even though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and temporary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that far outweighs our troubles. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

² We sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, ³ so that no one would be unsettled by these afflictions. You yourselves know that we have been destined for this.