# BIBLE

BIBLETEXT:
Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.


BIBLETEXT:
That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.


BIBLETEXT:
Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'


BIBLETEXT:
The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."


BIBLETEXT:
Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?"


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?


BIBLETEXT:
Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.


BIBLETEXT:
If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?


BIBLETEXT:
No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.


BIBLETEXT:
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,


BIBLETEXT:
that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.


BIBLETEXT:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.


BIBLETEXT:
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.


BIBLETEXT:
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.


BIBLETEXT:
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.


BIBLETEXT:
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.


BIBLETEXT:
But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God."


BIBLETEXT:
After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing.


BIBLETEXT:
John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized


BIBLETEXT:
(for John had not yet been put in prison).


BIBLETEXT:
Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification.


BIBLETEXT:
And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness--look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him."


BIBLETEXT:
John answered, "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.


BIBLETEXT:
You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.'


BIBLETEXT:
The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.


BIBLETEXT:
He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all.


BIBLETEXT:
He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony.


BIBLETEXT:
Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true.


BIBLETEXT:
For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.


BIBLETEXT:
The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.


BIBLETEXT:
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.


BIBLETEXT:
Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John


BIBLETEXT:
(although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples),


BIBLETEXT:
he left Judea and departed again for Galilee.


BIBLETEXT:
So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.


BIBLETEXT:
Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.


BIBLETEXT:
A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink."


BIBLETEXT:
(For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.)


BIBLETEXT:
The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?" (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water."


BIBLETEXT:
The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water?


BIBLETEXT:
Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock."


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again,


BIBLETEXT:
but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."


BIBLETEXT:
The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water."


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here."


BIBLETEXT:
The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right in saying, 'I have no husband';


BIBLETEXT:
for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true."


BIBLETEXT:
The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.


BIBLETEXT:
Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship."


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.


BIBLETEXT:
You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.


BIBLETEXT:
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.


BIBLETEXT:
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."


BIBLETEXT:
The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things."


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he."


BIBLETEXT:
Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, "What do you seek?" or, "Why are you talking with her?"


BIBLETEXT:
So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people,


BIBLETEXT:
"Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?"


BIBLETEXT:
They went out of the town and were coming to him.


BIBLETEXT:
Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, "Rabbi, eat."


BIBLETEXT:
But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know about."


BIBLETEXT:
So the disciples said to one another, "Has anyone brought him something to eat?"


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.


BIBLETEXT:
Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.


BIBLETEXT:
Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.


BIBLETEXT:
For here the saying holds true, 'One sows and another reaps.'


BIBLETEXT:
I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor."


BIBLETEXT:
Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me all that I ever did."


BIBLETEXT:
So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days.


BIBLETEXT:
And many more believed because of his word.


BIBLETEXT:
They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world."


BIBLETEXT:
After the two days he departed for Galilee.


BIBLETEXT:
(For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.)


BIBLETEXT:
So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast.


BIBLETEXT:
saying, "Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.


BIBLETEXT:
For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side


BIBLETEXT:
and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation."


BIBLETEXT:
And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold,


BIBLETEXT:
saying to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be a house of prayer,' but you have made it a den of robbers."


BIBLETEXT:
And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him,


BIBLETEXT:
but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words.


BIBLETEXT:
One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up


BIBLETEXT:
and said to him, "Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority."


BIBLETEXT:
He answered them, "I also will ask you a question. Now tell me,


BIBLETEXT:
was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?"


BIBLETEXT:
And they discussed it with one another, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why did you not believe him?'


BIBLETEXT:
But if we say, 'From man,' all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet."


BIBLETEXT:
So they answered that they did not know where it came from.


BIBLETEXT:
And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."


BIBLETEXT:
And he began to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went into another country for a long while.


BIBLETEXT:
When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed.


BIBLETEXT:
And he sent another servant. But they also beat and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed.


BIBLETEXT:
And he sent yet a third. This one also they wounded and cast out.


BIBLETEXT:
Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.'


BIBLETEXT:
But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.'


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


BIBLETEXT:
He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others." When they heard this, they said, "Surely not!"


BIBLETEXT:
But he looked directly at them and said, "What then is this that is written: "'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone'?


BIBLETEXT:
Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him."


BIBLETEXT:
The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people.


BIBLETEXT:
So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor.


BIBLETEXT:
So they asked him, "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God.


BIBLETEXT:
Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?"


BIBLETEXT:
But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them,


BIBLETEXT:
"Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?" They said, "Caesar's."


BIBLETEXT:
He said to them, "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."


BIBLETEXT:
And they were not able in the presence of the people to catch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer they became silent.


BIBLETEXT:
There came to him some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection,


BIBLETEXT:
and they asked him a question, saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.


BIBLETEXT:
Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died without children.


BIBLETEXT:
and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died.


BIBLETEXT:
In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife."


BIBLETEXT:
And Jesus said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage,


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


BIBLETEXT:
for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.


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


BIBLETEXT:
Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him."


BIBLETEXT:
Then some of the scribes answered, "Teacher, you have spoken well."


BIBLETEXT:
For they no longer dared to ask him any question.


BIBLETEXT:
But he said to them, "How can they say that the Christ is David's son?


BIBLETEXT:
For David himself says in the Book of Psalms, "'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand,


BIBLETEXT:
until I make your enemies your footstool.'


BIBLETEXT:
David thus calls him Lord, so how is he his son?"


BIBLETEXT:
And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples,


BIBLETEXT:
"Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts,


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box,


BIBLETEXT:
and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.


BIBLETEXT:
And he said, "Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.


BIBLETEXT:
For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."


BIBLETEXT:
And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said,


BIBLETEXT:
"As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down."


BIBLETEXT:
And they asked him, "Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?"


BIBLETEXT:
And he said, "See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he!' and, 'The time is at hand!' Do not go after them.


BIBLETEXT:
And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once."


BIBLETEXT:
Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.


BIBLETEXT:
There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.


BIBLETEXT:
But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake.


BIBLETEXT:
This will be your opportunity to bear witness.


BIBLETEXT:
Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer,


BIBLETEXT:
for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.


BIBLETEXT:
You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death.


BIBLETEXT:
You will be hated by all for my name's sake.


BIBLETEXT:
But not a hair of your head will perish.


BIBLETEXT:
By your endurance you will gain your lives.


BIBLETEXT:
"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.


BIBLETEXT:
Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it,


BIBLETEXT:
for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.


BIBLETEXT:
Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people.


BIBLETEXT:
They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.


BIBLETEXT:
"And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves,


BIBLETEXT:
people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.


BIBLETEXT:
And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.


BIBLETEXT:
Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."


BIBLETEXT:
And he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.


BIBLETEXT:
As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near.


BIBLETEXT:
So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.


BIBLETEXT:
Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place.


BIBLETEXT:
"But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.


BIBLETEXT:
For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth.


BIBLETEXT:
But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."


BIBLETEXT:
And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet.


BIBLETEXT:
And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him.


BIBLETEXT:
Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover.


BIBLETEXT:
And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people.


BIBLETEXT:
Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve.


BIBLETEXT:
He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them.


BIBLETEXT:
And they were glad, and agreed to give him money.


BIBLETEXT:
So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.


BIBLETEXT:
Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.


BIBLETEXT:
So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it."


BIBLETEXT:
They said to him, "Where will you have us prepare it?"


BIBLETEXT:
He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters


BIBLETEXT:
and tell the master of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?'


BIBLETEXT:
And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there."


BIBLETEXT:
And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.


BIBLETEXT:
And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him.


BIBLETEXT:
And he said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.


BIBLETEXT:
For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."


BIBLETEXT:
And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, "Take this, and divide it among yourselves.


BIBLETEXT:
For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."


BIBLETEXT:
And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."


BIBLETEXT:
And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.


BIBLETEXT:
But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table.


BIBLETEXT:
For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!"


BIBLETEXT:
And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.


BIBLETEXT:
A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.


BIBLETEXT:
And he said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors.


BIBLETEXT:
But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves.


BIBLETEXT:
For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.


BIBLETEXT:
"You are those who have stayed with me in my trials,


BIBLETEXT:
and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom,


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


BIBLETEXT:
"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,


BIBLETEXT:
but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."


BIBLETEXT:
Peter said to him, "Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death."


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me."


BIBLETEXT:
And he said to them, "When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?" They said, "Nothing."


BIBLETEXT:
He said to them, "But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.


BIBLETEXT:
For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors.' For what is written about me has its fulfillment."


BIBLETEXT:
And they said, "Look, Lord, here are two swords." And he said to them, "It is enough."


BIBLETEXT:
And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him.


BIBLETEXT:
And when he came to the place, he said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation."


BIBLETEXT:
And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed,


BIBLETEXT:
saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."


BIBLETEXT:
And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.


BIBLETEXT:
And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.


BIBLETEXT:
And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow,


BIBLETEXT:
and he said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation."


BIBLETEXT:
While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him,


BIBLETEXT:
but Jesus said to him, "Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?"


BIBLETEXT:
And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?"


BIBLETEXT:
And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.


BIBLETEXT:
But Jesus said, "No more of this!" And he touched his ear and healed him.


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


BIBLETEXT:
When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness."


BIBLETEXT:
Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, and Peter was following at a distance.


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


BIBLETEXT:
Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, "This man also was with him."


BIBLETEXT:
But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I do not know him."


BIBLETEXT:
And a little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not."


BIBLETEXT:
And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, "Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean."


BIBLETEXT:
But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about." And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.


BIBLETEXT:
And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times."


BIBLETEXT:
Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him.


BIBLETEXT:
They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, "Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?"


BIBLETEXT:
And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him.


BIBLETEXT:
When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said,


BIBLETEXT:
"If you are the Christ, tell us." But he said to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe,


BIBLETEXT:
But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God."


BIBLETEXT:
So they all said, "Are you the Son of God, then?" And he said to them, "You say that I am."


BIBLETEXT:
Then they said, "What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips."


BIBLETEXT:
Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate.


BIBLETEXT:
And they began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king."


BIBLETEXT:
Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "I find no guilt in this man."


BIBLETEXT:
But they were urgent, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place."


BIBLETEXT:
When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean.


BIBLETEXT:
And when he learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time.


BIBLETEXT:
When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him.


BIBLETEXT:
So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer.


BIBLETEXT:
The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him.


BIBLETEXT:
And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate.


BIBLETEXT:
And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.


BIBLETEXT:
Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,


BIBLETEXT:
and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him.


BIBLETEXT:
Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him.


BIBLETEXT:
I will therefore punish and release him."


BIBLETEXT:
[Now he was obliged to release one man to them at the festival.]


BIBLETEXT:
But they all cried out together, "Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas"--


BIBLETEXT:
a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder.


BIBLETEXT:
Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus,


BIBLETEXT:
but they kept shouting, "Crucify, crucify him!"


BIBLETEXT:
A third time he said to them, "Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him."


BIBLETEXT:
But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed.


BIBLETEXT:
So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted.


BIBLETEXT:
He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.


BIBLETEXT:
And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus.


BIBLETEXT:
And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him.


BIBLETEXT:
But turning to them Jesus said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.


BIBLETEXT:
For behold, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!'


BIBLETEXT:
Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us,' and to the hills, 'Cover us.'


BIBLETEXT:
For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?"


BIBLETEXT:
Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.


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


BIBLETEXT:
And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments.


BIBLETEXT:
And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!"


BIBLETEXT:
The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine


BIBLETEXT:
and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!"


BIBLETEXT:
There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."


BIBLETEXT:
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!"


BIBLETEXT:
But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?


BIBLETEXT:
And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong."


BIBLETEXT:
And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."


BIBLETEXT:
And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."


BIBLETEXT:
It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour,


BIBLETEXT:
while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.


BIBLETEXT:
Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last.


BIBLETEXT:
Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, "Certainly this man was innocent!"


BIBLETEXT:
And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts.


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


BIBLETEXT:
Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man,


BIBLETEXT:
who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God.


BIBLETEXT:
This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.


BIBLETEXT:
Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid.


BIBLETEXT:
It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning.


BIBLETEXT:
The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid.


BIBLETEXT:
Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.


BIBLETEXT:
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.


BIBLETEXT:
And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb,


BIBLETEXT:
but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.


BIBLETEXT:
While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.


BIBLETEXT:
And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?


BIBLETEXT:
He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee,


BIBLETEXT:
that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise."


BIBLETEXT:
and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.


BIBLETEXT:
Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles,


BIBLETEXT:
but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.


BIBLETEXT:
But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.


BIBLETEXT:
That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem,


BIBLETEXT:
and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened.


BIBLETEXT:
While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.


BIBLETEXT:
But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.


BIBLETEXT:
And he said to them, "What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad.


BIBLETEXT:
Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?"


BIBLETEXT:
And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,


BIBLETEXT:
and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.


BIBLETEXT:
But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.


BIBLETEXT:
Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning,


BIBLETEXT:
and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.


BIBLETEXT:
Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."


BIBLETEXT:
And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!


BIBLETEXT:
Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?"


BIBLETEXT:
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.


BIBLETEXT:
So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther,


BIBLETEXT:
but they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them.


BIBLETEXT:
When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them.


BIBLETEXT:
And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.


BIBLETEXT:
They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?"


BIBLETEXT:
And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,


BIBLETEXT:
saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!"


BIBLETEXT:
Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.


BIBLETEXT:
As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, "Peace to you!"


BIBLETEXT:
But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit.


BIBLETEXT:
And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?


BIBLETEXT:
See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have."


BIBLETEXT:
And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.


BIBLETEXT:
And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?"


BIBLETEXT:
Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."


BIBLETEXT:
Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,


BIBLETEXT:
and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,


BIBLETEXT:
and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.


BIBLETEXT:
And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."


BIBLETEXT:
Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them.


BIBLETEXT:
While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.


BIBLETEXT:
And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,


BIBLETEXT:
and were continually in the temple blessing God.


BIBLETEXT:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.


BIBLETEXT:
All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.


BIBLETEXT:
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.


BIBLETEXT:
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.


BIBLETEXT:
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.


BIBLETEXT:
He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.


BIBLETEXT:
He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.


BIBLETEXT:
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.


BIBLETEXT:
He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.


BIBLETEXT:
He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.


BIBLETEXT:
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,


BIBLETEXT:
who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.


BIBLETEXT:
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.


BIBLETEXT:
(John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'")


BIBLETEXT:
And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.


BIBLETEXT:
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.


BIBLETEXT:
No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.


BIBLETEXT:
And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"


BIBLETEXT:
He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."


BIBLETEXT:
And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No."


BIBLETEXT:
So they said to him, "Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"


BIBLETEXT:
He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said."


BIBLETEXT:
(Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.)


BIBLETEXT:
They asked him, "Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"


BIBLETEXT:
John answered them, "I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know,


BIBLETEXT:
even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie."


BIBLETEXT:
These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.


BIBLETEXT:
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!


BIBLETEXT:
This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.'


BIBLETEXT:
I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel."


BIBLETEXT:
And John bore witness: "I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.


BIBLETEXT:
I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'


BIBLETEXT:
And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."


BIBLETEXT:
The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples,


BIBLETEXT:
and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"


BIBLETEXT:
The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, "What are you seeking?" And they said to him, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"


BIBLETEXT:
He said to them, "Come and you will see." So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.


BIBLETEXT:
One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.


BIBLETEXT:
He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means Christ).


BIBLETEXT:
He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas" (which means Peter).


BIBLETEXT:
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me."


BIBLETEXT:
Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.


BIBLETEXT:
Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."


BIBLETEXT:
Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!"


BIBLETEXT:
Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."


BIBLETEXT:
Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these."


BIBLETEXT:
And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."


BIBLETEXT:
On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples.


BIBLETEXT:
When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine."


BIBLETEXT:
And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come."


BIBLETEXT:
His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."


BIBLETEXT:
Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim.


BIBLETEXT:
And he said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast." So they took it.


BIBLETEXT:
When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom


BIBLETEXT:
and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now."


BIBLETEXT:
This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.


BIBLETEXT:
After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.


BIBLETEXT:
The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.


BIBLETEXT:
In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there.


BIBLETEXT:
And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables.


BIBLETEXT:
And he told those who sold the pigeons, "Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade."


BIBLETEXT:
His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me."


BIBLETEXT:
So the Jews said to him, "What sign do you show us for doing these things?"


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."


BIBLETEXT:
The Jews then said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?"


BIBLETEXT:
So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill.


BIBLETEXT:
When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.


BIBLETEXT:
So Jesus said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe."


BIBLETEXT:
The official said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies."


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said to him, "Go; your son will live." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.


BIBLETEXT:
As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering.


BIBLETEXT:
So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him."


BIBLETEXT:
The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." And he himself believed, and all his household.


BIBLETEXT:
This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.


BIBLETEXT:
After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.


BIBLETEXT:
Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades.


BIBLETEXT:
In these lay a multitude of invalids--blind, lame, and paralyzed [waiting for the moving of the water;]


BIBLETEXT:
[for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and stirred the water: whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was healed of whatever disease he had.]


BIBLETEXT:
One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.


BIBLETEXT:
When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?"


BIBLETEXT:
The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me."


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said to him, "Get up, take up your bed, and walk."


BIBLETEXT:
And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath.


BIBLETEXT:
So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed."


BIBLETEXT:
But he answered them, "The man who healed me, that man said to me, 'Take up your bed, and walk.'"


BIBLETEXT:
They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Take up your bed and walk'?"


BIBLETEXT:
Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place.


BIBLETEXT:
Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you."


BIBLETEXT:
The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him.


BIBLETEXT:
And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.


BIBLETEXT:
But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working."


BIBLETEXT:
This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.


BIBLETEXT:
So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.


BIBLETEXT:
For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.


BIBLETEXT:
For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.


BIBLETEXT:
The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,


BIBLETEXT:
that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.


BIBLETEXT:
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.


BIBLETEXT:
"Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.


BIBLETEXT:
For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.


BIBLETEXT:
And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.


BIBLETEXT:
Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice


BIBLETEXT:
and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.


BIBLETEXT:
"I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.


BIBLETEXT:
If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not deemed true.


BIBLETEXT:
There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true.


BIBLETEXT:
You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.


BIBLETEXT:
Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved.


BIBLETEXT:
He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.


BIBLETEXT:
But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.


BIBLETEXT:
And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen,


BIBLETEXT:
and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent.


BIBLETEXT:
You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,


BIBLETEXT:
yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.


BIBLETEXT:
But I know that you do not have the love of God within you.


BIBLETEXT:
I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.


BIBLETEXT:
How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?


BIBLETEXT:
Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope.


BIBLETEXT:
For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me.


BIBLETEXT:
But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?"


BIBLETEXT:
After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.


BIBLETEXT:
And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick.


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples.


BIBLETEXT:
Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.


BIBLETEXT:
Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?"


BIBLETEXT:
He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.


BIBLETEXT:
Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little."


BIBLETEXT:
One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him,


BIBLETEXT:
"There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?"


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number.


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted.


BIBLETEXT:
And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, "Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost."


BIBLETEXT:
So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.


BIBLETEXT:
When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, "This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!"


BIBLETEXT:
Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.


BIBLETEXT:
When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea,


BIBLETEXT:
got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.


BIBLETEXT:
The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing.


BIBLETEXT:
When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened.


BIBLETEXT:
But he said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid."


BIBLETEXT:
Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.


BIBLETEXT:
On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone.


BIBLETEXT:
Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.


BIBLETEXT:
So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.


BIBLETEXT:
When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?"


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.


BIBLETEXT:
Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal."


BIBLETEXT:
Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?"


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."


BIBLETEXT:
So they said to him, "Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform?


BIBLETEXT:
Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.


BIBLETEXT:
For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."


BIBLETEXT:
They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always."


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.


BIBLETEXT:
But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.


BIBLETEXT:
All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.


BIBLETEXT:
For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.


BIBLETEXT:
And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.


BIBLETEXT:
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day."


BIBLETEXT:
So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven."


BIBLETEXT:
They said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?"


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus answered them, "Do not grumble among yourselves.


BIBLETEXT:
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.


BIBLETEXT:
It is written in the Prophets, 'And they will all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me--


BIBLETEXT:
not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father.


BIBLETEXT:
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.


BIBLETEXT:
Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.


BIBLETEXT:
This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.


BIBLETEXT:
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."


BIBLETEXT:
The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"


BIBLETEXT:
So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.


BIBLETEXT:
Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.


BIBLETEXT:
For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.


BIBLETEXT:
Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.


BIBLETEXT:
As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me.


BIBLETEXT:
This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever."


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.


BIBLETEXT:
When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?"


BIBLETEXT:
But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, "Do you take offense at this?


BIBLETEXT:
Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?


BIBLETEXT:
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.


BIBLETEXT:
But there are some of you who do not believe." (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.)


BIBLETEXT:
And he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father."


BIBLETEXT:
After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.


BIBLETEXT:
So Jesus said to the Twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?"


BIBLETEXT:
Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,


BIBLETEXT:
and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God."


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil."


BIBLETEXT:
He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the Twelve, was going to betray him.


BIBLETEXT:
After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him.


BIBLETEXT:
Now the Jews' Feast of Booths was at hand.


BIBLETEXT:
So his brothers said to him, "Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing.


BIBLETEXT:
For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world."


BIBLETEXT:
For not even his brothers believed in him.


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always here.


BIBLETEXT:
The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil.


BIBLETEXT:
You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come."


BIBLETEXT:
After saying this, he remained in Galilee.


BIBLETEXT:
But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private.


BIBLETEXT:
The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, "Where is he?"


BIBLETEXT:
And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, "He is a good man," others said, "No, he is leading the people astray."


BIBLETEXT:
Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.


BIBLETEXT:
About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching.


BIBLETEXT:
The Jews therefore marveled, saying, "How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?"


BIBLETEXT:
So Jesus answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.


BIBLETEXT:
If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.


BIBLETEXT:
The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.


BIBLETEXT:
Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?"


BIBLETEXT:
The crowd answered, "You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?"


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus answered them, "I did one work, and you all marvel at it.


BIBLETEXT:
Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath.


BIBLETEXT:
If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man's whole body well?


BIBLETEXT:
Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment."


BIBLETEXT:
Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, "Is not this the man whom they seek to kill?


BIBLETEXT:
And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ?


BIBLETEXT:
But we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from."


BIBLETEXT:
So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, "You know me, and you know where I come from? But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know.


BIBLETEXT:
I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me."


BIBLETEXT:
So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come.


BIBLETEXT:
Yet many of the people believed in him. They said, "When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?"


BIBLETEXT:
The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent officers to arrest him.


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus then said, "I will be with you a little longer, and then I am going to him who sent me.


BIBLETEXT:
You will seek me and you will not find me. Where I am you cannot come."


BIBLETEXT:
The Jews said to one another, "Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks?


BIBLETEXT:
What does he mean by saying, 'You will seek me and you will not find me,' and, 'Where I am you cannot come'?"


BIBLETEXT:
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.


BIBLETEXT:
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"


BIBLETEXT:
Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.


BIBLETEXT:
When they heard these words, some of the people said, "This really is the Prophet."


BIBLETEXT:
Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "Is the Christ to come from Galilee?


BIBLETEXT:
Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?"


BIBLETEXT:
So there was a division among the people over him.


BIBLETEXT:
Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.


BIBLETEXT:
The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, "Why did you not bring him?"


BIBLETEXT:
The officers answered, "No one ever spoke like this man!"


BIBLETEXT:
The Pharisees answered them, "Have you also been deceived?


BIBLETEXT:
Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?


BIBLETEXT:
But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed."


BIBLETEXT:
Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them,


BIBLETEXT:
"Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?"


BIBLETEXT:
They replied, "Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee."


BIBLETEXT:
Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them.


BIBLETEXT:
The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst


BIBLETEXT:
they said to him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.


BIBLETEXT:
Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?"


BIBLETEXT:
This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.


BIBLETEXT:
And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her."


BIBLETEXT:
And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground.


BIBLETEXT:
But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"


BIBLETEXT:
She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."]]


BIBLETEXT:
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."


BIBLETEXT:
So the Pharisees said to him, "You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true."


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus answered, "Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.


BIBLETEXT:
You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.


BIBLETEXT:
Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me.


BIBLETEXT:
In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true.


BIBLETEXT:
I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me."


BIBLETEXT:
They said to him therefore, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also."


BIBLETEXT:
These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.


BIBLETEXT:
So he said to them again, "I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come."


BIBLETEXT:
So the Jews said, "Will he kill himself, since he says, 'Where I am going, you cannot come'?"


BIBLETEXT:
He said to them, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.


BIBLETEXT:
I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins."


BIBLETEXT:
So they said to him, "Who are you?" Jesus said to them, "Just what I have been telling you from the beginning.


BIBLETEXT:
I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him."


BIBLETEXT:
They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father.


BIBLETEXT:
So Jesus said to them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.


BIBLETEXT:
And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him."


BIBLETEXT:
As he was saying these things, many believed in him.


BIBLETEXT:
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,


BIBLETEXT:
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."


BIBLETEXT:
They answered him, "We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, 'You will become free'?"


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.


BIBLETEXT:
The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.


BIBLETEXT:
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.


BIBLETEXT:
I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you.


BIBLETEXT:
I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father."


BIBLETEXT:
They answered him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did,


BIBLETEXT:
but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did.


BIBLETEXT:
You are doing the works your father did." They said to him, "We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father--even God."


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.


BIBLETEXT:
Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.


BIBLETEXT:
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.


BIBLETEXT:
But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.


BIBLETEXT:
Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?


BIBLETEXT:
Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God."


BIBLETEXT:
The Jews answered him, "Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?"


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me.


BIBLETEXT:
Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge.


BIBLETEXT:
Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death."


BIBLETEXT:
The Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, 'If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.'


BIBLETEXT:
Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?"


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, 'He is our God.'


BIBLETEXT:
But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word.


BIBLETEXT:
Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad."


BIBLETEXT:
So the Jews said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?"


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am."


BIBLETEXT:
So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.


BIBLETEXT:
As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.


BIBLETEXT:
And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.


BIBLETEXT:
We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.


BIBLETEXT:
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."


BIBLETEXT:
Having said these things, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud


BIBLETEXT:
and said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.


BIBLETEXT:
The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, "Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?"


BIBLETEXT:
Some said, "It is he." Others said, "No, but he is like him." He kept saying, "I am the man."


BIBLETEXT:
So they said to him, "Then how were your eyes opened?"


BIBLETEXT:
He answered, "The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash.' So I went and washed and received my sight."


BIBLETEXT:
They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know."


BIBLETEXT:
They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind.


BIBLETEXT:
Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes.


BIBLETEXT:
So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, "He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see."


BIBLETEXT:
Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" And there was a division among them.


BIBLETEXT:
So they said again to the blind man, "What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet."


BIBLETEXT:
The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight


BIBLETEXT:
and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?"


BIBLETEXT:
His parents answered, "We know that this is our son and that he was born blind.


BIBLETEXT:
But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself."


BIBLETEXT:
(His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.)


BIBLETEXT:
Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."


BIBLETEXT:
So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, "Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner."


BIBLETEXT:
He answered, "Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see."


BIBLETEXT:
They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?"


BIBLETEXT:
He answered them, "I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?"


BIBLETEXT:
And they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.


BIBLETEXT:
We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from."


BIBLETEXT:
The man answered, "Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes.


BIBLETEXT:
We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.


BIBLETEXT:
Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind.


BIBLETEXT:
If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."


BIBLETEXT:
They answered him, "You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?" And they cast him out.


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"


BIBLETEXT:
He answered, "And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?"


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you."


BIBLETEXT:
He said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshiped him.


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind."


BIBLETEXT:
Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, "Are we also blind?"


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, 'We see,' your guilt remains.


BIBLETEXT:
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.


BIBLETEXT:
But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.


BIBLETEXT:
To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.


BIBLETEXT:
When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.


BIBLETEXT:
A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."


BIBLETEXT:
This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.


BIBLETEXT:
So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.


BIBLETEXT:
All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.


BIBLETEXT:
I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.


BIBLETEXT:
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.


BIBLETEXT:
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.


BIBLETEXT:
He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.


BIBLETEXT:
He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.


BIBLETEXT:
I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,


BIBLETEXT:
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.


BIBLETEXT:
And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.


BIBLETEXT:
For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.


BIBLETEXT:
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father."


BIBLETEXT:
There was again a division among the Jews because of these words.


BIBLETEXT:
Many of them said, "He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?"


BIBLETEXT:
Others said, "These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"


BIBLETEXT:
At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter,


BIBLETEXT:
and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon.


BIBLETEXT:
So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me,


BIBLETEXT:
but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock.


BIBLETEXT:
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.


BIBLETEXT:
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.


BIBLETEXT:
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.


BIBLETEXT:
The Jews picked up stones again to stone him.


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?"


BIBLETEXT:
The Jews answered him, "It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God."


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I said, you are gods'?


BIBLETEXT:
If he called them gods to whom the word of God came--and Scripture cannot be broken--


BIBLETEXT:
do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?


BIBLETEXT:
If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me;


BIBLETEXT:
but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father."


BIBLETEXT:
Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.


BIBLETEXT:
He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained.


BIBLETEXT:
And many came to him. And they said, "John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true."


BIBLETEXT:
Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.


BIBLETEXT:
It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill.


BIBLETEXT:
So the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill."


BIBLETEXT:
But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."


BIBLETEXT:
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.


BIBLETEXT:
So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.


BIBLETEXT:
Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again."


BIBLETEXT:
The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?"


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.


BIBLETEXT:
But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him."


BIBLETEXT:
After saying these things, he said to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him."


BIBLETEXT:
The disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover."


BIBLETEXT:
Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep.


BIBLETEXT:
Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus has died,


BIBLETEXT:
and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him."


BIBLETEXT:
So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."


BIBLETEXT:
Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days.


BIBLETEXT:
Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off,


BIBLETEXT:
and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother.


BIBLETEXT:
So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house.


BIBLETEXT:
Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.


BIBLETEXT:
But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you."


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."


BIBLETEXT:
Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day."


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,


BIBLETEXT:
and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"


BIBLETEXT:
She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world."


BIBLETEXT:
When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you."


BIBLETEXT:
And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him.


BIBLETEXT:
Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him.


BIBLETEXT:
When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there.


BIBLETEXT:
Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."


BIBLETEXT:
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.


BIBLETEXT:
And he said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see."


BIBLETEXT:
So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"


BIBLETEXT:
But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?"


BIBLETEXT:
Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days."


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?"


BIBLETEXT:
So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me.


BIBLETEXT:
I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me."


BIBLETEXT:
When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out."


BIBLETEXT:
The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."


BIBLETEXT:
Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him,


BIBLETEXT:
but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.


BIBLETEXT:
So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the Council and said, "What are we to do? For this man performs many signs.


BIBLETEXT:
If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation."


BIBLETEXT:
But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all.


BIBLETEXT:
Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish."


BIBLETEXT:
He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,


BIBLETEXT:
and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.


BIBLETEXT:
So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples.


BIBLETEXT:
Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves.


BIBLETEXT:
They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, "What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?"


BIBLETEXT:
Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.


BIBLETEXT:
Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.


BIBLETEXT:
So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table.


BIBLETEXT:
Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.


BIBLETEXT:
But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said,


BIBLETEXT:
"Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?"


BIBLETEXT:
He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said, "Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial.


BIBLETEXT:
For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me."


BIBLETEXT:
When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.


BIBLETEXT:
So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well,


BIBLETEXT:
because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.


BIBLETEXT:
The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.


BIBLETEXT:
So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!"


BIBLETEXT:
And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,


BIBLETEXT:
"Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!"


BIBLETEXT:
His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.


BIBLETEXT:
The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness.


BIBLETEXT:
The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign.


BIBLETEXT:
So the Pharisees said to one another, "You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him."


BIBLETEXT:
Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks.


BIBLETEXT:
So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus."


BIBLETEXT:
Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.


BIBLETEXT:
And Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.


BIBLETEXT:
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.


BIBLETEXT:
Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.


BIBLETEXT:
If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.


BIBLETEXT:
"Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.


BIBLETEXT:
Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven: "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again."


BIBLETEXT:
The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him."


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not mine.


BIBLETEXT:
Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.


BIBLETEXT:
And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."


BIBLETEXT:
He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.


BIBLETEXT:
So the crowd answered him, "We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?"


BIBLETEXT:
So Jesus said to them, "The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.


BIBLETEXT:
While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.


BIBLETEXT:
Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him,


BIBLETEXT:
so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: "Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"


BIBLETEXT:
Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,


BIBLETEXT:
"He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them."


BIBLETEXT:
Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him.


BIBLETEXT:
Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue;


BIBLETEXT:
for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.


BIBLETEXT:
And Jesus cried out and said, "Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me.


BIBLETEXT:
And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.


BIBLETEXT:
I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.


BIBLETEXT:
If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.


BIBLETEXT:
The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.


BIBLETEXT:
For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment--what to say and what to speak.


BIBLETEXT:
And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me."


BIBLETEXT:
Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.


BIBLETEXT:
During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him,


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God,


BIBLETEXT:
rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist.


BIBLETEXT:
Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.


BIBLETEXT:
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?"


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand."


BIBLETEXT:
Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me."


BIBLETEXT:
Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!"


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said to him, "The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you."


BIBLETEXT:
For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, "Not all of you are clean."


BIBLETEXT:
When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, "Do you understand what I have done to you?


BIBLETEXT:
You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.


BIBLETEXT:
If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.


BIBLETEXT:
For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.


BIBLETEXT:
Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.


BIBLETEXT:
If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.


BIBLETEXT:
I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, 'He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.'


BIBLETEXT:
I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he.


BIBLETEXT:
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me."


BIBLETEXT:
After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, "Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me."


BIBLETEXT:
The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke.


BIBLETEXT:
One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table close to Jesus,


BIBLETEXT:
so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking.


BIBLETEXT:
So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, "Lord, who is it?"


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus answered, "It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it." So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.


BIBLETEXT:
Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly."


BIBLETEXT:
Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him.


BIBLETEXT:
Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, "Buy what we need for the feast," or that he should give something to the poor.


BIBLETEXT:
So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.


BIBLETEXT:
When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.


BIBLETEXT:
If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once.


BIBLETEXT:
Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, 'Where I am going you cannot come.'


BIBLETEXT:
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.


BIBLETEXT:
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."


BIBLETEXT:
Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered him, "Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward."


BIBLETEXT:
Peter said to him, "Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you."


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.


BIBLETEXT:
"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.


BIBLETEXT:
In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?


BIBLETEXT:
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.


BIBLETEXT:
And you know the way to where I am going."


BIBLETEXT:
Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?"


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.


BIBLETEXT:
If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."


BIBLETEXT:
Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us."


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?


BIBLETEXT:
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.


BIBLETEXT:
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.


BIBLETEXT:
"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.


BIBLETEXT:
Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.


BIBLETEXT:
If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.


BIBLETEXT:
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments.


BIBLETEXT:
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,


BIBLETEXT:
even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.


BIBLETEXT:
"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.


BIBLETEXT:
Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.


BIBLETEXT:
In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.


BIBLETEXT:
Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him."


BIBLETEXT:
Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?"


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.


BIBLETEXT:
Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.


BIBLETEXT:
"These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you.


BIBLETEXT:
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.


BIBLETEXT:
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.


BIBLETEXT:
You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.


BIBLETEXT:
And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe.


BIBLETEXT:
I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me,


BIBLETEXT:
but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.


BIBLETEXT:
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.


BIBLETEXT:
Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.


BIBLETEXT:
Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.


BIBLETEXT:
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.


BIBLETEXT:
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.


BIBLETEXT:
If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.


BIBLETEXT:
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.


BIBLETEXT:
By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.


BIBLETEXT:
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.


BIBLETEXT:
If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.


BIBLETEXT:
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.


BIBLETEXT:
"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.


BIBLETEXT:
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.


BIBLETEXT:
You are my friends if you do what I command you.


BIBLETEXT:
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.


BIBLETEXT:
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.


BIBLETEXT:
These things I command you, so that you will love one another.


BIBLETEXT:
"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.


BIBLETEXT:
If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.


BIBLETEXT:
Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.


BIBLETEXT:
But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.


BIBLETEXT:
If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.


BIBLETEXT:
If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.


BIBLETEXT:
But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: 'They hated me without a cause.'


BIBLETEXT:
"But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.


BIBLETEXT:
And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.


BIBLETEXT:
"I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away.


BIBLETEXT:
They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.


BIBLETEXT:
And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.


BIBLETEXT:
But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. "I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.


BIBLETEXT:
But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?'


BIBLETEXT:
But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.


BIBLETEXT:
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.


BIBLETEXT:
And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:


BIBLETEXT:
concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;


BIBLETEXT:
concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer;


BIBLETEXT:
concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.


BIBLETEXT:
"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.


BIBLETEXT:
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.


BIBLETEXT:
He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.


BIBLETEXT:
All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.


BIBLETEXT:
"A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me."


BIBLETEXT:
So some of his disciples said to one another, "What is this that he says to us, 'A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me'; and, 'because I am going to the Father'?"


BIBLETEXT:
So they were saying, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We do not know what he is talking about."


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, "Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, 'A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me'?


BIBLETEXT:
Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.


BIBLETEXT:
When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.


BIBLETEXT:
So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.


BIBLETEXT:
In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.


BIBLETEXT:
Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.


BIBLETEXT:
"I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father.


BIBLETEXT:
In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf;


BIBLETEXT:
for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.


BIBLETEXT:
I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father."


BIBLETEXT:
His disciples said, "Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech!


BIBLETEXT:
Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God."


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe?


BIBLETEXT:
Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.


BIBLETEXT:
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."


BIBLETEXT:
When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,


BIBLETEXT:
since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.


BIBLETEXT:
And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.


BIBLETEXT:
I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.


BIBLETEXT:
And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.


BIBLETEXT:
"I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.


BIBLETEXT:
Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you.


BIBLETEXT:
For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.


BIBLETEXT:
I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.


BIBLETEXT:
All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.


BIBLETEXT:
And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.


BIBLETEXT:
While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.


BIBLETEXT:
But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.


BIBLETEXT:
I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.


BIBLETEXT:
I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.


BIBLETEXT:
They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.


BIBLETEXT:
Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.


BIBLETEXT:
As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.


BIBLETEXT:
And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.


BIBLETEXT:
"I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,


BIBLETEXT:
that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.


BIBLETEXT:
The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,


BIBLETEXT:
I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.


BIBLETEXT:
Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.


BIBLETEXT:
O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me.


BIBLETEXT:
I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."


BIBLETEXT:
When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered.


BIBLETEXT:
Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples.


BIBLETEXT:
So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons.


BIBLETEXT:
Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, "Whom do you seek?"


BIBLETEXT:
They answered him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am he." Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.


BIBLETEXT:
When Jesus said to them, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground.


BIBLETEXT:
So he asked them again, "Whom do you seek?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go."


BIBLETEXT:
This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: "Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one."


BIBLETEXT:
Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.)


BIBLETEXT:
So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?"


BIBLETEXT:
So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him.


BIBLETEXT:
First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.


BIBLETEXT:
It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.


BIBLETEXT:
Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest,


BIBLETEXT:
but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in.


BIBLETEXT:
The servant girl at the door said to Peter, "You also are not one of this man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not."


BIBLETEXT:
Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.


BIBLETEXT:
The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret.


BIBLETEXT:
Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said."


BIBLETEXT:
When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, "Is that how you answer the high priest?"


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus answered him, "If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?"


BIBLETEXT:
Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.


BIBLETEXT:
Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, "You also are not one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not."


BIBLETEXT:
One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?"


BIBLETEXT:
Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.


BIBLETEXT:
Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover.


BIBLETEXT:
So Pilate went outside to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this man?"


BIBLETEXT:
They answered him, "If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you."


BIBLETEXT:
Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law." The Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death."


BIBLETEXT:
This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.


BIBLETEXT:
So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?"


BIBLETEXT:
Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?"


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world."


BIBLETEXT:
Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world--to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice."


BIBLETEXT:
Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, "I find no guilt in him.


BIBLETEXT:
But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?"


BIBLETEXT:
They cried out again, "Not this man, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber.


BIBLETEXT:
And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe.


BIBLETEXT:
They came up to him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and struck him with their hands.


BIBLETEXT:
Pilate went out again and said to them, "See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him."


BIBLETEXT:
So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Behold the man!"


BIBLETEXT:
When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him."


BIBLETEXT:
The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God."


BIBLETEXT:
When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid.


BIBLETEXT:
He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus gave him no answer.


BIBLETEXT:
So Pilate said to him, "You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?"


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus answered him, "You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin."


BIBLETEXT:
From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, "If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar."


BIBLETEXT:
So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha.


BIBLETEXT:
Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, "Behold your King!"


BIBLETEXT:
They cried out, "Away with him, away with him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar."


BIBLETEXT:
So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus,


BIBLETEXT:
and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha.


BIBLETEXT:
There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them.


BIBLETEXT:
Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews."


BIBLETEXT:
Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek.


BIBLETEXT:
So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but rather, 'This man said, I am King of the Jews.'"


BIBLETEXT:
Pilate answered, "What I have written I have written."


BIBLETEXT:
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom,


BIBLETEXT:
so they said to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be." This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, "They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots." So the soldiers did these things,


BIBLETEXT:
but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.


BIBLETEXT:
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!"


BIBLETEXT:
Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.


BIBLETEXT:
After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), "I thirst."


BIBLETEXT:
A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.


BIBLETEXT:
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.


BIBLETEXT:
Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away.


BIBLETEXT:
So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him.


BIBLETEXT:
But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.


BIBLETEXT:
But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.


BIBLETEXT:
He who saw it has borne witness--his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth--that you also may believe.


BIBLETEXT:
For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken."


BIBLETEXT:
And again another Scripture says, "They will look on him whom they have pierced."


BIBLETEXT:
After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body.


BIBLETEXT:
Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight.


BIBLETEXT:
So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.


BIBLETEXT:
Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.


BIBLETEXT:
So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.


BIBLETEXT:
Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.


BIBLETEXT:
So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him."


BIBLETEXT:
So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb.


BIBLETEXT:
Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.


BIBLETEXT:
And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.


BIBLETEXT:
Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there,


BIBLETEXT:
and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.


BIBLETEXT:
Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;


BIBLETEXT:
for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.


BIBLETEXT:
Then the disciples went back to their homes.


BIBLETEXT:
But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.


BIBLETEXT:
And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.


BIBLETEXT:
They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him."


BIBLETEXT:
Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away."


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"


BIBLETEXT:
Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"--and that he had said these things to her.


BIBLETEXT:
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."


BIBLETEXT:
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you."


BIBLETEXT:
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.


BIBLETEXT:
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld."


BIBLETEXT:
Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.


BIBLETEXT:
So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe."


BIBLETEXT:
Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."


BIBLETEXT:
Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe."


BIBLETEXT:
Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."


BIBLETEXT:
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;


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


BIBLETEXT:
After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way.


BIBLETEXT:
Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.


BIBLETEXT:
Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.


BIBLETEXT:
Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said to them, "Children, do you have any fish?" They answered him, "No."


BIBLETEXT:
He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.


BIBLETEXT:
That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.


BIBLETEXT:
The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.


BIBLETEXT:
When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread.


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught."


BIBLETEXT:
So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord.


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish.


BIBLETEXT:
This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.


BIBLETEXT:
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."


BIBLETEXT:
He said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep."


BIBLETEXT:
He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.


BIBLETEXT:
Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go."


BIBLETEXT:
(This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, "Follow me."


BIBLETEXT:
Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who had been reclining at table close to him and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?"


BIBLETEXT:
When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?"


BIBLETEXT:
Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!"


BIBLETEXT:
So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?"


BIBLETEXT:
This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.


BIBLETEXT:
Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.


BIBLETEXT:
In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach,


BIBLETEXT:
until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.


BIBLETEXT:
He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.


BIBLETEXT:
And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me;


BIBLETEXT:
for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."


BIBLETEXT:
So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"


BIBLETEXT:
He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.


BIBLETEXT:
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."


BIBLETEXT:
And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.


BIBLETEXT:
And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,


BIBLETEXT:
and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."


BIBLETEXT:
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away.


BIBLETEXT:
And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James.


BIBLETEXT:
All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.


BIBLETEXT:
In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said,


BIBLETEXT:
"Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.


BIBLETEXT:
For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry."


BIBLETEXT:
(Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.


BIBLETEXT:
And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)


BIBLETEXT:
"For it is written in the Book of Psalms, "'May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it'; and "'Let another take his office.'


BIBLETEXT:
So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,


BIBLETEXT:
beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us--one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection."


BIBLETEXT:
And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.


BIBLETEXT:
And they prayed and said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen


BIBLETEXT:
to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place."


BIBLETEXT:
And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.


BIBLETEXT:
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.


BIBLETEXT:
And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.


BIBLETEXT:
And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.


BIBLETEXT:
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.


BIBLETEXT:
Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.


BIBLETEXT:
And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.


BIBLETEXT:
And they were amazed and astonished, saying, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?


BIBLETEXT:
And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?


BIBLETEXT:
Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,


BIBLETEXT:
Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome,


BIBLETEXT:
both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians--we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God."


BIBLETEXT:
And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?"


BIBLETEXT:
But others mocking said, "They are filled with new wine."


BIBLETEXT:
But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.


BIBLETEXT:
For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.


BIBLETEXT:
But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:


BIBLETEXT:
"'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;


BIBLETEXT:
even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.


BIBLETEXT:
And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;


BIBLETEXT:
the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.


BIBLETEXT:
And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'


BIBLETEXT:
"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know--


BIBLETEXT:
this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.


BIBLETEXT:
God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.


BIBLETEXT:
For David says concerning him, "'I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;


BIBLETEXT:
therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope.


BIBLETEXT:
For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption.


BIBLETEXT:
You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.'


BIBLETEXT:
"Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.


BIBLETEXT:
Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne,


BIBLETEXT:
he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.


BIBLETEXT:
This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.


BIBLETEXT:
Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.


BIBLETEXT:
For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, "'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand,


BIBLETEXT:
Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."


BIBLETEXT:
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"


BIBLETEXT:
And Peter said to them, "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.


BIBLETEXT:
For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself."


BIBLETEXT:
And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation."


BIBLETEXT:
So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.


BIBLETEXT:
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.


BIBLETEXT:
And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.


BIBLETEXT:
And all who believed were together and had all things in common.


BIBLETEXT:
And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.


BIBLETEXT:
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,


BIBLETEXT:
praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.


BIBLETEXT:
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.


BIBLETEXT:
And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.


BIBLETEXT:
Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.


BIBLETEXT:
And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us."


BIBLETEXT:
And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.


BIBLETEXT:
But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!"


BIBLETEXT:
And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.


BIBLETEXT:
And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.


BIBLETEXT:
And all the people saw him walking and praising God,


BIBLETEXT:
and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.


BIBLETEXT:
While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's.


BIBLETEXT:
And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?


BIBLETEXT:
The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.


BIBLETEXT:
But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,


BIBLETEXT:
and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.


BIBLETEXT:
And his name--by faith in his name--has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.


BIBLETEXT:
"And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.


BIBLETEXT:
But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.


BIBLETEXT:
Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out,


BIBLETEXT:
that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,


BIBLETEXT:
whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.


BIBLETEXT:
Moses said, 'The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.


BIBLETEXT:
And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.'


BIBLETEXT:
And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days.


BIBLETEXT:
You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.'


BIBLETEXT:
God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness."


BIBLETEXT:
And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,


BIBLETEXT:
greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.


BIBLETEXT:
And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.


BIBLETEXT:
But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.


BIBLETEXT:
On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem,


BIBLETEXT:
with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.


BIBLETEXT:
And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?"


BIBLETEXT:
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders,


BIBLETEXT:
if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed,


BIBLETEXT:
let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead--by him this man is standing before you well.


BIBLETEXT:
This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.


BIBLETEXT:
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."


BIBLETEXT:
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.


BIBLETEXT:
But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.


BIBLETEXT:
But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another,


BIBLETEXT:
saying, "What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.


BIBLETEXT:
But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name."


BIBLETEXT:
So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.


BIBLETEXT:
But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge,


BIBLETEXT:
for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."


BIBLETEXT:
And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened.


BIBLETEXT:
For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.


BIBLETEXT:
When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.


BIBLETEXT:
And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,


BIBLETEXT:
who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, "'Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain?


BIBLETEXT:
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed'--


BIBLETEXT:
for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,


BIBLETEXT:
to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.


BIBLETEXT:
And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,


BIBLETEXT:
while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus."


BIBLETEXT:
And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.


BIBLETEXT:
Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.


BIBLETEXT:
And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.


BIBLETEXT:
There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold


BIBLETEXT:
and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.


BIBLETEXT:
Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,


BIBLETEXT:
sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.


BIBLETEXT:
But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,


BIBLETEXT:
and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet.


BIBLETEXT:
But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?


BIBLETEXT:
While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."


BIBLETEXT:
When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.


BIBLETEXT:
The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.


BIBLETEXT:
After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.


BIBLETEXT:
And Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much." And she said, "Yes, for so much."


BIBLETEXT:
But Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out."


BIBLETEXT:
Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.


BIBLETEXT:
And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.


BIBLETEXT:
Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico.


BIBLETEXT:
None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem.


BIBLETEXT:
And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,


BIBLETEXT:
so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.


BIBLETEXT:
The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.


BIBLETEXT:
But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy


BIBLETEXT:
they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison.


BIBLETEXT:
But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said,


BIBLETEXT:
"Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life."


BIBLETEXT:
And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council and all the senate of the people of Israel and sent to the prison to have them brought.


BIBLETEXT:
But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported,


BIBLETEXT:
"We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside."


BIBLETEXT:
Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to.


BIBLETEXT:
And someone came and told them, "Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people."


BIBLETEXT:
Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.


BIBLETEXT:
And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them,


BIBLETEXT:
saying, "We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us."


BIBLETEXT:
But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men.


BIBLETEXT:
The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree.


BIBLETEXT:
God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.


BIBLETEXT:
And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."


BIBLETEXT:
When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.


BIBLETEXT:
But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while.


BIBLETEXT:
And he said to them, "Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men.


BIBLETEXT:
For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.


BIBLETEXT:
After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered.


BIBLETEXT:
So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail;


BIBLETEXT:
but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!" So they took his advice,


BIBLETEXT:
and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.


BIBLETEXT:
Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.


BIBLETEXT:
And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.


BIBLETEXT:
Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.


BIBLETEXT:
And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.


BIBLETEXT:
Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.


BIBLETEXT:
But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."


BIBLETEXT:
And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.


BIBLETEXT:
These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.


BIBLETEXT:
And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.


BIBLETEXT:
And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.


BIBLETEXT:
Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen.


BIBLETEXT:
But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.


BIBLETEXT:
Then they secretly instigated men who said, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God."


BIBLETEXT:
And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council,


BIBLETEXT:
and they set up false witnesses who said, "This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law,


BIBLETEXT:
for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us."


BIBLETEXT:
And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.


BIBLETEXT:
And the high priest said, "Are these things so?"


BIBLETEXT:
And Stephen said: "Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,


BIBLETEXT:
and said to him, 'Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.'


BIBLETEXT:
Then he went out from the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran. And after his father died, God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living.


BIBLETEXT:
Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot's length, but promised to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him, though he had no child.


BIBLETEXT:
And God spoke to this effect--that his offspring would be sojourners in a land belonging to others, who would enslave them and afflict them four hundred years.


BIBLETEXT:
'But I will judge the nation that they serve,' said God, 'and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.'


BIBLETEXT:
And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.


BIBLETEXT:
"And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him


BIBLETEXT:
and rescued him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household.


BIBLETEXT:
Now there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food.


BIBLETEXT:
But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers on their first visit.


BIBLETEXT:
And on the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph's family became known to Pharaoh.


BIBLETEXT:
And Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-five persons in all.


BIBLETEXT:
And Jacob went down into Egypt, and he died, he and our fathers,


BIBLETEXT:
and they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.


BIBLETEXT:
"But as the time of the promise drew near, which God had granted to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt


BIBLETEXT:
until there arose over Egypt another king who did not know Joseph.


BIBLETEXT:
He dealt shrewdly with our race and forced our fathers to expose their infants, so that they would not be kept alive.


BIBLETEXT:
At this time Moses was born; and he was beautiful in God's sight. And he was brought up for three months in his father's house,


BIBLETEXT:
and when he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son.


BIBLETEXT:
And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.


BIBLETEXT:
"When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel.


BIBLETEXT:
And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian.


BIBLETEXT:
He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand.


BIBLETEXT:
And on the following day he appeared to them as they were quarreling and tried to reconcile them, saying, 'Men, you are brothers. Why do you wrong each other?'


BIBLETEXT:
But the man who was wronging his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?


BIBLETEXT:
Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?'


BIBLETEXT:
At this retort Moses fled and became an exile in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.


BIBLETEXT:
"Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush.


BIBLETEXT:
When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and as he drew near to look, there came the voice of the Lord:


BIBLETEXT:
'I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.' And Moses trembled and did not dare to look.


BIBLETEXT:
Then the Lord said to him, 'Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.


BIBLETEXT:
I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.'


BIBLETEXT:
"This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge?'--this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.


BIBLETEXT:
This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years.


BIBLETEXT:
This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, 'God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.'


BIBLETEXT:
This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received living oracles to give to us.


BIBLETEXT:
Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt,


BIBLETEXT:
saying to Aaron, 'Make for us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.'


BIBLETEXT:
And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and were rejoicing in the works of their hands.


BIBLETEXT:
But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: "'Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices, during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?


BIBLETEXT:
You took up the tent of Moloch and the star of your god Rephan, the images that you made to worship; and I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.'


BIBLETEXT:
"Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, just as he who spoke to Moses directed him to make it, according to the pattern that he had seen.


BIBLETEXT:
Our fathers in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our fathers. So it was until the days of David,


BIBLETEXT:
who found favor in the sight of God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.


BIBLETEXT:
But it was Solomon who built a house for him.


BIBLETEXT:
Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says,


BIBLETEXT:
"'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest?


BIBLETEXT:
"You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.


BIBLETEXT:
Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered,


BIBLETEXT:
you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it."


BIBLETEXT:
Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him.


BIBLETEXT:
But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.


BIBLETEXT:
And he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."


BIBLETEXT:
But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him.


BIBLETEXT:
Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.


BIBLETEXT:
And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."


BIBLETEXT:
And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.


BIBLETEXT:
And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.


BIBLETEXT:
Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him.


BIBLETEXT:
But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.


BIBLETEXT:
Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.


BIBLETEXT:
Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.


BIBLETEXT:
And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip when they heard him and saw the signs that he did.


BIBLETEXT:
For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.


BIBLETEXT:
But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great.


BIBLETEXT:
They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the power of God that is called Great."


BIBLETEXT:
And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.


BIBLETEXT:
But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.


BIBLETEXT:
Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.


BIBLETEXT:
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John,


BIBLETEXT:
who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,


BIBLETEXT:
for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.


BIBLETEXT:
Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.


BIBLETEXT:
Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,


BIBLETEXT:
saying, "Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."


BIBLETEXT:
But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!


BIBLETEXT:
You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.


BIBLETEXT:
Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.


BIBLETEXT:
For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity."


BIBLETEXT:
And Simon answered, "Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me."


BIBLETEXT:
Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.


BIBLETEXT:
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is a desert place.


BIBLETEXT:
And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship


BIBLETEXT:
and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.


BIBLETEXT:
And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and join this chariot."


BIBLETEXT:
So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?"


BIBLETEXT:
And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.


BIBLETEXT:
Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: "Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth.


BIBLETEXT:
In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth."


BIBLETEXT:
And the eunuch said to Philip, "About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?"


BIBLETEXT:
Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.


BIBLETEXT:
And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?"


BIBLETEXT:
[And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he replied, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."]


BIBLETEXT:
And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.


BIBLETEXT:
And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.


BIBLETEXT:
But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.


BIBLETEXT:
But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest


BIBLETEXT:
and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.


BIBLETEXT:
Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.


BIBLETEXT:
And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"


BIBLETEXT:
And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.


BIBLETEXT:
But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do."


BIBLETEXT:
The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.


BIBLETEXT:
Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.


BIBLETEXT:
And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.


BIBLETEXT:
Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord."


BIBLETEXT:
And the Lord said to him, "Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying,


BIBLETEXT:
and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight."


BIBLETEXT:
But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem.


BIBLETEXT:
And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name."


BIBLETEXT:
But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.


BIBLETEXT:
For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name."


BIBLETEXT:
So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."


BIBLETEXT:
And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;


BIBLETEXT:
and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.


BIBLETEXT:
And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God."


BIBLETEXT:
And all who heard him were amazed and said, "Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?"


BIBLETEXT:
But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.


BIBLETEXT:
When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him,


BIBLETEXT:
but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him,


BIBLETEXT:
but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.


BIBLETEXT:
And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple.


BIBLETEXT:
But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.


BIBLETEXT:
So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.


BIBLETEXT:
And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him.


BIBLETEXT:
And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.


BIBLETEXT:
So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.


BIBLETEXT:
Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.


BIBLETEXT:
There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed.


BIBLETEXT:
And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed." And immediately he rose.


BIBLETEXT:
And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.


BIBLETEXT:
Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity.


BIBLETEXT:
In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.


BIBLETEXT:
Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, "Please come to us without delay."


BIBLETEXT:
So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.


BIBLETEXT:
But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, arise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.


BIBLETEXT:
And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.


BIBLETEXT:
And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.


BIBLETEXT:
And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.


BIBLETEXT:
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort,


BIBLETEXT:
a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.


BIBLETEXT:
About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, "Cornelius."


BIBLETEXT:
And he stared at him in terror and said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.


BIBLETEXT:
And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter.


BIBLETEXT:
He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea."


BIBLETEXT:
When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him,


BIBLETEXT:
and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.


BIBLETEXT:
The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray.


BIBLETEXT:
And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance


BIBLETEXT:
and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth.


BIBLETEXT:
In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air.


BIBLETEXT:
And there came a voice to him: "Rise, Peter; kill and eat."


BIBLETEXT:
But Peter said, "By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean."


BIBLETEXT:
And the voice came to him again a second time, "What God has made clean, do not call common."


BIBLETEXT:
This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.


BIBLETEXT:
Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood at the gate


BIBLETEXT:
and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there.


BIBLETEXT:
And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are looking for you.


BIBLETEXT:
Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them."


BIBLETEXT:
And Peter went down to the men and said, "I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?"


BIBLETEXT:
And they said, "Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say."


BIBLETEXT:
So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.


BIBLETEXT:
And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.


BIBLETEXT:
When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.


BIBLETEXT:
But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I too am a man."


BIBLETEXT:
And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered.


BIBLETEXT:
And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.


BIBLETEXT:
So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me."


BIBLETEXT:
And Cornelius said, "Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing


BIBLETEXT:
and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.


BIBLETEXT:
Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.'


BIBLETEXT:
So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord."


BIBLETEXT:
So Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,


BIBLETEXT:
but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.


BIBLETEXT:
As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),


BIBLETEXT:
you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed:


BIBLETEXT:
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.


BIBLETEXT:
And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree,


BIBLETEXT:
but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear,


BIBLETEXT:
not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.


BIBLETEXT:
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.


BIBLETEXT:
To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."


BIBLETEXT:
While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.


BIBLETEXT:
And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.


BIBLETEXT:
For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared,


BIBLETEXT:
"Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"


BIBLETEXT:
And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.


BIBLETEXT:
Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.


BIBLETEXT:
So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying,


BIBLETEXT:
"You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them."


BIBLETEXT:
But Peter began and explained it to them in order:


BIBLETEXT:
"I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me.


BIBLETEXT:
Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air.


BIBLETEXT:
And I heard a voice saying to me, 'Rise, Peter; kill and eat.'


BIBLETEXT:
But I said, 'By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.'


BIBLETEXT:
But the voice answered a second time from heaven, 'What God has made clean, do not call common.'


BIBLETEXT:
This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven.


BIBLETEXT:
And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea.


BIBLETEXT:
And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house.


BIBLETEXT:
And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, 'Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter;


BIBLETEXT:
he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.'


BIBLETEXT:
As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning.


BIBLETEXT:
And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'


BIBLETEXT:
If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?"


BIBLETEXT:
When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, "Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life."


BIBLETEXT:
Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews.


BIBLETEXT:
But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus.


BIBLETEXT:
And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.


BIBLETEXT:
The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.


BIBLETEXT:
When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose,


BIBLETEXT:
for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.


BIBLETEXT:
So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,


BIBLETEXT:
and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.


BIBLETEXT:
Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.


BIBLETEXT:
And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius).


BIBLETEXT:
So the disciples determined, everyone according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.


BIBLETEXT:
And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.


BIBLETEXT:
About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church.


BIBLETEXT:
He killed James the brother of John with the sword,


BIBLETEXT:
and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread.


BIBLETEXT:
And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.


BIBLETEXT:
So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.


BIBLETEXT:
Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison.


BIBLETEXT:
And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his hands.


BIBLETEXT:
And the angel said to him, "Dress yourself and put on your sandals." And he did so. And he said to him, "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me."


BIBLETEXT:
And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.


BIBLETEXT:
When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him.


BIBLETEXT:
When Peter came to himself, he said, "Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting."


BIBLETEXT:
When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.


BIBLETEXT:
And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.


BIBLETEXT:
Recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate.


BIBLETEXT:
They said to her, "You are out of your mind." But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, "It is his angel!"


BIBLETEXT:
But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed.


BIBLETEXT:
But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, "Tell these things to James and to the brothers." Then he departed and went to another place.


BIBLETEXT:
Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter.


BIBLETEXT:
And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.


BIBLETEXT:
Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king's country for food.


BIBLETEXT:
On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them.


BIBLETEXT:
And the people were shouting, "The voice of a god, and not of a man!"


BIBLETEXT:
Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.


BIBLETEXT:
But the word of God increased and multiplied.


BIBLETEXT:
And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark.


BIBLETEXT:
Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.


BIBLETEXT:
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."


BIBLETEXT:
Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.


BIBLETEXT:
So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.


BIBLETEXT:
When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them.


BIBLETEXT:
When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus.


BIBLETEXT:
He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.


BIBLETEXT:
But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.


BIBLETEXT:
But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him


BIBLETEXT:
and said, "You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?


BIBLETEXT:
And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time." Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand.


BIBLETEXT:
Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.


BIBLETEXT:
Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem,


BIBLETEXT:
but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.


BIBLETEXT:
After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, "Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it."


BIBLETEXT:
So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: "Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen.


BIBLETEXT:
The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it.


BIBLETEXT:
And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness.


BIBLETEXT:
And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance.


BIBLETEXT:
All this took about 450 years. And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.


BIBLETEXT:
Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.


BIBLETEXT:
And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, 'I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.'


BIBLETEXT:
Of this man's offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised.


BIBLETEXT:
Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.


BIBLETEXT:
And as John was finishing his course, he said, 'What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.'


BIBLETEXT:
"Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation.


BIBLETEXT:
For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.


BIBLETEXT:
And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed.


BIBLETEXT:
And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.


BIBLETEXT:
and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people.


BIBLETEXT:
And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers,


BIBLETEXT:
this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, "'You are my Son, today I have begotten you.'


BIBLETEXT:
And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way, "'I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.'


BIBLETEXT:
Therefore he says also in another psalm, "'You will not let your Holy One see corruption.'


BIBLETEXT:
For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption,


BIBLETEXT:
but he whom God raised up did not see corruption.


BIBLETEXT:
Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,


BIBLETEXT:
and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.


BIBLETEXT:
Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about:


BIBLETEXT:
"'Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.'"


BIBLETEXT:
As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath.


BIBLETEXT:
And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.


BIBLETEXT:
The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.


BIBLETEXT:
But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him.


BIBLETEXT:
And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, "It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.


BIBLETEXT:
For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, "'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'"


BIBLETEXT:
And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.


BIBLETEXT:
And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.


BIBLETEXT:
But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.


BIBLETEXT:
But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium.


BIBLETEXT:
And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.


BIBLETEXT:
Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.


BIBLETEXT:
But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.


BIBLETEXT:
So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.


BIBLETEXT:
But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles.


BIBLETEXT:
When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them,


BIBLETEXT:
they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country,


BIBLETEXT:
and there they continued to preach the gospel.


BIBLETEXT:
Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked.


BIBLETEXT:
He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well,


BIBLETEXT:
said in a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet." And he sprang up and began walking.


BIBLETEXT:
And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!"


BIBLETEXT:
Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.


BIBLETEXT:
And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.


BIBLETEXT:
But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out,


BIBLETEXT:
"Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.


BIBLETEXT:
In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways.


BIBLETEXT:
Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness."


BIBLETEXT:
Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.


BIBLETEXT:
But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.


BIBLETEXT:
But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.


BIBLETEXT:
When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,


BIBLETEXT:
strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.


BIBLETEXT:
And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.


BIBLETEXT:
Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia.


BIBLETEXT:
And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia,


BIBLETEXT:
and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled.


BIBLETEXT:
And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.


BIBLETEXT:
And they remained no little time with the disciples.


BIBLETEXT:
But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved."


BIBLETEXT:
And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.


BIBLETEXT:
So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.


BIBLETEXT:
When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them.


BIBLETEXT:
But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses."


BIBLETEXT:
The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.


BIBLETEXT:
And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.


BIBLETEXT:
And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us,


BIBLETEXT:
and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.


BIBLETEXT:
Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?


BIBLETEXT:
But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will."


BIBLETEXT:
And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.


BIBLETEXT:
After they finished speaking, James replied, "Brothers, listen to me.


BIBLETEXT:
Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name.


BIBLETEXT:
And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,


BIBLETEXT:
"'After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it,


BIBLETEXT:
that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things


BIBLETEXT:
Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God,


BIBLETEXT:
but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.


BIBLETEXT:
For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues."


BIBLETEXT:
Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers,


BIBLETEXT:
with the following letter: "The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings.


BIBLETEXT:
Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions,


BIBLETEXT:
it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,


BIBLETEXT:
men who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.


BIBLETEXT:
We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth.


BIBLETEXT:
For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements:


BIBLETEXT:
that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell."


BIBLETEXT:
So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter.


BIBLETEXT:
And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.


BIBLETEXT:
And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.


BIBLETEXT:
And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them.


BIBLETEXT:
[But it seemed good to Silas to remain there.]


BIBLETEXT:
But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.


BIBLETEXT:
And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are."


BIBLETEXT:
Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.


BIBLETEXT:
But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.


BIBLETEXT:
And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,


BIBLETEXT:
but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.


BIBLETEXT:
And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.


BIBLETEXT:
Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek.


BIBLETEXT:
He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium.


BIBLETEXT:
Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.


BIBLETEXT:
As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem.


BIBLETEXT:
So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.


BIBLETEXT:
And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.


BIBLETEXT:
And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.


BIBLETEXT:
So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas.


BIBLETEXT:
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."


BIBLETEXT:
And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.


BIBLETEXT:
So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis,


BIBLETEXT:
and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days.


BIBLETEXT:
And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together.


BIBLETEXT:
One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.


BIBLETEXT:
And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us.


BIBLETEXT:
As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling.


BIBLETEXT:
She followed Paul and us, crying out, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation."


BIBLETEXT:
And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour.


BIBLETEXT:
But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.


BIBLETEXT:
And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, "These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city.


BIBLETEXT:
They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice."


BIBLETEXT:
The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods.


BIBLETEXT:
And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely.


BIBLETEXT:
Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.


BIBLETEXT:
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,


BIBLETEXT:
and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened.


BIBLETEXT:
When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.


BIBLETEXT:
But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here."


BIBLETEXT:
And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas.


BIBLETEXT:
Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"


BIBLETEXT:
And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."


BIBLETEXT:
And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.


BIBLETEXT:
And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.


BIBLETEXT:
Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.


BIBLETEXT:
But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, "Let those men go."


BIBLETEXT:
And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, "The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace."


BIBLETEXT:
But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out."


BIBLETEXT:
The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens.


BIBLETEXT:
So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city.


BIBLETEXT:
So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.


BIBLETEXT:
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.


BIBLETEXT:
And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,


BIBLETEXT:
explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ."


BIBLETEXT:
And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.


BIBLETEXT:
But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd.


BIBLETEXT:
And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,


BIBLETEXT:
and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus."


BIBLETEXT:
And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things.


BIBLETEXT:
And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.


BIBLETEXT:
The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue.


BIBLETEXT:
Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.


BIBLETEXT:
Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.


BIBLETEXT:
But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds.


BIBLETEXT:
Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there.


BIBLETEXT:
Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.


BIBLETEXT:
Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.


BIBLETEXT:
So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.


BIBLETEXT:
Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, "What does this babbler wish to say?" Others said, "He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities"--because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.


BIBLETEXT:
And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?


BIBLETEXT:
For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean."


BIBLETEXT:
Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.


BIBLETEXT:
So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious.


BIBLETEXT:
For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, 'To the unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.


BIBLETEXT:
The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,


BIBLETEXT:
nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.


BIBLETEXT:
And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,


BIBLETEXT:
that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,


BIBLETEXT:
for "'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, "'For we are indeed his offspring.'


BIBLETEXT:
Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.


BIBLETEXT:
The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,


BIBLETEXT:
because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead."


BIBLETEXT:
Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, "We will hear you again about this."


BIBLETEXT:
But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.


BIBLETEXT:
After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.


BIBLETEXT:
And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them,


BIBLETEXT:
and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.


BIBLETEXT:
And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.


BIBLETEXT:
When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.


BIBLETEXT:
And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."


BIBLETEXT:
And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue.


BIBLETEXT:
Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized.


BIBLETEXT:
And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent,


BIBLETEXT:
for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people."


BIBLETEXT:
And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.


BIBLETEXT:
But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal,


BIBLETEXT:
saying, "This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law."


BIBLETEXT:
But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, "If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint.


BIBLETEXT:
But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things."


BIBLETEXT:
And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this.


BIBLETEXT:
After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow.


BIBLETEXT:
And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there, but he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.


BIBLETEXT:
When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined.


BIBLETEXT:
But on taking leave of them he said, "I will return to you if God wills," and he set sail from Ephesus.


BIBLETEXT:
When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch.


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


BIBLETEXT:
Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures.


BIBLETEXT:
He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.


BIBLETEXT:
He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him and explained to him the way of God more accurately.


BIBLETEXT:
And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed,


BIBLETEXT:
for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.


BIBLETEXT:
And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples.


BIBLETEXT:
And he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."


BIBLETEXT:
And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They said, "Into John's baptism."


BIBLETEXT:
And Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus."


BIBLETEXT:
On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.


BIBLETEXT:
And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.


BIBLETEXT:
And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.


BIBLETEXT:
But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus.


BIBLETEXT:
This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.


BIBLETEXT:
And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul,


BIBLETEXT:
so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.


BIBLETEXT:
Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims."


BIBLETEXT:
Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this.


BIBLETEXT:
But the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?"


BIBLETEXT:
And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.


BIBLETEXT:
And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled.


BIBLETEXT:
Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices.


BIBLETEXT:
And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.


BIBLETEXT:
So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.


BIBLETEXT:
Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome."


BIBLETEXT:
And having sent into Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.


BIBLETEXT:
About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way.


BIBLETEXT:
For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen.


BIBLETEXT:
These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, "Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth.


BIBLETEXT:
And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods.


BIBLETEXT:
And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship."


BIBLETEXT:
When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"


BIBLETEXT:
So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's companions in travel.


BIBLETEXT:
But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him.


BIBLETEXT:
And even some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater.


BIBLETEXT:
Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together.


BIBLETEXT:
Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd.


BIBLETEXT:
But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"


BIBLETEXT:
And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, "Men of Ephesus, who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky?


BIBLETEXT:
Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash.


BIBLETEXT:
For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess.


BIBLETEXT:
If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another.


BIBLETEXT:
But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the regular assembly.


BIBLETEXT:
For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion."


BIBLETEXT:
And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.


BIBLETEXT:
After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia.


BIBLETEXT:
When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece.


BIBLETEXT:
There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.


BIBLETEXT:
Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus.


BIBLETEXT:
These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas,


BIBLETEXT:
but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.


BIBLETEXT:
On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.


BIBLETEXT:
There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered.


BIBLETEXT:
And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead.


BIBLETEXT:
But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, "Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him."


BIBLETEXT:
And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed.


BIBLETEXT:
And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.


BIBLETEXT:
But going ahead to the ship, we set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there, for so he had arranged, intending himself to go by land.


BIBLETEXT:
And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene.


BIBLETEXT:
And sailing from there we came the following day opposite Chios; the next day we touched at Samos; and the day after that we went to Miletus.


BIBLETEXT:
For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.


BIBLETEXT:
Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.


BIBLETEXT:
And when they came to him, he said to them: "You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia,


BIBLETEXT:
serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews;


BIBLETEXT:
how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house,


BIBLETEXT:
testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.


BIBLETEXT:
And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there,


BIBLETEXT:
except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.


BIBLETEXT:
But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.


BIBLETEXT:
And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.


BIBLETEXT:
Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you,


BIBLETEXT:
for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.


BIBLETEXT:
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.


BIBLETEXT:
I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;


BIBLETEXT:
and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.


BIBLETEXT:
Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears.


BIBLETEXT:
And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.


BIBLETEXT:
I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.


BIBLETEXT:
You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me.


BIBLETEXT:
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"


BIBLETEXT:
And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.


BIBLETEXT:
And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him,


BIBLETEXT:
being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.


BIBLETEXT:
And when we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.


BIBLETEXT:
And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail.


BIBLETEXT:
When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload its cargo.


BIBLETEXT:
And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.


BIBLETEXT:
When our days there were ended, we departed and went on our journey, and they all, with wives and children, accompanied us until we were outside the city. And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed


BIBLETEXT:
and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home.


BIBLETEXT:
When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for one day.


BIBLETEXT:
On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.


BIBLETEXT:
He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied.


BIBLETEXT:
While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.


BIBLETEXT:
And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'"


BIBLETEXT:
When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem.


BIBLETEXT:
Then Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."


BIBLETEXT:
And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, "Let the will of the Lord be done."


BIBLETEXT:
After these days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem.


BIBLETEXT:
And some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, bringing us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge.


BIBLETEXT:
When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly.


BIBLETEXT:
On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.


BIBLETEXT:
After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.


BIBLETEXT:
And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law,


BIBLETEXT:
and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs.


BIBLETEXT:
What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come.


BIBLETEXT:
Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow;


BIBLETEXT:
take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law.


BIBLETEXT:
But as for the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality."


BIBLETEXT:
Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself along with them and went into the temple, giving notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and the offering presented for each one of them.


BIBLETEXT:
When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him,


BIBLETEXT:
crying out, "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place."


BIBLETEXT:
For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.


BIBLETEXT:
Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut.


BIBLETEXT:
And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.


BIBLETEXT:
He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.


BIBLETEXT:
Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done.


BIBLETEXT:
Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another. And as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks.


BIBLETEXT:
And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd,


BIBLETEXT:
for the mob of the people followed, crying out, "Away with him!"


BIBLETEXT:
As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, "May I say something to you?" And he said, "Do you know Greek?


BIBLETEXT:
Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?"


BIBLETEXT:
Paul replied, "I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people."


BIBLETEXT:
And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying:


BIBLETEXT:
"Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you."


BIBLETEXT:
And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said:


BIBLETEXT:
"I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day.


BIBLETEXT:
I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women,


BIBLETEXT:
as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.


BIBLETEXT:
"As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me.


BIBLETEXT:
And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'


BIBLETEXT:
And I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' And he said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.'


BIBLETEXT:
Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me.


BIBLETEXT:
And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.'


BIBLETEXT:
And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.


BIBLETEXT:
"And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,


BIBLETEXT:
came to me, and standing by me said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight.' And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him.


BIBLETEXT:
And he said, 'The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth;


BIBLETEXT:
for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard.


BIBLETEXT:
And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.'


BIBLETEXT:
"When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance


BIBLETEXT:
and saw him saying to me, 'Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.'


BIBLETEXT:
And I said, 'Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you.


BIBLETEXT:
And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.'


BIBLETEXT:
And he said to me, 'Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'"


BIBLETEXT:
Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, "Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live."


BIBLETEXT:
And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air,


BIBLETEXT:
the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this.


BIBLETEXT:
But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, "Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?"


BIBLETEXT:
When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, "What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen."


BIBLETEXT:
So the tribune came and said to him, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" And he said, "Yes."


BIBLETEXT:
The tribune answered, "I bought this citizenship for a large sum." Paul said, "But I am a citizen by birth."


BIBLETEXT:
So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.


BIBLETEXT:
But on the next day, desiring to know the real reason why he was being accused by the Jews, he unbound him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them.


BIBLETEXT:
And looking intently at the council, Paul said, "Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day."


BIBLETEXT:
And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.


BIBLETEXT:
Then Paul said to him, "God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?"


BIBLETEXT:
Those who stood by said, "Would you revile God's high priest?"


BIBLETEXT:
And Paul said, "I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, 'You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.'"


BIBLETEXT:
Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial."


BIBLETEXT:
And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.


BIBLETEXT:
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.


BIBLETEXT:
Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and contended sharply, "We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?"


BIBLETEXT:
And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks.


BIBLETEXT:
The following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome."


BIBLETEXT:
When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.


BIBLETEXT:
There were more than forty who made this conspiracy.


BIBLETEXT:
They went to the chief priests and elders and said, "We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul.


BIBLETEXT:
Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near."


BIBLETEXT:
Now the son of Paul's sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul.


BIBLETEXT:
Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him."


BIBLETEXT:
So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said, "Paul the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you."


BIBLETEXT:
The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, "What is it that you have to tell me?"


BIBLETEXT:
And he said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him.


BIBLETEXT:
But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him, who have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for your consent."


BIBLETEXT:
So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, "Tell no one that you have informed me of these things."


BIBLETEXT:
Then he called two of the centurions and said, "Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night.


BIBLETEXT:
Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor."


BIBLETEXT:
"Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings.


BIBLETEXT:
This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen.


BIBLETEXT:
And desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council.


BIBLETEXT:
I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment.


BIBLETEXT:
And when it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him."


BIBLETEXT:
So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.


BIBLETEXT:
And on the next day they returned to the barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him.


BIBLETEXT:
When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him.


BIBLETEXT:
On reading the letter, he asked what province he was from. And when he learned that he was from Cilicia,


BIBLETEXT:
he said, "I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive." And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod's praetorium.


BIBLETEXT:
And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul.


BIBLETEXT:
And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: "Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation,


BIBLETEXT:
in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude.


BIBLETEXT:
But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly.


BIBLETEXT:
For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.


BIBLETEXT:
He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him [and we would have judged him according to our law.]


BIBLETEXT:
[But the chief captain Lysias came and with great violence took him out of our hands,]


BIBLETEXT:
[commanding his accusers to come before you.] By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him."


BIBLETEXT:
The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.


BIBLETEXT:
And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied: "Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense.


BIBLETEXT:
You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem,


BIBLETEXT:
and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city.


BIBLETEXT:
Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me.


BIBLETEXT:
But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets,


BIBLETEXT:
having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.


BIBLETEXT:
So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.


BIBLETEXT:
Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings.


BIBLETEXT:
While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia--


BIBLETEXT:
they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me.


BIBLETEXT:
Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council,


BIBLETEXT:
other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: 'It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.'"


BIBLETEXT:
But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, "When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case."


BIBLETEXT:
Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.


BIBLETEXT:
After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.


BIBLETEXT:
And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, "Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you."


BIBLETEXT:
At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him.


BIBLETEXT:
When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.


BIBLETEXT:
Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.


BIBLETEXT:
And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him,


BIBLETEXT:
asking as a favor against Paul that he summon him to Jerusalem--because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way.


BIBLETEXT:
Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly.


BIBLETEXT:
"So," said he, "let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him."


BIBLETEXT:
After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought.


BIBLETEXT:
When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove.


BIBLETEXT:
Paul argued in his defense, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense."


BIBLETEXT:
But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, "Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?"


BIBLETEXT:
But Paul said, "I am standing before Caesar's tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well.


BIBLETEXT:
If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar."


BIBLETEXT:
Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, "To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go."


BIBLETEXT:
Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus.


BIBLETEXT:
And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, "There is a man left prisoner by Felix,


BIBLETEXT:
and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid out their case against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him.


BIBLETEXT:
I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him.


BIBLETEXT:
So when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought.


BIBLETEXT:
When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed.


BIBLETEXT:
Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.


BIBLETEXT:
Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them.


BIBLETEXT:
But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar."


BIBLETEXT:
Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," said he, "you will hear him."


BIBLETEXT:
So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.


BIBLETEXT:
And Festus said, "King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer.


BIBLETEXT:
But I found that he had done nothing deserving death. And as he himself appealed to the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him.


BIBLETEXT:
But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write.


BIBLETEXT:
For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him."


BIBLETEXT:
So Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:


BIBLETEXT:
"I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews,


BIBLETEXT:
especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.


BIBLETEXT:
"My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews.


BIBLETEXT:
They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee.


BIBLETEXT:
And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers,


BIBLETEXT:
to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king!


BIBLETEXT:
Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?


BIBLETEXT:
"I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth.


BIBLETEXT:
And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them.


BIBLETEXT:
And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.


BIBLETEXT:
"In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.


BIBLETEXT:
At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me.


BIBLETEXT:
And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'


BIBLETEXT:
And I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.


BIBLETEXT:
But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you,


BIBLETEXT:
delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles--to whom I am sending you


BIBLETEXT:
to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'


BIBLETEXT:
"Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,


BIBLETEXT:
but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.


BIBLETEXT:
For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.


BIBLETEXT:
To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass:


BIBLETEXT:
that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles."


BIBLETEXT:
And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind."


BIBLETEXT:
But Paul said, "I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words.


BIBLETEXT:
For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner.


BIBLETEXT:
King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe."


BIBLETEXT:
And Agrippa said to Paul, "In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?"


BIBLETEXT:
And Paul said, "Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am--except for these chains."


BIBLETEXT:
Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them.


BIBLETEXT:
And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, "This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment."


BIBLETEXT:
And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar."


BIBLETEXT:
And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius.


BIBLETEXT:
And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica.


BIBLETEXT:
The next day we put in at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for.


BIBLETEXT:
And putting out to sea from there we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us.


BIBLETEXT:
And when we had sailed across the open sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia.


BIBLETEXT:
There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy and put us on board.


BIBLETEXT:
We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind did not allow us to go farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone.


BIBLETEXT:
Coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.


BIBLETEXT:
Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast was already over, Paul advised them,


BIBLETEXT:
saying, "Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives."


BIBLETEXT:
But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said.


BIBLETEXT:
And because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.


BIBLETEXT:
Now when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to the shore.


BIBLETEXT:
But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land.


BIBLETEXT:
And when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along.


BIBLETEXT:
Running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we managed with difficulty to secure the ship's boat.


BIBLETEXT:
After hoisting it up, they used supports to undergird the ship. Then, fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and thus they were driven along.


BIBLETEXT:
Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to jettison the cargo.


BIBLETEXT:
And on the third day they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands.


BIBLETEXT:
When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.


BIBLETEXT:
Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss.


BIBLETEXT:
Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.


BIBLETEXT:
For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship,


BIBLETEXT:
and he said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.'


BIBLETEXT:
So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.


BIBLETEXT:
But we must run aground on some island."


BIBLETEXT:
When the fourteenth night had come, as we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land.


BIBLETEXT:
So they took a sounding and found twenty fathoms. A little farther on they took a sounding again and found fifteen fathoms.


BIBLETEXT:
And fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come.


BIBLETEXT:
And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, and had lowered the ship's boat into the sea under pretense of laying out anchors from the bow,


BIBLETEXT:
Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved."


BIBLETEXT:
Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship's boat and let it go.


BIBLETEXT:
As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, "Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing.


BIBLETEXT:
Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you."


BIBLETEXT:
And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat.


BIBLETEXT:
Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves.


BIBLETEXT:
(We were in all 276 persons in the ship.)


BIBLETEXT:
And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.


BIBLETEXT:
Now when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned if possible to run the ship ashore.


BIBLETEXT:
So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach.


BIBLETEXT:
But striking a reef, they ran the vessel aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the surf.


BIBLETEXT:
The soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape.


BIBLETEXT:
But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land,


BIBLETEXT:
and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.


BIBLETEXT:
After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta.


BIBLETEXT:
The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold.


BIBLETEXT:
When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.


BIBLETEXT:
When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live."


BIBLETEXT:
He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.


BIBLETEXT:
They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.


BIBLETEXT:
Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days.


BIBLETEXT:
It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him healed him.


BIBLETEXT:
And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured.


BIBLETEXT:
They also honored us greatly, and when we were about to sail, they put on board whatever we needed.


BIBLETEXT:
After three months we set sail in a ship that had wintered in the island, a ship of Alexandria, with the twin gods as a figurehead.


BIBLETEXT:
Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days.


BIBLETEXT:
And from there we made a circuit and arrived at Rhegium. And after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli.


BIBLETEXT:
There we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome.


BIBLETEXT:
And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage.


BIBLETEXT:
And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier that guarded him.


BIBLETEXT:
After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them, "Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.


BIBLETEXT:
When they had examined me, they wished to set me at liberty, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case.


BIBLETEXT:
But because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar--though I had no charge to bring against my nation.


BIBLETEXT:
For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain."


BIBLETEXT:
And they said to him, "We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you.


BIBLETEXT:
But we desire to hear from you what your views are, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against."


BIBLETEXT:
When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.


BIBLETEXT:
And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved.


BIBLETEXT:
And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: "The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:


BIBLETEXT:
"'Go to this people, and say, You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.


BIBLETEXT:
For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.'


BIBLETEXT:
Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen."


BIBLETEXT:
[And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, having much dispute among themselves.]


BIBLETEXT:
He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him,


BIBLETEXT:
proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.


BIBLETEXT:
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,


BIBLETEXT:
which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,


BIBLETEXT:
concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh


BIBLETEXT:
and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,


BIBLETEXT:
through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,


BIBLETEXT:
including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,


BIBLETEXT:
To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.


BIBLETEXT:
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.


BIBLETEXT:
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you


BIBLETEXT:
always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.


BIBLETEXT:
For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you--


BIBLETEXT:
that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine.


BIBLETEXT:
I want you to know, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.


BIBLETEXT:
I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.


BIBLETEXT:
So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.


BIBLETEXT:
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.


BIBLETEXT:
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."


BIBLETEXT:
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.


BIBLETEXT:
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.


BIBLETEXT:
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.


BIBLETEXT:
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.


BIBLETEXT:
and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.


BIBLETEXT:
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,


BIBLETEXT:
because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.


BIBLETEXT:
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;


BIBLETEXT:
and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.


BIBLETEXT:
And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.


BIBLETEXT:
They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,


BIBLETEXT:
slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,


BIBLETEXT:
Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.


BIBLETEXT:
Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.


BIBLETEXT:
We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.


BIBLETEXT:
Do you suppose, O man--you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself--that you will escape the judgment of God?


BIBLETEXT:
Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?


BIBLETEXT:
But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.


BIBLETEXT:
He will render to each one according to his works:


BIBLETEXT:
to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;


BIBLETEXT:
but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.


BIBLETEXT:
There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek,


BIBLETEXT:
but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek.


BIBLETEXT:
For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.


BIBLETEXT:
For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.


BIBLETEXT:
For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.


BIBLETEXT:
They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them


BIBLETEXT:
on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.


BIBLETEXT:
But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God


BIBLETEXT:
and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law;


BIBLETEXT:
and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,


BIBLETEXT:
an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth--


BIBLETEXT:
you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?


BIBLETEXT:
You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?


BIBLETEXT:
You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law.


BIBLETEXT:
For, as it is written, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."


BIBLETEXT:
For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.


BIBLETEXT:
So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?


BIBLETEXT:
Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law.


BIBLETEXT:
For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical.


BIBLETEXT:
But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.


BIBLETEXT:
Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?


BIBLETEXT:
Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.


BIBLETEXT:
What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?


BIBLETEXT:
By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, "That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged."


BIBLETEXT:
But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.)


BIBLETEXT:
By no means! For then how could God judge the world?


BIBLETEXT:
But if through my lie God's truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner?


BIBLETEXT:
And why not do evil that good may come?--as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.


BIBLETEXT:
What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,


BIBLETEXT:
as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;


BIBLETEXT:
no one understands; no one seeks for God.


BIBLETEXT:
All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."


BIBLETEXT:
"Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips."


BIBLETEXT:
"Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness."


BIBLETEXT:
and the way of peace they have not known."


BIBLETEXT:
"There is no fear of God before their eyes."


BIBLETEXT:
Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.


BIBLETEXT:
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.


BIBLETEXT:
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it--


BIBLETEXT:
the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:


BIBLETEXT:
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,


BIBLETEXT:
and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,


BIBLETEXT:
whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.


BIBLETEXT:
It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.


BIBLETEXT:
Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.


BIBLETEXT:
For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.


BIBLETEXT:
Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,


BIBLETEXT:
since God is one--who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.


BIBLETEXT:
Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.


BIBLETEXT:
What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh?


BIBLETEXT:
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.


BIBLETEXT:
For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness."


BIBLETEXT:
Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due.


BIBLETEXT:
And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,


BIBLETEXT:
just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:


BIBLETEXT:
"Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;


BIBLETEXT:
blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin."


BIBLETEXT:
Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness.


BIBLETEXT:
How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised.


BIBLETEXT:
He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well,


BIBLETEXT:
and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.


BIBLETEXT:
For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.


BIBLETEXT:
For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.


BIBLETEXT:
For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.


BIBLETEXT:
That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring--not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,


BIBLETEXT:
as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"--in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.


BIBLETEXT:
In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be."


BIBLETEXT:
He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb.


BIBLETEXT:
No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,


BIBLETEXT:
fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.


BIBLETEXT:
That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness."


BIBLETEXT:
But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone,


BIBLETEXT:
but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord,


BIBLETEXT:
who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.


BIBLETEXT:
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.


BIBLETEXT:
Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.


BIBLETEXT:
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,


BIBLETEXT:
and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,


BIBLETEXT:
and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.


BIBLETEXT:
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.


BIBLETEXT:
For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die--


BIBLETEXT:
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.


BIBLETEXT:
Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.


BIBLETEXT:
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.


BIBLETEXT:
More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.


BIBLETEXT:
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned--


BIBLETEXT:
for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law.


BIBLETEXT:
Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.


BIBLETEXT:
But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.


BIBLETEXT:
And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification.


BIBLETEXT:
For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.


BIBLETEXT:
Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.


BIBLETEXT:
For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.


BIBLETEXT:
Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,


BIBLETEXT:
so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.


BIBLETEXT:
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?


BIBLETEXT:
By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?


BIBLETEXT:
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?


BIBLETEXT:
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.


BIBLETEXT:
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.


BIBLETEXT:
We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.


BIBLETEXT:
For one who has died has been set free from sin.


BIBLETEXT:
Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.


BIBLETEXT:
We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.


BIBLETEXT:
For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.


BIBLETEXT:
So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.


BIBLETEXT:
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.


BIBLETEXT:
Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.


BIBLETEXT:
For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.


BIBLETEXT:
What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!


BIBLETEXT:
Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?


BIBLETEXT:
But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed,


BIBLETEXT:
and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.


BIBLETEXT:
I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.


BIBLETEXT:
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.


BIBLETEXT:
But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.


BIBLETEXT:
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.


BIBLETEXT:
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.


BIBLETEXT:
Or do you not know, brothers--for I am speaking to those who know the law--that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives?


BIBLETEXT:
For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage.


BIBLETEXT:
Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress.


BIBLETEXT:
Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.


BIBLETEXT:
For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.


BIBLETEXT:
But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.


BIBLETEXT:
What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, "You shall not covet."


BIBLETEXT:
But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.


BIBLETEXT:
I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died.


BIBLETEXT:
The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me.


BIBLETEXT:
For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.


BIBLETEXT:
So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.


BIBLETEXT:
Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.


BIBLETEXT:
For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.


BIBLETEXT:
For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.


BIBLETEXT:
Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good.


BIBLETEXT:
So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.


BIBLETEXT:
For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.


BIBLETEXT:
For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.


BIBLETEXT:
Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.


BIBLETEXT:
So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.


BIBLETEXT:
For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being,


BIBLETEXT:
but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.


BIBLETEXT:
Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?


BIBLETEXT:
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.


BIBLETEXT:
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.


BIBLETEXT:
For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.


BIBLETEXT:
For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,


BIBLETEXT:
in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.


BIBLETEXT:
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.


BIBLETEXT:
For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.


BIBLETEXT:
For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.


BIBLETEXT:
Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.


BIBLETEXT:
You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.


BIBLETEXT:
But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.


BIBLETEXT:
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.


BIBLETEXT:
So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.


BIBLETEXT:
For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.


BIBLETEXT:
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.


BIBLETEXT:
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"


BIBLETEXT:
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,


BIBLETEXT:
and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.


BIBLETEXT:
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.


BIBLETEXT:
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.


BIBLETEXT:
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope


BIBLETEXT:
that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.


BIBLETEXT:
For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.


BIBLETEXT:
And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.


BIBLETEXT:
For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?


BIBLETEXT:
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.


BIBLETEXT:
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.


BIBLETEXT:
And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.


BIBLETEXT:
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.


BIBLETEXT:
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.


BIBLETEXT:
And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.


BIBLETEXT:
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?


BIBLETEXT:
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?


BIBLETEXT:
Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.


BIBLETEXT:
Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.


BIBLETEXT:
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?


BIBLETEXT:
As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."


BIBLETEXT:
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.


BIBLETEXT:
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,


BIBLETEXT:
nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.


BIBLETEXT:
I am speaking the truth in Christ--I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit--


BIBLETEXT:
that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.


BIBLETEXT:
For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.


BIBLETEXT:
They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises.


BIBLETEXT:
To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.


BIBLETEXT:
But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel,


BIBLETEXT:
and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named."


BIBLETEXT:
This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.


BIBLETEXT:
For this is what the promise said: "About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son."


BIBLETEXT:
And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac,


BIBLETEXT:
though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad--in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls--


BIBLETEXT:
she was told, "The older will serve the younger."


BIBLETEXT:
As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."


BIBLETEXT:
What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means!


BIBLETEXT:
For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."


BIBLETEXT:
So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.


BIBLETEXT:
For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."


BIBLETEXT:
So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.


BIBLETEXT:
You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?"


BIBLETEXT:
But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?"


BIBLETEXT:
Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?


BIBLETEXT:
What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,


BIBLETEXT:
in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory--


BIBLETEXT:
even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?


BIBLETEXT:
As indeed he says in Hosea, "Those who were not my people I will call 'my people,' and her who was not beloved I will call 'beloved.'"


BIBLETEXT:
"And in the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' there they will be called 'sons of the living God.'"


BIBLETEXT:
And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: "Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved,


BIBLETEXT:
for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay."


BIBLETEXT:
And as Isaiah predicted, "If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring, we would have been like Sodom and become like Gomorrah."


BIBLETEXT:
What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith;


BIBLETEXT:
but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law.


BIBLETEXT:
Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone,


BIBLETEXT:
as it is written, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."


BIBLETEXT:
Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.


BIBLETEXT:
For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.


BIBLETEXT:
For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.


BIBLETEXT:
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.


BIBLETEXT:
For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them.


BIBLETEXT:
But the righteousness based on faith says, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down)


BIBLETEXT:
or "'Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).


BIBLETEXT:
But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);


BIBLETEXT:
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.


BIBLETEXT:
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.


BIBLETEXT:
For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."


BIBLETEXT:
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.


BIBLETEXT:
For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."


BIBLETEXT:
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?


BIBLETEXT:
And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"


BIBLETEXT:
But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?"


BIBLETEXT:
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.


BIBLETEXT:
But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for "Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world."


BIBLETEXT:
But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, "I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry."


BIBLETEXT:
Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, "I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me."


BIBLETEXT:
But of Israel he says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people."


BIBLETEXT:
I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.


BIBLETEXT:
God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel?


BIBLETEXT:
"Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life."


BIBLETEXT:
But what is God's reply to him? "I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal."


BIBLETEXT:
So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.


BIBLETEXT:
But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.


BIBLETEXT:
What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened,


BIBLETEXT:
as it is written, "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day."


BIBLETEXT:
And David says, "Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them;


BIBLETEXT:
let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs forever."


BIBLETEXT:
So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.


BIBLETEXT:
Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!


BIBLETEXT:
Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry


BIBLETEXT:
in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them.


BIBLETEXT:
For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?


BIBLETEXT:
If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.


BIBLETEXT:
But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree,


BIBLETEXT:
do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.


BIBLETEXT:
Then you will say, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in."


BIBLETEXT:
That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.


BIBLETEXT:
For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.


BIBLETEXT:
Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.


BIBLETEXT:
And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again.


BIBLETEXT:
For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.


BIBLETEXT:
Lest you be wise in your own sight, I want you to understand this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.


BIBLETEXT:
And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, "The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob";


BIBLETEXT:
"and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins."


BIBLETEXT:
As regards the gospel, they are enemies of God for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.


BIBLETEXT:
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.


BIBLETEXT:
For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience,


BIBLETEXT:
so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy.


BIBLETEXT:
For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.


BIBLETEXT:
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!


BIBLETEXT:
"For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?"


BIBLETEXT:
"Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?"


BIBLETEXT:
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.


BIBLETEXT:
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.


BIBLETEXT:
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.


BIBLETEXT:
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.


BIBLETEXT:
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,


BIBLETEXT:
so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.


BIBLETEXT:
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;


BIBLETEXT:
if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;


BIBLETEXT:
the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.


BIBLETEXT:
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.


BIBLETEXT:
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.


BIBLETEXT:
Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.


BIBLETEXT:
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.


BIBLETEXT:
Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.


BIBLETEXT:
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.


BIBLETEXT:
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.


BIBLETEXT:
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.


BIBLETEXT:
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.


BIBLETEXT:
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.


BIBLETEXT:
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."


BIBLETEXT:
To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head."


BIBLETEXT:
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.


BIBLETEXT:
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.


BIBLETEXT:
Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.


BIBLETEXT:
For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,


BIBLETEXT:
for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.


BIBLETEXT:
Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience.


BIBLETEXT:
For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.


BIBLETEXT:
Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.


BIBLETEXT:
Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.


BIBLETEXT:
For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."


BIBLETEXT:
Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.


BIBLETEXT:
Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.


BIBLETEXT:
The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.


BIBLETEXT:
Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.


BIBLETEXT:
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.


BIBLETEXT:
As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.


BIBLETEXT:
One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables.


BIBLETEXT:
Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.


BIBLETEXT:
Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.


BIBLETEXT:
One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.


BIBLETEXT:
The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.


BIBLETEXT:
For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.


BIBLETEXT:
For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.


BIBLETEXT:
For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.


BIBLETEXT:
Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;


BIBLETEXT:
for it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God."


BIBLETEXT:
So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.


BIBLETEXT:
Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.


BIBLETEXT:
I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.


BIBLETEXT:
For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died.


BIBLETEXT:
So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil.


BIBLETEXT:
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.


BIBLETEXT:
Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.


BIBLETEXT:
So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.


BIBLETEXT:
Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats.


BIBLETEXT:
It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.


BIBLETEXT:
The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves.


BIBLETEXT:
But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.


BIBLETEXT:
We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.


BIBLETEXT:
Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.


BIBLETEXT:
For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me."


BIBLETEXT:
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.


BIBLETEXT:
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,


BIBLETEXT:
that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.


BIBLETEXT:
Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.


BIBLETEXT:
For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,


BIBLETEXT:
and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name."


BIBLETEXT:
And again it is said, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people."


BIBLETEXT:
And again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him."


BIBLETEXT:
And again Isaiah says, "The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope."


BIBLETEXT:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.


BIBLETEXT:
I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.


BIBLETEXT:
But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God


BIBLETEXT:
to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.


BIBLETEXT:
In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God.


BIBLETEXT:
For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience--by word and deed,


BIBLETEXT:
by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God--so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;


BIBLETEXT:
and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation,


BIBLETEXT:
but as it is written, "Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand."


BIBLETEXT:
This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you.


BIBLETEXT:
But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you,


BIBLETEXT:
I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while.


BIBLETEXT:
At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints.


BIBLETEXT:
For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.


BIBLETEXT:
For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.


BIBLETEXT:
When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you.


BIBLETEXT:
I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.


BIBLETEXT:
I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,


BIBLETEXT:
that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,


BIBLETEXT:
so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.


BIBLETEXT:
May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.


BIBLETEXT:
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae,


BIBLETEXT:
that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.


BIBLETEXT:
Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,


BIBLETEXT:
who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well.


BIBLETEXT:
Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia.


BIBLETEXT:
Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you.


BIBLETEXT:
Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me.


BIBLETEXT:
Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.


BIBLETEXT:
Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys.


BIBLETEXT:
Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus.


BIBLETEXT:
Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus.


BIBLETEXT:
Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord.


BIBLETEXT:
Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well.


BIBLETEXT:
Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them.


BIBLETEXT:
Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.


BIBLETEXT:
Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.


BIBLETEXT:
I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.


BIBLETEXT:
For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.


BIBLETEXT:
For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.


BIBLETEXT:
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.


BIBLETEXT:
Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.


BIBLETEXT:
I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.


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


BIBLETEXT:
[The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.]


BIBLETEXT:
Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages


BIBLETEXT:
but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith--


BIBLETEXT:
to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.


BIBLETEXT:
Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,


BIBLETEXT:
To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:


BIBLETEXT:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.


BIBLETEXT:
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,


BIBLETEXT:
that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge--


BIBLETEXT:
even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you--


BIBLETEXT:
so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ,


BIBLETEXT:
who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.


BIBLETEXT:
God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.


BIBLETEXT:
I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.


BIBLETEXT:
For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers.


BIBLETEXT:
What I mean is that each one of you says, "I follow Paul," or "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Cephas," or "I follow Christ."


BIBLETEXT:
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?


BIBLETEXT:
I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,


BIBLETEXT:
so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name.


BIBLETEXT:
(I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)


BIBLETEXT:
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.


BIBLETEXT:
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.


BIBLETEXT:
For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart."


BIBLETEXT:
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?


BIBLETEXT:
For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.


BIBLETEXT:
For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,


BIBLETEXT:
but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,


BIBLETEXT:
but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.


BIBLETEXT:
For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.


BIBLETEXT:
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.


BIBLETEXT:
But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;


BIBLETEXT:
God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,


BIBLETEXT:
so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.


BIBLETEXT:
And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,


BIBLETEXT:
so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."


BIBLETEXT:
And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom.


BIBLETEXT:
For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.


BIBLETEXT:
And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,


BIBLETEXT:
and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,


BIBLETEXT:
that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.


BIBLETEXT:
Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away.


BIBLETEXT:
But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.


BIBLETEXT:
None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.


BIBLETEXT:
But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"--


BIBLETEXT:
these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.


BIBLETEXT:
For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.


BIBLETEXT:
Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.


BIBLETEXT:
And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.


BIBLETEXT:
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.


BIBLETEXT:
The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.


BIBLETEXT:
"For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.


BIBLETEXT:
But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.


BIBLETEXT:
I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,


BIBLETEXT:
for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?


BIBLETEXT:
For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being merely human?


BIBLETEXT:
What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.


BIBLETEXT:
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.


BIBLETEXT:
So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.


BIBLETEXT:
He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.


BIBLETEXT:
For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.


BIBLETEXT:
According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it.


BIBLETEXT:
For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.


BIBLETEXT:
Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw--


BIBLETEXT:
each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.


BIBLETEXT:
If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.


BIBLETEXT:
If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.


BIBLETEXT:
Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?


BIBLETEXT:
If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.


BIBLETEXT:
Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.


BIBLETEXT:
For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness,"


BIBLETEXT:
and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile."


BIBLETEXT:
So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours,


BIBLETEXT:
whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are yours,


BIBLETEXT:
and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.


BIBLETEXT:
This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.


BIBLETEXT:
Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.


BIBLETEXT:
But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.


BIBLETEXT:
For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.


BIBLETEXT:
Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.


BIBLETEXT:
I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.


BIBLETEXT:
For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?


BIBLETEXT:
Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you!


BIBLETEXT:
For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.


BIBLETEXT:
We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute.


BIBLETEXT:
To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless,


BIBLETEXT:
and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;


BIBLETEXT:
when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.


BIBLETEXT:
I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.


BIBLETEXT:
For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.


BIBLETEXT:
That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.


BIBLETEXT:
Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you.


BIBLETEXT:
But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power.


BIBLETEXT:
For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.


BIBLETEXT:
What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?


BIBLETEXT:
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife.


BIBLETEXT:
And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.


BIBLETEXT:
For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing.


BIBLETEXT:
When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus,


BIBLETEXT:
you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.


BIBLETEXT:
Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?


BIBLETEXT:
Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.


BIBLETEXT:
Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.


BIBLETEXT:
I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people--


BIBLETEXT:
not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.


BIBLETEXT:
But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler--not even to eat with such a one.


BIBLETEXT:
For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?


BIBLETEXT:
God judges those outside. "Purge the evil person from among you."


BIBLETEXT:
When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints?


BIBLETEXT:
Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases?


BIBLETEXT:
Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!


BIBLETEXT:
So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church?


BIBLETEXT:
I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers,


BIBLETEXT:
but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers?


BIBLETEXT:
To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?


BIBLETEXT:
But you yourselves wrong and defraud--even your own brothers!


BIBLETEXT:
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,


BIBLETEXT:
nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.


BIBLETEXT:
And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.


BIBLETEXT:
"All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything.


BIBLETEXT:
"Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food"--and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.


BIBLETEXT:
And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.


BIBLETEXT:
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!


BIBLETEXT:
Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two will become one flesh."


BIBLETEXT:
But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.


BIBLETEXT:
Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.


BIBLETEXT:
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,


BIBLETEXT:
for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.


BIBLETEXT:
Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman."


BIBLETEXT:
But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.


BIBLETEXT:
The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.


BIBLETEXT:
For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.


BIBLETEXT:
Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.


BIBLETEXT:
Now as a concession, not a command, I say this.


BIBLETEXT:
I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.


BIBLETEXT:
To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am.


BIBLETEXT:
But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.


BIBLETEXT:
To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband


BIBLETEXT:
(but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.


BIBLETEXT:
To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.


BIBLETEXT:
If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him.


BIBLETEXT:
For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.


BIBLETEXT:
But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace.


BIBLETEXT:
For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?


BIBLETEXT:
Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.


BIBLETEXT:
Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision.


BIBLETEXT:
For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.


BIBLETEXT:
Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called.


BIBLETEXT:
Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.)


BIBLETEXT:
For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ.


BIBLETEXT:
You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.


BIBLETEXT:
So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.


BIBLETEXT:
Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.


BIBLETEXT:
I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is.


BIBLETEXT:
Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife.


BIBLETEXT:
But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that.


BIBLETEXT:
This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none,


BIBLETEXT:
and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods,


BIBLETEXT:
and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.


BIBLETEXT:
I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord.


BIBLETEXT:
But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife,


BIBLETEXT:
and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband.


BIBLETEXT:
I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.


BIBLETEXT:
If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry--it is no sin.


BIBLETEXT:
But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well.


BIBLETEXT:
So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.


BIBLETEXT:
A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.


BIBLETEXT:
Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.


BIBLETEXT:
Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." This "knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up.


BIBLETEXT:
If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.


BIBLETEXT:
But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.


BIBLETEXT:
Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "an idol has no real existence," and that "there is no God but one."


BIBLETEXT:
For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth--as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"--


BIBLETEXT:
yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.


BIBLETEXT:
However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.


BIBLETEXT:
Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.


BIBLETEXT:
But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.


BIBLETEXT:
For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols?


BIBLETEXT:
And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died.


BIBLETEXT:
Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.


BIBLETEXT:
Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.


BIBLETEXT:
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord?


BIBLETEXT:
If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.


BIBLETEXT:
This is my defense to those who would examine me.


BIBLETEXT:
Do we not have the right to eat and drink?


BIBLETEXT:
Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?


BIBLETEXT:
Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?


BIBLETEXT:
Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?


BIBLETEXT:
Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same?


BIBLETEXT:
For it is written in the Law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain." Is it for oxen that God is concerned?


BIBLETEXT:
Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop.


BIBLETEXT:
If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?


BIBLETEXT:
If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.


BIBLETEXT:
Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings?


BIBLETEXT:
In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.


BIBLETEXT:
But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting.


BIBLETEXT:
For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!


BIBLETEXT:
For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship.


BIBLETEXT:
What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.


BIBLETEXT:
For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.


BIBLETEXT:
To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.


BIBLETEXT:
To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.


BIBLETEXT:
To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.


BIBLETEXT:
I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.


BIBLETEXT:
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.


BIBLETEXT:
Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.


BIBLETEXT:
So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.


BIBLETEXT:
But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.


BIBLETEXT:
For I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,


BIBLETEXT:
and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,


BIBLETEXT:
and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.


BIBLETEXT:
Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.


BIBLETEXT:
Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.


BIBLETEXT:
Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play."


BIBLETEXT:
We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.


BIBLETEXT:
We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents,


BIBLETEXT:
nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.


BIBLETEXT:
Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.


BIBLETEXT:
Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.


BIBLETEXT:
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.


BIBLETEXT:
Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.


BIBLETEXT:
I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.


BIBLETEXT:
The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?


BIBLETEXT:
Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.


BIBLETEXT:
Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?


BIBLETEXT:
What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?


BIBLETEXT:
No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.


BIBLETEXT:
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.


BIBLETEXT:
Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?


BIBLETEXT:
"All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up.


BIBLETEXT:
Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.


BIBLETEXT:
Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience.


BIBLETEXT:
For "the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof."


BIBLETEXT:
If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience.


BIBLETEXT:
But if someone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience--


BIBLETEXT:
I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience?


BIBLETEXT:
If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?


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


BIBLETEXT:
Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God,


BIBLETEXT:
just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.


BIBLETEXT:
Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.


BIBLETEXT:
But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.


BIBLETEXT:
Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head,


BIBLETEXT:
but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.


BIBLETEXT:
For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head.


BIBLETEXT:
For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man.


BIBLETEXT:
For man was not made from woman, but woman from man.


BIBLETEXT:
Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.


BIBLETEXT:
That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.


BIBLETEXT:
Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman;


BIBLETEXT:
for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God.


BIBLETEXT:
Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered?


BIBLETEXT:
Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him,


BIBLETEXT:
but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering.


BIBLETEXT:
If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.


BIBLETEXT:
But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse.


BIBLETEXT:
For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part,


BIBLETEXT:
for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.


BIBLETEXT:
When you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat.


BIBLETEXT:
For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk.


BIBLETEXT:
What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.


BIBLETEXT:
For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,


BIBLETEXT:
and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me."


BIBLETEXT:
In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."


BIBLETEXT:
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.


BIBLETEXT:
Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.


BIBLETEXT:
Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.


BIBLETEXT:
For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.


BIBLETEXT:
That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.


BIBLETEXT:
But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged.


BIBLETEXT:
But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.


BIBLETEXT:
So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another--


BIBLETEXT:
if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home--so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.


BIBLETEXT:
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.


BIBLETEXT:
You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led.


BIBLETEXT:
Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says "Jesus is accursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the Holy Spirit.


BIBLETEXT:
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;


BIBLETEXT:
and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;


BIBLETEXT:
and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.


BIBLETEXT:
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.


BIBLETEXT:
For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,


BIBLETEXT:
to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,


BIBLETEXT:
to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.


BIBLETEXT:
All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.


BIBLETEXT:
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.


BIBLETEXT:
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit.


BIBLETEXT:
For the body does not consist of one member but of many.


BIBLETEXT:
If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.


BIBLETEXT:
And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.


BIBLETEXT:
If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?


BIBLETEXT:
But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.


BIBLETEXT:
If all were a single member, where would the body be?


BIBLETEXT:
As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.


BIBLETEXT:
The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."


BIBLETEXT:
On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,


BIBLETEXT:
and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty,


BIBLETEXT:
which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it,


BIBLETEXT:
that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.


BIBLETEXT:
If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.


BIBLETEXT:
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.


BIBLETEXT:
And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.


BIBLETEXT:
Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?


BIBLETEXT:
Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?


BIBLETEXT:
But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.


BIBLETEXT:
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.


BIBLETEXT:
And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.


BIBLETEXT:
If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.


BIBLETEXT:
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant


BIBLETEXT:
or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;


BIBLETEXT:
it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.


BIBLETEXT:
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.


BIBLETEXT:
Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.


BIBLETEXT:
For we know in part and we prophesy in part,


BIBLETEXT:
but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.


BIBLETEXT:
When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.


BIBLETEXT:
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.


BIBLETEXT:
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.


BIBLETEXT:
Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.


BIBLETEXT:
For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.


BIBLETEXT:
On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.


BIBLETEXT:
The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.


BIBLETEXT:
Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.


BIBLETEXT:
Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?


BIBLETEXT:
If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played?


BIBLETEXT:
And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?


BIBLETEXT:
So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air.


BIBLETEXT:
There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning,


BIBLETEXT:
but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.


BIBLETEXT:
So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.


BIBLETEXT:
Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret.


BIBLETEXT:
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.


BIBLETEXT:
What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.


BIBLETEXT:
Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say "Amen" to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying?


BIBLETEXT:
For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up.


BIBLETEXT:
I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.


BIBLETEXT:
Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.


BIBLETEXT:
Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.


BIBLETEXT:
In the Law it is written, "By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord."


BIBLETEXT:
Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers.


BIBLETEXT:
If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?


BIBLETEXT:
But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all,


BIBLETEXT:
the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.


BIBLETEXT:
What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.


BIBLETEXT:
If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret.


BIBLETEXT:
But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.


BIBLETEXT:
Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.


BIBLETEXT:
If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent.


BIBLETEXT:
For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged,


BIBLETEXT:
and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.


BIBLETEXT:
For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,


BIBLETEXT:
the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says.


BIBLETEXT:
If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.


BIBLETEXT:
Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached?


BIBLETEXT:
If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.


BIBLETEXT:
If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.


BIBLETEXT:
So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.


BIBLETEXT:
But all things should be done decently and in order.


BIBLETEXT:
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,


BIBLETEXT:
and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you--unless you believed in vain.


BIBLETEXT:
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,


BIBLETEXT:
that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,


BIBLETEXT:
and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.


BIBLETEXT:
Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.


BIBLETEXT:
Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.


BIBLETEXT:
Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.


BIBLETEXT:
For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.


BIBLETEXT:
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.


BIBLETEXT:
Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.


BIBLETEXT:
Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?


BIBLETEXT:
But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.


BIBLETEXT:
And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.


BIBLETEXT:
We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.


BIBLETEXT:
For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.


BIBLETEXT:
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.


BIBLETEXT:
Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.


BIBLETEXT:
If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.


BIBLETEXT:
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.


BIBLETEXT:
For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.


BIBLETEXT:
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.


BIBLETEXT:
But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.


BIBLETEXT:
Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.


BIBLETEXT:
For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.


BIBLETEXT:
The last enemy to be destroyed is death.


BIBLETEXT:
For "God has put all things in subjection under his feet." But when it says, "all things are put in subjection," it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.


BIBLETEXT:
When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.


BIBLETEXT:
Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf?


BIBLETEXT:
I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day!


BIBLETEXT:
What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."


BIBLETEXT:
Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals."


BIBLETEXT:
Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.


BIBLETEXT:
But someone will ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?"


BIBLETEXT:
You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.


BIBLETEXT:
And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain.


BIBLETEXT:
But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body.


BIBLETEXT:
For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish.


BIBLETEXT:
There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another.


BIBLETEXT:
There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.


BIBLETEXT:
So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable.


BIBLETEXT:
It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.


BIBLETEXT:
It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.


BIBLETEXT:
Thus it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.


BIBLETEXT:
But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual.


BIBLETEXT:
The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven.


BIBLETEXT:
As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven.


BIBLETEXT:
Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.


BIBLETEXT:
I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.


BIBLETEXT:
Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,


BIBLETEXT:
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.


BIBLETEXT:
For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.


BIBLETEXT:
When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."


BIBLETEXT:
"O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"


BIBLETEXT:
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.


BIBLETEXT:
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.


BIBLETEXT:
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.


BIBLETEXT:
Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do.


BIBLETEXT:
On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.


BIBLETEXT:
And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem.


BIBLETEXT:
If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.


BIBLETEXT:
I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia,


BIBLETEXT:
and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go.


BIBLETEXT:
For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.


BIBLETEXT:
But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost,


BIBLETEXT:
for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.


BIBLETEXT:
When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am.


BIBLETEXT:
So let no one despise him. Help him on his way in peace, that he may return to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.


BIBLETEXT:
Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his will to come now. He will come when he has opportunity.


BIBLETEXT:
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.


BIBLETEXT:
Now I urge you, brothers--you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints--


BIBLETEXT:
be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer.


BIBLETEXT:
I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence,


BIBLETEXT:
for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such men.


BIBLETEXT:
The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord.


BIBLETEXT:
All the brothers send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.


BIBLETEXT:
I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand.


BIBLETEXT:
If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!


BIBLETEXT:
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.


BIBLETEXT:
My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.


BIBLETEXT:
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:


BIBLETEXT:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,


BIBLETEXT:
who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.


BIBLETEXT:
For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.


BIBLETEXT:
If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.


BIBLETEXT:
Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.


BIBLETEXT:
For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.


BIBLETEXT:
Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.


BIBLETEXT:
He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.


BIBLETEXT:
You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.


BIBLETEXT:
For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.


BIBLETEXT:
For we are not writing to you anything other than what you read and acknowledge and I hope you will fully acknowledge--


BIBLETEXT:
just as you did partially acknowledge us--that on the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you.


BIBLETEXT:
Because I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a second experience of grace.


BIBLETEXT:
I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on my way to Judea.


BIBLETEXT:
Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans according to the flesh, ready to say "Yes, yes" and "No, no" at the same time?


BIBLETEXT:
As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No.


BIBLETEXT:
For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes.


BIBLETEXT:
For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.


BIBLETEXT:
And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us,


BIBLETEXT:
and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.


BIBLETEXT:
But I call God to witness against me--it was to spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth.


BIBLETEXT:
Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith.


BIBLETEXT:
For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you.


BIBLETEXT:
For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained?


BIBLETEXT:
And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all.


BIBLETEXT:
For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.


BIBLETEXT:
Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure--not to put it too severely--to all of you.


BIBLETEXT:
For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough,


BIBLETEXT:
so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.


BIBLETEXT:
So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him.


BIBLETEXT:
For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything.


BIBLETEXT:
Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ,


BIBLETEXT:
so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.


BIBLETEXT:
When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord,


BIBLETEXT:
my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia.


BIBLETEXT:
But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.


BIBLETEXT:
For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,


BIBLETEXT:
to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?


BIBLETEXT:
For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.


BIBLETEXT:
Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you?


BIBLETEXT:
You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all.


BIBLETEXT:
And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.


BIBLETEXT:
Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God.


BIBLETEXT:
Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,


BIBLETEXT:
who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.


BIBLETEXT:
Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end,


BIBLETEXT:
will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?


BIBLETEXT:
For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.


BIBLETEXT:
Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it.


BIBLETEXT:
For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.


BIBLETEXT:
Since we have such a hope, we are very bold,


BIBLETEXT:
not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end.


BIBLETEXT:
But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away.


BIBLETEXT:
Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts.


BIBLETEXT:
But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.


BIBLETEXT:
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.


BIBLETEXT:
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.


BIBLETEXT:
Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.


BIBLETEXT:
But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.


BIBLETEXT:
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing.


BIBLETEXT:
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.


BIBLETEXT:
For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.


BIBLETEXT:
For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.


BIBLETEXT:
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.


BIBLETEXT:
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;


BIBLETEXT:
persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;


BIBLETEXT:
always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.


BIBLETEXT:
For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.


BIBLETEXT:
So death is at work in us, but life in you.


BIBLETEXT:
Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, "I believed, and so I spoke," we also believe, and so we also speak,


BIBLETEXT:
knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.


BIBLETEXT:
For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.


BIBLETEXT:
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.


BIBLETEXT:
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,


BIBLETEXT:
as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.


BIBLETEXT:
For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.


BIBLETEXT:
For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling,


BIBLETEXT:
if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked.


BIBLETEXT:
For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened--not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.


BIBLETEXT:
He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.


BIBLETEXT:
So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,


BIBLETEXT:
Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.


BIBLETEXT:
So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.


BIBLETEXT:
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.


BIBLETEXT:
Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.


BIBLETEXT:
We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart.


BIBLETEXT:
For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.


BIBLETEXT:
For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;


BIBLETEXT:
and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.


BIBLETEXT:
From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.


BIBLETEXT:
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.


BIBLETEXT:
All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;


BIBLETEXT:
that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.


BIBLETEXT:
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.


BIBLETEXT:
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.


BIBLETEXT:
Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.


BIBLETEXT:
For he says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.


BIBLETEXT:
We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry,


BIBLETEXT:
but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,


BIBLETEXT:
beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger;


BIBLETEXT:
by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love;


BIBLETEXT:
by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;


BIBLETEXT:
through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true;


BIBLETEXT:
as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed;


BIBLETEXT:
as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.


BIBLETEXT:
We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open.


BIBLETEXT:
You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections.


BIBLETEXT:
In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.


BIBLETEXT:
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?


BIBLETEXT:
What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?


BIBLETEXT:
What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.


BIBLETEXT:
Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you,


BIBLETEXT:
and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty."


BIBLETEXT:
Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.


BIBLETEXT:
Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one.


BIBLETEXT:
I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.


BIBLETEXT:
I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.


BIBLETEXT:
For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn--fighting without and fear within.


BIBLETEXT:
But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus,


BIBLETEXT:
and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.


BIBLETEXT:
For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it--though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while.


BIBLETEXT:
As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.


BIBLETEXT:
For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.


BIBLETEXT:
For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.


BIBLETEXT:
So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God.


BIBLETEXT:
Therefore we are comforted. And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.


BIBLETEXT:
For whatever boasts I made to him about you, I was not put to shame. But just as everything we said to you was true, so also our boasting before Titus has proved true.


BIBLETEXT:
And his affection for you is even greater, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling.


BIBLETEXT:
I rejoice, because I have perfect confidence in you.


BIBLETEXT:
We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia,


BIBLETEXT:
for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.


BIBLETEXT:
For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,


BIBLETEXT:
begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints--


BIBLETEXT:
and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.


BIBLETEXT:
Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace.


BIBLETEXT:
But as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you--see that you excel in this act of grace also.


BIBLETEXT:
I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine.


BIBLETEXT:
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.


BIBLETEXT:
And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it.


