Matthew 1:1 This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:
Matthew 1:2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.
Matthew 1:3 Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram.
Matthew 1:4 Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon.
Matthew 1:5 Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,
Matthew 1:1 This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:
Matthew 1:2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.
Matthew 1:3 Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram.
Matthew 1:4 Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon.
Matthew 1:5 Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,
Matthew 1:1 This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:
Matthew 1:2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.
Matthew 1:3 Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram.
Matthew 1:4 Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon.
Matthew 1:5 Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,
Matthew 1:6 and Jesse the father of David the king. Next: David was the father of Solomon by Uriah_s wife,
Matthew 1:7 Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa.
Matthew 1:8 Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah.
Matthew 1:9 Uzziah was the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.
Matthew 1:10 Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amos, Amos the father of Josiah,
Matthew 1:11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.
Matthew 1:12 After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
Matthew 1:13 Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor.
Matthew 1:14 Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud.
Matthew 1:15 Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob,
Matthew 1:16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
Matthew 1:17 In all, then, there were fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ.
Matthew 1:18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged in marriage to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with Child through the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 1:19 Because Joseph her husband, a righteous man, was unwilling to disgrace her publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly.
Matthew 1:20 But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, _Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 1:21 She will give birth to a son, and you shall give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins._
Matthew 1:22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
Matthew 1:23 _Behold! The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel_ (which means, _God with us_).
Matthew 1:24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and embraced Mary as his wife.
Matthew 1:25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a Son. And he gave Him the name Jesus.
Matthew 2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem,
Matthew 2:2 asking, _Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him._
Matthew 2:3 When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
Matthew 2:4 When he had assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired where the Christ was to be born.
Matthew 2:5 _In Bethlehem in Judea,_ they replied, _for this is what the prophet has written:
Matthew 2:6 _But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of My people Israel.__
Matthew 2:7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and learned from them the exact time the star had appeared.
Matthew 2:8 And sending them to Bethlehem, he said: _Go, search carefully for the Child, and when you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship Him._
Matthew 2:9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stood over the place where the Child was.
Matthew 2:10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great delight.
Matthew 2:11 On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.
Matthew 2:12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they withdrew to their country by another route.
Matthew 2:13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. _Get up!_ he said. _Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him._
Matthew 2:14 So he got up, took the Child and His mother by night, and withdrew to Egypt,
Matthew 2:15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: _Out of Egypt I called my Son._
Matthew 2:16 When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi.
Matthew 2:17 Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
Matthew 2:18 _A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing consolation, because they are no more._
Matthew 2:19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt.
Matthew 2:20 _Get up!_ he said. _Take the Child and His mother and go to the land of Israel, for those seeking the Child_s life are now dead._
Matthew 2:21 So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and went to the land of Israel.
Matthew 2:22 But when he learned that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee,
Matthew 2:23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophets: _He will be called a Nazarene._
Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea
Matthew 3:2 and saying, _Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near._
Matthew 3:3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: _A voice of one calling in the wilderness, _Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.__
Matthew 3:4 John wore a garment of camel_s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
Matthew 3:5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region around the Jordan.
Matthew 3:6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
Matthew 3:7 But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his place of baptism, he said to them, _You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
Matthew 3:8 Produce fruit worthy of repentance.
Matthew 3:9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, _We have Abraham as our father._ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
Matthew 3:10 The ax lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
Matthew 3:11 I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Matthew 3:12 His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire._
Matthew 3:13 At that time Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.
Matthew 3:14 But John tried to prevent Him, saying, _I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?_
Matthew 3:15 _Let it be so now,_ Jesus replied. _It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness in this way._ Then John permitted Him.
Matthew 3:16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him.
Matthew 3:17 And a voice from heaven said, _This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!_
Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
Matthew 4:2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry.
Matthew 4:3 The tempter came to Him and said, _If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread._
Matthew 4:4 But Jesus answered, _It is written: _Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.__
Matthew 4:5 Then the devil took Him to the holy city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple.
Matthew 4:6 _If You are the Son of God,_ he said, _throw Yourself down. For it is written: _He will command His angels concerning You, and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.__
Matthew 4:7 Jesus replied, _It is also written: _Do not put the Lord your God to the test.__
Matthew 4:8 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
Matthew 4:9 _All this I will give You,_ he said, _if You will fall down and worship me._
Matthew 4:10 _Away from me, Satan!_ Jesus declared. _For it is written: _Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.__
Matthew 4:11 Then the devil left Him, and angels came and ministered to Him.
Matthew 4:12 When Jesus heard that John had been imprisoned, He withdrew to Galilee.
Matthew 4:13 Leaving Nazareth, He went and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
Matthew 4:14 to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
Matthew 4:15 _Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles_
Matthew 4:16 the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned._
Matthew 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, _Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near._
Matthew 4:18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
Matthew 4:19 _Come, follow Me,_ Jesus said, _and I will make you fishers of men._
Matthew 4:20 And at once they left their nets and followed Him.
Matthew 4:21 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. Jesus called them,
Matthew 4:22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him.
Matthew 4:23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
Matthew 4:24 News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed_and He healed them.
Matthew 4:25 The large crowds that followed Him came from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.
Matthew 5:1 When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain and sat down. His disciples came to Him,
Matthew 5:2 and He began to teach them, saying:
Matthew 5:3 _Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
Matthew 5:12 Rejoice and celebrate, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.
Matthew 5:13 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Matthew 5:15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a lampstand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.
Matthew 5:18 For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
Matthew 5:19 So then, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do likewise will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:21 You have heard that it was said to the ancients, _Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment._
Matthew 5:22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, _Raca,_ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, _You fool!_ will be subject to the fire of hell.
Matthew 5:23 Therefore if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
Matthew 5:24 leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
Matthew 5:25 Reconcile quickly with your adversary, while you are still on the way to court. Otherwise he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.
Matthew 5:26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
Matthew 5:27 You have heard that it was said, _Do not commit adultery._
Matthew 5:28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Matthew 5:29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
Matthew 5:30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to depart into hell.
Matthew 5:31 It has also been said, _Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce._
Matthew 5:32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, brings adultery upon her. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Matthew 5:33 Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, _Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord._
Matthew 5:34 But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God_s throne;
Matthew 5:35 or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
Matthew 5:36 Nor should you swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
Matthew 5:37 Simply let your _Yes_ be _Yes,_ and your _No,_ _No._ Anything more comes from the evil one.
Matthew 5:38 You have heard that it was said, _Eye for eye and tooth for tooth._
Matthew 5:39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also;
Matthew 5:40 if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well;
Matthew 5:41 and if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two.
Matthew 5:42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Matthew 5:43 You have heard that it was said, _Love your neighbor and hate your enemy._
Matthew 5:44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Matthew 5:45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Matthew 5:46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same?
Matthew 5:47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even Gentiles do the same?
Matthew 5:48 Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 6:1 Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
Matthew 6:2 So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be praised by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their reward.
Matthew 6:3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
Matthew 6:4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:5 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their reward.
Matthew 6:6 But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:7 And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard.
Matthew 6:8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
Matthew 6:9 So then, this is how you should pray: _Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name,
Matthew 6:10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread,
Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors;
Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one._
Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Matthew 6:15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.
Matthew 6:16 When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their reward.
Matthew 6:17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
Matthew 6:18 so that your fasting will not be obvious to men, but only to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
Matthew 6:20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:22 The eye is the lamp of the body. If your vision is clear, your whole body will be full of light.
Matthew 6:23 But if your vision is poor, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Matthew 6:25 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?
Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns_and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Matthew 6:27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his lifespan?
Matthew 6:28 And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the lilies of the field grow: They do not labor or spin.
Matthew 6:29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these.
Matthew 6:30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Matthew 6:31 Therefore do not worry, saying, _What shall we eat?_ or _What shall we drink?_ or _What shall we wear?_
Matthew 6:32 For the pagans pursue all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them.
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 7:1 Do not judge, or you will be judged.
Matthew 7:2 For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Matthew 7:3 Why do you look at the speck in your brother_s eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye?
Matthew 7:4 How can you say to your brother, _Let me take the speck out of your eye,_ while there is still a beam in your own eye?
Matthew 7:5 You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother_s eye.
Matthew 7:6 Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
Matthew 7:7 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
Matthew 7:8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Matthew 7:9 Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
Matthew 7:10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?
Matthew 7:11 So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
Matthew 7:12 In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the prophets.
Matthew 7:13 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
Matthew 7:14 But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep_s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
Matthew 7:16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Matthew 7:17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
Matthew 7:18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
Matthew 7:19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Matthew 7:20 So then, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to Me, _Lord, Lord,_ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Matthew 7:22 Many will say to Me on that day, _Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?_
Matthew 7:23 Then I will tell them plainly, _I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness._
Matthew 7:24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Matthew 7:25 The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock.
Matthew 7:26 But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
Matthew 7:27 The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell_and great was its collapse!_
Matthew 7:28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at His teaching,
Matthew 7:29 because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
Matthew 8:1 When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him.
Matthew 8:2 Suddenly a leper came and knelt before Him, saying, _Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean._
Matthew 8:3 Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. _I am willing,_ He said, _be clean._ And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Matthew 8:4 Then Jesus instructed him, _See that you don_t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift prescribed by Moses, as a testimony to them._
Matthew 8:5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came and pleaded with Him,
Matthew 8:6 _Lord, my servant lies at home, paralyzed and in terrible agony._
Matthew 8:7 _I will go and heal him,_ Jesus replied.
Matthew 8:8 The centurion answered, _Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
Matthew 8:9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes; and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it._
Matthew 8:10 When Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those following Him, _Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.
Matthew 8:11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 8:12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth._
Matthew 8:13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, _Go! As you have believed, so will it be done for you._ And his servant was healed at that very hour.
Matthew 8:14 When Jesus arrived at Peter_s house, He saw Peter_s mother-in-law sick in bed with a fever.
Matthew 8:15 He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she got up and began to serve them.
Matthew 8:16 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to Jesus, and He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.
Matthew 8:17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: _He took on our infirmities, and carried our diseases._
Matthew 8:18 When Jesus saw a large crowd around Him, He gave orders to cross to the other side.
Matthew 8:19 And one of the scribes came to Him and said, _Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go._
Matthew 8:20 Jesus replied, _Foxes have dens, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head._
Matthew 8:21 Another of His disciples requested, _Lord, first let me go and bury my father._
Matthew 8:22 But Jesus told him, _Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead._
Matthew 8:23 When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him.
Matthew 8:24 Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was engulfed by the waves; but Jesus was sleeping.
Matthew 8:25 The disciples went and woke Him, saying, _Lord, save us! We are perishing!_
Matthew 8:26 _You of little faith,_ Jesus replied, _why are you so afraid?_ Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it was perfectly calm.
Matthew 8:27 The men were amazed and asked, _What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey Him!_
Matthew 8:28 When Jesus arrived on the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met Him on their way from the tombs. They were so violent that no one could pass that way.
Matthew 8:29 _What do you want with us, Son of God?_ they shouted. _Have You come here to torture us before the proper time?_
Matthew 8:30 In the distance a large herd of pigs was feeding.
Matthew 8:31 So the demons begged Jesus, _If You drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs._
Matthew 8:32 _Go!_ He told them. So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the waters.
Matthew 8:33 Those tending the pigs ran off into the town and reported all this, including the account of the demon-possessed men.
Matthew 8:34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to leave their region.
Matthew 9:1 Jesus got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own town.
Matthew 9:2 Just then, some men brought to Him a paralytic lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, _Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven._
Matthew 9:3 On seeing this, some of the scribes said to themselves, _This man is blaspheming!_
Matthew 9:4 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, _Why do you harbor evil in your hearts?
Matthew 9:5 Which is easier: to say, _Your sins are forgiven,_ or to say, _Get up and walk?_
Matthew 9:6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins..._ Then He said to the paralytic, _Get up, pick up your mat, and go home._
Matthew 9:7 And the man got up and went home.
Matthew 9:8 When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
Matthew 9:9 As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. _Follow Me,_ He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him.
Matthew 9:10 Later, as Jesus was dining at Matthew_s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples.
Matthew 9:11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, _Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?_
Matthew 9:12 On hearing this, Jesus said, _It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
Matthew 9:13 But go and learn what this means: _I desire mercy, not sacrifice._ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners._
Matthew 9:14 At that time, John_s disciples came to Jesus and asked, _Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast so often, but Your disciples do not fast?_
Matthew 9:15 Jesus replied, _How can the attendants of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast.
Matthew 9:16 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. For the patch will pull away from the garment, and a worse tear will result.
Matthew 9:17 Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will spill, and the wineskins will be ruined. Instead, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved._
Matthew 9:18 While Jesus was saying these things, a synagogue ruler came and knelt before Him. _My daughter has just died,_ he said. _But come and place Your hand on her, and she will live._
Matthew 9:19 So Jesus got up and went with him, along with His disciples.
Matthew 9:20 Suddenly a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak.
Matthew 9:21 She said to herself, _If only I touch His cloak, I will be healed._
Matthew 9:22 Jesus turned and saw her. _Take courage, daughter,_ He said, _your faith has healed you._ And the woman was cured from that very hour.
Matthew 9:23 When Jesus entered the ruler_s house, He saw the flute players and the noisy crowd.
Matthew 9:24 _Go away,_ He told them. _The girl is not dead, but asleep._ And they laughed at Him.
Matthew 9:25 After the crowd had been put outside, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.
Matthew 9:26 And the news about this spread throughout that region.
Matthew 9:27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out, _Have mercy on us, Son of David!_
Matthew 9:28 After Jesus had entered the house, the blind men came to Him. _Do you believe that I am able to do this?_ He asked. _Yes, Lord,_ they answered.
Matthew 9:29 Then He touched their eyes and said, _According to your faith will it be done to you._
Matthew 9:30 And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, _See that no one finds out about this!_
Matthew 9:31 But they went out and spread the news about Him throughout the land.
Matthew 9:32 As they were leaving, a demon-possessed man who was mute was brought to Jesus.
Matthew 9:33 And when the demon had been driven out, the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed and said, _Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!_
Matthew 9:34 But the Pharisees said, _It is by the prince of demons that He drives out demons._
Matthew 9:35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness.
Matthew 9:36 When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Matthew 9:37 Then He said to his disciples, _The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
Matthew 9:38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest._
Matthew 10:1 Jesus called His twelve disciples to Him and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness.
Matthew 10:2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
Matthew 10:3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;
Matthew 10:4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.
Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: _Do not go onto the road of the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.
Matthew 10:6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.
Matthew 10:7 As you go, preach this message: _The kingdom of heaven is near._
Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
Matthew 10:9 Do not carry any gold or silver or copper in your belts.
Matthew 10:10 Take no bag for the road, or second tunic, or sandals, or staff; for the worker is worthy of his provisions.
Matthew 10:11 Whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy and stay at his house until you move on.
Matthew 10:12 As you enter the house, greet its occupants.
Matthew 10:13 If the home is worthy, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you.
Matthew 10:14 And if anyone will not welcome you or heed your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.
Matthew 10:15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
Matthew 10:16 Look, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
Matthew 10:17 But beware of men; for they will hand you over to their councils and flog you in their synagogues.
Matthew 10:18 On My account, you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.
Matthew 10:19 But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say.
Matthew 10:20 For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Matthew 10:21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.
Matthew 10:22 You will be hated by everyone on account of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
Matthew 10:23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Truly I tell you, you will not reach all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
Matthew 10:24 A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
Matthew 10:25 It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!
Matthew 10:26 So do not be afraid of them. For nothing is concealed that will not be uncovered, or hidden that will not be made known.
Matthew 10:27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops.
Matthew 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.
Matthew 10:30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Matthew 10:31 So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Matthew 10:32 Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven.
Matthew 10:33 But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven.
Matthew 10:34 Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
Matthew 10:35 For I have come to turn _A man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
Matthew 10:36 A man_s enemies will be the members of his own household._
Matthew 10:37 Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me;
Matthew 10:38 and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.
Matthew 10:39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
Matthew 10:40 He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives the One who sent Me.
Matthew 10:41 Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet_s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man_s reward.
Matthew 10:42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward._
Matthew 11:1 After Jesus had finished instructing His twelve disciples, He went on from there to teach and preach in the nearby towns.
Matthew 11:2 Meanwhile, John heard in prison about the works of Christ, and he sent two of his disciples
Matthew 11:3 to ask Him, _Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?_
Matthew 11:4 Jesus replied, _Go back and report to John what you hear and see:
Matthew 11:5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and good news is preached to the poor.
Matthew 11:6 Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me._
Matthew 11:7 As John_s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: _What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?
Matthew 11:8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Look, those who wear fine clothing are found in kings_ palaces.
Matthew 11:9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
Matthew 11:10 This is the one about whom it is written: _Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You._
Matthew 11:11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Matthew 11:12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subject to violence, and the violent lay claim to it.
Matthew 11:13 For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John.
Matthew 11:14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.
Matthew 11:15 He who has ears, let him hear.
Matthew 11:16 To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
Matthew 11:17 _We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge and you did not mourn._
Matthew 11:18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, _He has a demon!_
Matthew 11:19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, _Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and of sinners!_ But wisdom is vindicated by her actions._
Matthew 11:20 Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles had taken place, because they did not repent.
Matthew 11:21 _Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had happened in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
Matthew 11:22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
Matthew 11:23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will descend to Hades! For if the miracles that were performed in you had happened in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.
Matthew 11:24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you._
Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus declared, _I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
Matthew 11:26 Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight.
Matthew 11:27 All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.
Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light._
Matthew 12:1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them.
Matthew 12:2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, _Look, Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath._
Matthew 12:3 Jesus replied, _Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
Matthew 12:4 He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for them to eat, but only for the priests.
Matthew 12:5 Or haven_t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and yet are innocent?
Matthew 12:6 But I tell you, something greater than the temple is here.
Matthew 12:7 If only you had known the meaning of _I desire mercy, not sacrifice,_ you would not have condemned the innocent.
Matthew 12:8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath._
Matthew 12:9 Moving on from there, Jesus entered their synagogue,
Matthew 12:10 and a man with a withered hand was there. In order to accuse Jesus, they asked Him, _Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?_
Matthew 12:11 He replied, _If one of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out?
Matthew 12:12 How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath._
Matthew 12:13 Then Jesus said to the man, _Stretch out your hand._ So he stretched it out, and it was restored to full use, just like the other.
Matthew 12:14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired to kill Jesus.
Matthew 12:15 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Large crowds followed Him, and He healed them all,
Matthew 12:16 warning them not to make Him known.
Matthew 12:17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
Matthew 12:18 _Here is My servant, whom I have chosen, My beloved, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will proclaim justice to the nations.
Matthew 12:19 He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear His voice in the streets.
Matthew 12:20 A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, till He leads justice to victory.
Matthew 12:21 In His name the nations will put their hope._
Matthew 12:22 Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed the man so that he could speak and see.
Matthew 12:23 The crowds were all amazed and asked, _Could this be the Son of David?_
Matthew 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, _Only by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons, does this man drive out demons._
Matthew 12:25 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, _Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.
Matthew 12:26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?
Matthew 12:27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
Matthew 12:28 But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Matthew 12:29 How can anyone enter a strong man_s house and steal his possessions, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.
Matthew 12:30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
Matthew 12:31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
Matthew 12:32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the one to come.
Matthew 12:33 Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.
Matthew 12:34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.
Matthew 12:35 The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure.
Matthew 12:36 But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
Matthew 12:37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned._
Matthew 12:38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, _Teacher, we want to see a sign from You._
Matthew 12:39 Jesus replied, _A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
Matthew 12:40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Matthew 12:41 The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.
Matthew 12:42 The queen of the south will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.
Matthew 12:43 When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.
Matthew 12:44 Then it says, _I will return to the house I left._ On its arrival, it finds the house vacant, swept clean and put in order.
Matthew 12:45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and dwell there; and the final plight of that man is worse than the first. So will it be with this wicked generation._
Matthew 12:46 While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, His mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to Him.
Matthew 12:47 Someone told Him, _Look, Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to You._
Matthew 12:48 But Jesus replied, _Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?_
Matthew 12:49 Pointing to His disciples, He said, _Here are My mother and My brothers.
Matthew 12:50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother._
Matthew 13:1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea.
Matthew 13:2 Such large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat down, while all the people stood on the shore.
Matthew 13:3 And He told them many things in parables, saying, _A farmer went out to sow his seed.
Matthew 13:4 As he was sowing, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.
Matthew 13:5 Some fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil. They sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.
Matthew 13:6 But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
Matthew 13:7 Other seeds fell among the thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings.
Matthew 13:8 Still other seeds fell on good soil and produced a crop_a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold.
Matthew 13:9 He who has ears, let him hear._
Matthew 13:10 Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked, _Why do You speak to the people in parables?_
Matthew 13:11 He replied, _The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
Matthew 13:12 Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
Matthew 13:13 This is why I speak to them in parables: _Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand._
Matthew 13:14 In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: _You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
Matthew 13:15 For this people_s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them._
Matthew 13:16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.
Matthew 13:17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
Matthew 13:18 Consider, then, the parable of the sower:
Matthew 13:19 When anyone hears the message of the kingdom but does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
Matthew 13:20 The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and promptly receives it with joy.
Matthew 13:21 But since he has no root, he remains for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.
Matthew 13:22 The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
Matthew 13:23 But the seed sown on good soil is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and produces a crop_a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold._
Matthew 13:24 Jesus presented another parable to them: _The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
Matthew 13:25 But while everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and slipped away.
Matthew 13:26 When the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared.
Matthew 13:27 The owner_s servants came to him and said, _Sir, didn_t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?_
Matthew 13:28 _An enemy did this,_ he replied. So the servants asked him, _Do you want us to go and pull them up?_
Matthew 13:29 _No,_ he said, _if you pull the weeds now, you might uproot the wheat with them.
Matthew 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At the proper time I will tell the harvesters, _First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat into my barn.___
Matthew 13:31 Jesus put before them another parable: _The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field.
Matthew 13:32 Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches._
Matthew 13:33 He told them still another parable: _The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened._
Matthew 13:34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in parables. He did not tell them anything without using a parable.
Matthew 13:35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: _I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world._
Matthew 13:36 Then Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples came to Him and said, _Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field._
Matthew 13:37 He replied, _The One who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.
Matthew 13:38 The field is the world, and the good seed represents the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,
Matthew 13:39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
Matthew 13:40 As the weeds are collected and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age.
Matthew 13:41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness.
Matthew 13:42 And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 13:43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
Matthew 13:44 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy he went and sold all he had and bought that field.
Matthew 13:45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls.
Matthew 13:46 When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold all he had and bought it.
Matthew 13:47 Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and caught fish of every kind.
Matthew 13:48 When it was full, the men pulled it ashore. Then they sat down and sorted the good fish into containers, but threw the bad away.
Matthew 13:49 So will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous,
Matthew 13:50 and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 13:51 Have you understood all these things?_ _Yes,_ they answered.
Matthew 13:52 Then He told them, _For this reason, every scribe who has been discipled in the kingdom of heaven is like a homeowner who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old._
Matthew 13:53 When Jesus had finished these parables, He withdrew from that place.
Matthew 13:54 Coming to His hometown, He taught the people in their synagogue, and they were astonished. _Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers?_ they asked.
Matthew 13:55 _Is this not the carpenter_s son? Isn_t His mother_s name Mary, and aren_t His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?
Matthew 13:56 Aren_t all His sisters with us as well? Where then did this man get all these things?_
Matthew 13:57 And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, _Only in his hometown and in his own household is a prophet without honor._
Matthew 13:58 And He did not do many miracles there, because of their unbelief.
Matthew 14:1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus
Matthew 14:2 and said to his servants, _This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! This is why miraculous powers are at work in him._
Matthew 14:3 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip_s wife,
Matthew 14:4 because John had been telling him, _It is not lawful for you to have her._
Matthew 14:5 Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet.
Matthew 14:6 On Herod_s birthday, however, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod
Matthew 14:7 so much that he promised with an oath to give to her whatever she asked.
Matthew 14:8 Prompted by her mother, she said, _Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist._
Matthew 14:9 The king was grieved, but because of his oaths and his guests, he ordered that her wish be granted
Matthew 14:10 and sent to have John beheaded in the prison.
Matthew 14:11 John_s head was brought in on a platter and presented to the girl, who carried it to her mother.
Matthew 14:12 Then John_s disciples came and took his body and buried it. And they went and informed Jesus.
Matthew 14:13 When Jesus heard about John, He withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. But the crowds found out and followed Him on foot from the towns.
Matthew 14:14 When He stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick.
Matthew 14:15 When evening came, the disciples came to Him and said, _This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late. Dismiss the crowds, so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves._
Matthew 14:16 _They do not need to go away,_ Jesus replied. _You give them something to eat._
Matthew 14:17 _We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,_ they answered.
Matthew 14:18 _Bring them here to Me,_ Jesus said.
Matthew 14:19 And He instructed the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He spoke a blessing. Then He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples to the people.
Matthew 14:20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
Matthew 14:21 About five thousand men were fed, in addition to women and children.
Matthew 14:22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds.
Matthew 14:23 After He had sent them away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone,
Matthew 14:24 but the boat was already far from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
Matthew 14:25 During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea.
Matthew 14:26 When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. _It_s a ghost!_ they said, and cried out in fear.
Matthew 14:27 But Jesus immediately spoke up: _Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid._
Matthew 14:28 _Lord, if it is You,_ Peter replied, _command me to come to You on the water._
Matthew 14:29 _Come,_ said Jesus. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus.
Matthew 14:30 But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, cried out, _Lord, save me!_
Matthew 14:31 Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. _You of little faith,_ He said, _why did you doubt?_
Matthew 14:32 And when they had climbed back into the boat, the wind died down.
Matthew 14:33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, _Truly You are the Son of God!_
Matthew 14:34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret.
Matthew 14:35 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding region. People brought all the sick to Him,
Matthew 14:36 and begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all who touched Him were healed.
Matthew 15:1 Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked,
Matthew 15:2 _Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands when they eat._
Matthew 15:3 Jesus replied, _And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?
Matthew 15:4 For God said: _Honor your father and mother_ and _Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death._
Matthew 15:5 But you say that if anyone says to his father or mother, _The help you would have received from me has been given to God,_
Matthew 15:6 he need not honor his father or mother with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.
Matthew 15:7 You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you:
Matthew 15:8 _These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.
Matthew 15:9 They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.__
Matthew 15:10 Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, _Listen and understand.
Matthew 15:11 A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it._
Matthew 15:12 Then the disciples came to Him and said, _Are You aware that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?_
Matthew 15:13 But Jesus replied, _Every plant that My Heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by its roots.
Matthew 15:14 Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit._
Matthew 15:15 Peter said to Him, _Explain this parable to us._
Matthew 15:16 _Do you still not understand?_ Jesus asked.
Matthew 15:17 _Do you not yet realize that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then is eliminated?
Matthew 15:18 But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man.
Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.
Matthew 15:20 These are what defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands does not defile him._
Matthew 15:21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon.
Matthew 15:22 And a Canaanite woman from that region came to Him, crying out, _Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is miserably possessed by a demon._
Matthew 15:23 But Jesus did not answer a word. So His disciples came and urged Him, _Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us._
Matthew 15:24 He answered, _I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel._
Matthew 15:25 The woman came and knelt before him. _Lord, help me!_ she said.
Matthew 15:26 But Jesus replied, _It is not right to take the children_s bread and toss it to the dogs._
Matthew 15:27 _Yes, Lord,_ she said, _even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master_s table._
Matthew 15:28 _O woman,_ Jesus answered, _your faith is great! Let it be done for you as you desire._ And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
Matthew 15:29 Moving on from there, Jesus went along the Sea of Galilee. Then He went up on a mountain and sat down.
Matthew 15:30 Large crowds came to Him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and laid them at His feet, and He healed them.
Matthew 15:31 The crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled restored, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.
Matthew 15:32 Then Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, _I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may faint along the way._
Matthew 15:33 The disciples replied, _Where in this desolate place can we find enough bread to feed such a large crowd?_
Matthew 15:34 _How many loaves do you have?_ Jesus asked. _Seven,_ they replied, _and a few small fish._
Matthew 15:35 And He directed the crowd to sit down on the ground.
Matthew 15:36 Taking the seven loaves and the fish, He gave thanks and broke them. Then He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.
Matthew 15:37 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
Matthew 15:38 A total of four thousand men were fed, in addition to women and children.
Matthew 15:39 After Jesus had dismissed the crowds, He got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.
Matthew 16:1 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came and tested Jesus by asking Him to show them a sign from heaven.
Matthew 16:2 But He replied, _When evening comes, you say, _The weather will be fair, for the sky is red;_
Matthew 16:3 and in the morning, _Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast._ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but not the signs of the times!
Matthew 16:4 A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah._ Then He left them and went away.
Matthew 16:5 When they crossed to the other side, the disciples forgot to take bread.
Matthew 16:6 _Watch out!_ Jesus told them. _Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees._
Matthew 16:7 They discussed this among themselves and concluded, _It is because we did not bring any bread._
Matthew 16:8 Aware of their conversation, Jesus said, _You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread?
Matthew 16:9 Do you still not understand? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?
Matthew 16:10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?
Matthew 16:11 How can you not understand that I was not telling you about bread? But beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees._
Matthew 16:12 Then they understood that He was not telling them to beware of the yeast used in bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Matthew 16:13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He questioned His disciples: _Who do people say the Son of Man is?_
Matthew 16:14 They replied, _Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets._
Matthew 16:15 _But what about you?_ Jesus asked. _Who do you say I am?_
Matthew 16:16 Simon Peter answered, _You are the Christ, the Son of the living God._
Matthew 16:17 Jesus replied, _Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven.
Matthew 16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
Matthew 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven._
Matthew 16:20 Then He admonished the disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ.
Matthew 16:21 From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
Matthew 16:22 Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. _Far be it from You, Lord!_ he said. _This shall never happen to You!_
Matthew 16:23 But Jesus turned and said to Peter, _Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men._
Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus told His disciples, _If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.
Matthew 16:25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
Matthew 16:26 What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
Matthew 16:27 For the Son of Man will come in His Father_s glory with His angels, and then He will repay each one according to what he has done.
Matthew 16:28 Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom._
Matthew 17:1 After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
Matthew 17:2 There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
Matthew 17:3 Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them, talking with Jesus.
Matthew 17:4 Peter said to Jesus, _Lord, it is good for us to be here. If You wish, I will put up three shelters: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah._
Matthew 17:5 While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, _This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!_
Matthew 17:6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown in terror.
Matthew 17:7 Then Jesus came over and touched them. _Get up,_ He said. _Do not be afraid._
Matthew 17:8 And when they looked up, they saw no one but Jesus.
Matthew 17:9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, _Do not tell anyone about this vision until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead._
Matthew 17:10 The disciples asked Him, _Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?_
Matthew 17:11 Jesus replied, _Elijah does indeed come, and he will restore all things.
Matthew 17:12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him whatever they wished. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands._
Matthew 17:13 Then the disciples understood that He was speaking to them about John the Baptist.
Matthew 17:14 When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus and knelt before Him.
Matthew 17:15 _Lord, have mercy on my son,_ he said. _He has seizures and is suffering terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.
Matthew 17:16 I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not heal him._
Matthew 17:17 _O unbelieving and perverse generation!_ Jesus replied. _How long must I remain with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to Me._
Matthew 17:18 Then Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.
Matthew 17:19 Afterward the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, _Why couldn_t we drive it out?_
Matthew 17:20 _Because you have so little faith._ He answered. _For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, _Move from here to there,_ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you._
Matthew 17:21
Matthew 17:22 When they gathered together in Galilee, Jesus told them, _The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.
Matthew 17:23 They will kill Him, and on the third day He will be raised to life._ And the disciples were deeply grieved.
Matthew 17:24 After they had arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, _Does your Teacher pay the two drachmas?_
Matthew 17:25 _Yes,_ he answered. When Peter entered the house, Jesus preempted him. _What do you think, Simon?_ He asked. _From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs and taxes: from their own sons, or from others?_
Matthew 17:26 _From others,_ Peter answered. _Then the sons are exempt,_ Jesus declared.
Matthew 17:27 _But so that we may not offend them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the first fish you catch. When you open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for you and Me._
Matthew 18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, _Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?_
Matthew 18:2 Jesus called a little child to stand among them.
Matthew 18:3 _Truly I tell you,_ He said, _unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:5 And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me.
Matthew 18:6 But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
Matthew 18:7 Woe to the world for the causes of sin. These stumbling blocks must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!
Matthew 18:8 If your hand or your foot causes you to fall into sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have two hands and two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire.
Matthew 18:9 And if your eye causes you to fall into sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.
Matthew 18:10 See that you do not look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
Matthew 18:11
Matthew 18:12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost?
Matthew 18:13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices more over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.
Matthew 18:14 In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
Matthew 18:15 If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.
Matthew 18:16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that _every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses._
Matthew 18:17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
Matthew 18:18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
Matthew 18:19 Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven.
Matthew 18:20 For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them._
Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, _Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?_
Matthew 18:22 Jesus answered, _I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!
Matthew 18:23 Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
Matthew 18:24 As he began the settlements, a debtor was brought to him owing ten thousand talents.
Matthew 18:25 Since the man was unable to pay, the master ordered that he be sold to pay his debt, along with his wife and children and everything he owned.
Matthew 18:26 Then the servant fell on his knees before him. _Have patience with me,_ he begged, _and I will pay back everything._
Matthew 18:27 His master had compassion on him, forgave his debt, and released him.
Matthew 18:28 But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, _Pay back what you owe me._
Matthew 18:29 So his fellow servant fell down and begged him, _Have patience with me, and I will pay you back._
Matthew 18:30 But he refused. Instead, he went and had him thrown into prison until he could pay his debt.
Matthew 18:31 When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and recounted all of this to their master.
Matthew 18:32 Then the master summoned him and declared, _You wicked servant! I forgave all your debt because you begged me.
Matthew 18:33 Should you not have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?_
Matthew 18:34 In his anger, his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should repay all that he owed.
Matthew 18:35 That is how My Heavenly Father will treat each of you, unless you forgive your brother from your heart._
Matthew 19:1 When Jesus had finished saying these things, He left Galilee and went into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.
Matthew 19:2 Large crowds followed Him, and He healed them there.
Matthew 19:3 Then some Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, _Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?_
Matthew 19:4 Jesus answered, _Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator _made them male and female_
Matthew 19:5 and said, _For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh_?
Matthew 19:6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate._
Matthew 19:7 _Why then,_ they asked, _did Moses order a man to give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?_
Matthew 19:8 Jesus answered, _It was because of your hardness of heart that Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but it was not this way from the beginning.
Matthew 19:9 Now I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman, commits adultery._
Matthew 19:10 His disciples said to Him, _If this is the case between a man and his wife, it is better not to marry._
Matthew 19:11 _Not everyone can accept this word,_ Jesus answered, _but only those to whom it has been given.
Matthew 19:12 For there are eunuchs who were born that way; others were made that way by men; and still others live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it._
Matthew 19:13 Then the little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them; and the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, _Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these._
Matthew 19:15 And after He had placed His hands on them, He went on from there.
Matthew 19:16 Just then, a man came up to Jesus and inquired, _Teacher, what good thing must I do to obtain eternal life?_
Matthew 19:17 _Why do you ask Me about what is good?_ Jesus replied, _There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments._
Matthew 19:18 _Which ones?_ the man asked. Jesus answered, __Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness,
Matthew 19:19 honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.__
Matthew 19:20 _All these I have kept,_ said the young man. _What do I still lack?_
Matthew 19:21 Jesus told him, _If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me._
Matthew 19:22 When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth.
Matthew 19:23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, _Truly I tell you, it is difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 19:24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God._
Matthew 19:25 When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished and asked, _Who then can be saved?_
Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, _With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible._
Matthew 19:27 _Look,_ Peter replied, _we have left everything to follow You. What then will there be for us?_
Matthew 19:28 Jesus said to them, _Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Matthew 19:29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for the sake of My name will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.
Matthew 19:30 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.
Matthew 20:1 For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.
Matthew 20:2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
Matthew 20:3 About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace without anything to do.
Matthew 20:4 _You also go into my vineyard,_ he said, _and I will pay you whatever is right._
Matthew 20:5 So they went. He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing.
Matthew 20:6 About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. _Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?_ he asked.
Matthew 20:7 _Because no one has hired us,_ they answered. So he told them, _You also go into my vineyard._
Matthew 20:8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, _Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last ones hired and moving on to the first._
Matthew 20:9 The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius.
Matthew 20:10 So when the original workers came, they assumed they would receive more. But each of them also received a denarius.
Matthew 20:11 On receiving their pay, they began to grumble against the landowner.
Matthew 20:12 _These men who were hired last worked only one hour,_ they said, _and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day._
Matthew 20:13 But he answered one of them, _Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Did you not agree with me on one denarius?
Matthew 20:14 Take your pay and go. I want to give this last man the same as I gave you.
Matthew 20:15 Do I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?_
Matthew 20:16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last._
Matthew 20:17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside and said,
Matthew 20:18 _Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn Him to death
Matthew 20:19 and will deliver Him to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. And on the third day He will be raised to life._
Matthew 20:20 Then the mother of Zebedee_s sons came to Jesus with her sons and knelt down to make a request of Him.
Matthew 20:21 _What do you want?_ He asked. She answered, _Declare that in Your kingdom one of these two sons of mine will sit at Your right hand, and the other at Your left._
Matthew 20:22 _You do not know what you are asking,_ Jesus replied. _Are you able to drink the cup I am going to drink?_ _We are able,_ the brothers answered.
Matthew 20:23 _You will indeed drink My cup,_ Jesus said. _But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to grant. These seats belong to those for whom My Father has prepared them._
Matthew 20:24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.
Matthew 20:25 But Jesus called them aside and said, _You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them.
Matthew 20:26 It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
Matthew 20:27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave_
Matthew 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many._
Matthew 20:29 As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him.
Matthew 20:30 And there were two blind men sitting by the roadside. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, _Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!_
Matthew 20:31 The crowd chided them to be silent, but they shouted all the louder, _Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!_
Matthew 20:32 Jesus stopped and called them. _What do you want Me to do for you?_ He asked.
Matthew 20:33 _Lord,_ they answered, _let our eyes be opened._
Matthew 20:34 Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, and at once they received their sight and followed Him.
Matthew 21:1 As they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two disciples.
Matthew 21:2 _Go to the village ahead of you,_ He told them, _and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt beside her. Untie them and bring them to Me.
Matthew 21:3 If anyone questions you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away._
Matthew 21:4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
Matthew 21:5 _Say to the daughter of Zion, _See, your King comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.__
Matthew 21:6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them.
Matthew 21:7 They brought the donkey and the colt and laid their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them.
Matthew 21:8 A massive crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
Matthew 21:9 The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed were shouting: _Hosanna to the Son of David!_ _Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!_ _Hosanna in the highest!_
Matthew 21:10 When Jesus had entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, _Who is this?_
Matthew 21:11 The crowds replied, _This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee._
Matthew 21:12 Then Jesus went into the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves.
Matthew 21:13 And He declared to them, _It is written: _My house will be called a house of prayer._ But you are making it _a den of robbers.__
Matthew 21:14 The blind and the lame came to Him at the temple, and He healed them.
Matthew 21:15 But the chief priests and scribes were indignant when they saw the wonders He did and the children shouting in the temple courts, _Hosanna to the Son of David!_
Matthew 21:16 _Do you hear what these children are saying?_ they asked. _Yes,_ Jesus answered, _have you never read: _From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise_ ?_
Matthew 21:17 Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where He spent the night.
Matthew 21:18 In the morning, as Jesus was returning to the city, He was hungry.
Matthew 21:19 Seeing a fig tree along the road, He went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. _May you never bear fruit again!_ He said. And immediately the tree withered.
Matthew 21:20 When the disciples saw this, they marveled and asked, _How did the fig tree wither so quickly?_
Matthew 21:21 _Truly I tell you,_ Jesus replied, _if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, _Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,_ it will happen.
Matthew 21:22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask in prayer._
Matthew 21:23 When Jesus returned to the temple courts and began to teach, the chief priests and elders of the people came to Him. _By what authority are You doing these things?_ they asked. _And who gave You this authority?_
Matthew 21:24 _I will also ask you one question,_ Jesus replied, _and if you answer Me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
Matthew 21:25 What was the source of John_s baptism? Was it from heaven or from men?_ They deliberated among themselves and said, _If we say, _From heaven,_ He will ask, _Why then did you not believe him?_
Matthew 21:26 But if we say, _From men,_ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet._
Matthew 21:27 So they said to Jesus, _We do not know._ _Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things,_ He replied.
Matthew 21:28 _But what do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, _Son, go and work today in the vineyard._
Matthew 21:29 _I will not,_ he replied. But later he changed his mind and went.
Matthew 21:30 Then the man went to the second son and told him the same thing. _I will, sir,_ he said. But he did not go.
Matthew 21:31 Which of the two did the will of his father?_ _The first,_ they answered. Jesus said to them, _Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.
Matthew 21:32 For John came to you in a righteous way and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
Matthew 21:33 Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a tower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey.
Matthew 21:34 When the harvest time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the crop.
Matthew 21:35 But the tenants seized his servants. They beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.
Matthew 21:36 Again, he sent other servants, more than the first group. But the tenants did the same to them.
Matthew 21:37 Finally, he sent his son to them. _They will respect my son,_ he said.
Matthew 21:38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, _This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and take his inheritance!_
Matthew 21:39 And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
Matthew 21:40 Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard returns, what will he do to those tenants?_
Matthew 21:41 _He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,_ they declared, _and will rent out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his fruits in their seasons._
Matthew 21:42 Jesus said to them, _Have you never read in the Scriptures: _The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes_ ?
Matthew 21:43 Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.
Matthew 21:44 He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed._
Matthew 21:45 When the chief priests and Pharisees heard Jesus_ parables, they knew He was speaking about them.
Matthew 21:46 Although they wanted to arrest Him, they feared the crowds, because they considered Jesus a prophet.
Matthew 22:1 Once again, Jesus spoke to them in parables:
Matthew 22:2 _The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.
Matthew 22:3 He sent his servants to call those he had invited to the banquet, but they refused to come.
Matthew 22:4 Again, he sent other servants and said, _Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner. My oxen and fatlings have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet._
Matthew 22:5 But they paid no attention and went away, one to his field, and another to his business.
Matthew 22:6 The rest seized his servants, mistreated them, and killed them.
Matthew 22:7 The king was enraged. He sent his troops to destroy those murderers and burn their city.
Matthew 22:8 Then he said to his servants, _The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited were not worthy.
Matthew 22:9 Go therefore to the crossroads and invite to the banquet as many as you can find._
Matthew 22:10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered everyone they could find, both evil and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.
Matthew 22:11 But when the king came in to see the guests, he spotted a man who was not dressed in wedding clothes.
Matthew 22:12 _Friend,_ he asked, _how did you get in here without wedding clothes?_ But the man was speechless.
Matthew 22:13 Then the king told the servants, _Tie him hand and foot and throw him outside into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth._
Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen._
Matthew 22:15 Then the Pharisees went out and plotted to trap Jesus in His words.
Matthew 22:16 They sent their disciples to Him along with the Herodians. _Teacher,_ they said, _we know that You are honest and that You teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You defer to no one, because You pay no attention to external appearance.
Matthew 22:17 So tell us what You think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?_
Matthew 22:18 But Jesus was aware of their evil motives. _You hypocrites!_ He said. _Why are you testing Me?
Matthew 22:19 Show Me the coin used for the tax._ And they brought Him a denarius.
Matthew 22:20 _Whose likeness is this,_ He asked, _and whose inscription?_
Matthew 22:21 _Caesar_s,_ they answered. So Jesus told them, _Give to Caesar what is Caesar_s, and to God what is God_s._
Matthew 22:22 And when they heard this, they were amazed. So they left Him and went away.
Matthew 22:23 That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and questioned Him.
Matthew 22:24 _Teacher,_ they said, _Moses declared that if a man dies without having children, his brother is to marry the widow and raise up offspring for him.
Matthew 22:25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died without having children. So he left his wife to his brother.
Matthew 22:26 The same thing happened to the second and third brothers, down to the seventh.
Matthew 22:27 And last of all, the woman died.
Matthew 22:28 In the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be of the seven? For all of them were married to her._
Matthew 22:29 Jesus replied, _You are mistaken because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.
Matthew 22:30 In the resurrection, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like the angels in heaven.
Matthew 22:31 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what God said to you:
Matthew 22:32 _I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?_ He is not the God of the dead, but of the living._
Matthew 22:33 When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.
Matthew 22:34 And when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they themselves gathered together.
Matthew 22:35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested Him with a question:
Matthew 22:36 _Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?_
Matthew 22:37 Jesus declared, __Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind._
Matthew 22:38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
Matthew 22:39 And the second is like it: _Love your neighbor as yourself._
Matthew 22:40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments._
Matthew 22:41 While the Pharisees were assembled, Jesus questioned them:
Matthew 22:42 _What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is He?_ _David_s,_ they answered.
Matthew 22:43 Jesus said to them, _How then does David in the Spirit call Him Lord? For he says:
Matthew 22:44 _The Lord said to my Lord, _Sit at My right hand, until I put Your enemies under Your feet.__
Matthew 22:45 So if David calls Him Lord, how can He be David_s son?_
Matthew 22:46 No one was able to answer a word, and from that day on no one dared to question Him any further.
Matthew 23:1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples:
Matthew 23:2 _The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses_ seat.
Matthew 23:3 So practice and observe everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.
Matthew 23:4 They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men_s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
Matthew 23:5 All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
Matthew 23:6 They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues,
Matthew 23:7 the greetings in the marketplaces, and the title of _Rabbi_ by which they are addressed.
Matthew 23:8 But you are not to be called _Rabbi,_ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.
Matthew 23:9 And do not call anyone on earth your father, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.
Matthew 23:10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Christ.
Matthew 23:11 The greatest among you shall be your servant.
Matthew 23:12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Matthew 23:13 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men_s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter.
Matthew 23:14
Matthew 23:15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You traverse land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.
Matthew 23:16 Woe to you, blind guides! You say, _If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath._
Matthew 23:17 You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes it sacred?
Matthew 23:18 And you say, _If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath._
Matthew 23:19 You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes it sacred?
Matthew 23:20 So then, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.
Matthew 23:21 And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the One who dwells in it.
Matthew 23:22 And he who swears by heaven swears by God_s throne and by the One who sits on it.
Matthew 23:23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin, but you have disregarded the weightier matters of the Law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
Matthew 23:24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
Matthew 23:25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
Matthew 23:26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well.
Matthew 23:27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men_s bones and every impurity.
Matthew 23:28 In the same way, you appear to be righteous on the outside, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
Matthew 23:29 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous.
Matthew 23:30 And you say, _If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets._
Matthew 23:31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the sons of those who murdered the prophets.
Matthew 23:32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers_ sins.
Matthew 23:33 You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape the sentence of hell?
Matthew 23:34 Because of this, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and others you will flog in your synagogues and persecute in town after town.
Matthew 23:35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
Matthew 23:36 Truly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation.
Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!
Matthew 23:38 Look, your house is left to you desolate.
Matthew 23:39 For I tell you that you will not see Me again until you say, _Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.__
Matthew 24:1 As Jesus left the temple and was walking away, His disciples came up to Him to point out its buildings.
Matthew 24:2 _Do you see all these things?_ He replied. _Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be toppled._
Matthew 24:3 While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately. _Tell us,_ they said, _when will all this happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?_
Matthew 24:4 Jesus answered, _See to it that no one deceives you.
Matthew 24:5 For many will come in My name, claiming, _I am the Christ,_ and will deceive many.
Matthew 24:6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come.
Matthew 24:7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
Matthew 24:8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.
Matthew 24:9 Then they will hand you over to be persecuted and killed, and you will be hated by all nations on account of My name.
Matthew 24:10 At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another,
Matthew 24:11 and many false prophets will arise and mislead many.
Matthew 24:12 Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.
Matthew 24:13 But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Matthew 24:15 So when you see standing in the holy place _the abomination of desolation,_ described by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand),
Matthew 24:16 then let those in Judea flee to the mountains.
Matthew 24:17 Let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve anything from his house.
Matthew 24:18 And let no one in the field return for his cloak.
Matthew 24:19 How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers!
Matthew 24:20 Pray that your flight will not occur in the winter or on the Sabbath.
Matthew 24:21 For at that time there will be great tribulation, unmatched from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again.
Matthew 24:22 If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be shortened.
Matthew 24:23 At that time, if anyone says to you, _Look, here is the Christ!_ or _There He is,_ do not believe it.
Matthew 24:24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible.
Matthew 24:25 See, I have told you in advance.
Matthew 24:26 So if they tell you, _There He is in the wilderness,_ do not go out; or, _Here He is in the inner rooms,_ do not believe it.
Matthew 24:27 For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Matthew 24:28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.
Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days: _The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken._
Matthew 24:30 At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.
Matthew 24:31 And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
Matthew 24:32 Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near.
Matthew 24:33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that He is near, right at the door.
Matthew 24:34 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened.
Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
Matthew 24:36 No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Matthew 24:37 As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.
Matthew 24:38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark.
Matthew 24:39 And they were oblivious, until the flood came and swept them all away. So will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Matthew 24:40 Two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.
Matthew 24:41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.
Matthew 24:42 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come.
Matthew 24:43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.
Matthew 24:44 For this reason, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.
Matthew 24:45 Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household, to give the others their food at the proper time?
Matthew 24:46 Blessed is that servant whose master returns and finds him doing his job.
Matthew 24:47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
Matthew 24:48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says in his heart, _My master will be away a long time._
Matthew 24:49 And he begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards.
Matthew 24:50 The master of that servant will come on a day he does not anticipate and at an hour he does not expect.
Matthew 24:51 Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 25:1 At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Matthew 25:2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
Matthew 25:3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take along any extra oil.
Matthew 25:4 But the wise ones took oil in flasks along with their lamps.
Matthew 25:5 When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
Matthew 25:6 At midnight the cry went out: _Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!_
Matthew 25:7 Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.
Matthew 25:8 The foolish ones said to the wise, _Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out._
Matthew 25:9 _No,_ said the wise ones, _or there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves._
Matthew 25:10 But while they were on their way to buy it, the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut.
Matthew 25:11 Later, the other virgins arrived and said _Lord, Lord, open the door for us!_
Matthew 25:12 But he replied, _Truly I tell you, I do not know you._
Matthew 25:13 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Matthew 25:14 For it is just like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them with his possessions.
Matthew 25:15 To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent_each according to his own ability. And he promptly went on his journey.
Matthew 25:16 The servant who had received five talents went and put them to work, and gained five more.
Matthew 25:17 Likewise, the one with two talents gained two more.
Matthew 25:18 But the servant who had received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master_s money.
Matthew 25:19 After a long time, the master of those servants returned to settle accounts with them.
Matthew 25:20 The servant who had received five talents came and presented five more. _Master,_ he said, _you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more._
Matthew 25:21 His master replied, _Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!_
Matthew 25:22 Then the servant who had received two talents also came and said, _Master, you entrusted me with two talents. See, I have gained two more._
Matthew 25:23 His master replied, _Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!_
Matthew 25:24 Finally, the servant who had received one talent came and said, _Master, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
Matthew 25:25 So in my fear, I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what belongs to you._
Matthew 25:26 _You wicked, lazy servant!_ replied his master. _You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed.
Matthew 25:27 Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received it back with interest.
Matthew 25:28 Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents.
Matthew 25:29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
Matthew 25:30 And throw that worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth._
Matthew 25:31 When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne.
Matthew 25:32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
Matthew 25:33 He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.
Matthew 25:34 Then the King will say to those on His right, _Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Matthew 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in,
Matthew 25:36 I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me._
Matthew 25:37 Then the righteous will answer Him, _Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink?
Matthew 25:38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?
Matthew 25:39 When did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?_
Matthew 25:40 And the King will reply, _Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me._
Matthew 25:41 Then He will say to those on His left, _Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
Matthew 25:42 For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink,
Matthew 25:43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not visit Me._
Matthew 25:44 And they too will reply, _Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?_
Matthew 25:45 Then the King will answer, _Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me._
Matthew 25:46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life._
Matthew 26:1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, He told His disciples,
Matthew 26:2 _You know that the Passover begins in two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified._
Matthew 26:3 At that time, the chief priests and elders of the people assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,
Matthew 26:4 and they conspired to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him.
Matthew 26:5 _But not during the feast,_ they said, _or there may be a riot among the people._
Matthew 26:6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the leper,
Matthew 26:7 a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, which she poured on His head as He reclined at the table.
Matthew 26:8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant and asked, _Why this waste?
Matthew 26:9 This perfume could have been sold at a high price, and the money given to the poor._
Matthew 26:10 Aware of this, Jesus asked, _Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful deed to Me.
Matthew 26:11 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me.
Matthew 26:12 By pouring this perfume on Me, she has prepared My body for burial.
Matthew 26:13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached in all the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her._
Matthew 26:14 Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests
Matthew 26:15 and asked, _What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?_ And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver.
Matthew 26:16 So from that time on Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
Matthew 26:17 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, _Where do you want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?_
Matthew 26:18 He answered, _Go into the city to a certain man and tell him that the Teacher says, _My time is near. I will keep the Passover with My disciples at your house.__
Matthew 26:19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.
Matthew 26:20 When evening came, He was reclining with the twelve disciples.
Matthew 26:21 And while they were eating, He said to them, _Truly I tell you, one of you will betray Me._
Matthew 26:22 They were deeply grieved and began to ask Him one after another, _Surely not I, Lord?_
Matthew 26:23 Jesus answered, _The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with Me will betray Me.
Matthew 26:24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed. It would be better for him if he had not been born._
Matthew 26:25 Then Judas, who would betray Him, said, _Surely not I, Rabbi?_ Jesus answered, _You have said it yourself._
Matthew 26:26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, _Take and eat; this is My body._
Matthew 26:27 Then He took the cup, gave thanks and gave it to them, saying, _Drink from it, all of you.
Matthew 26:28 This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Matthew 26:29 I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until the day when I drink it anew with you in My Father_s kingdom._
Matthew 26:30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Matthew 26:31 Then Jesus said to them, _This very night you will all fall away on account of Me. For it is written: _I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered._
Matthew 26:32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee._
Matthew 26:33 Peter said to Him, _Even if all fall away on account of You, I never will._
Matthew 26:34 _Truly I tell you,_ Jesus declared, _this very night before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times._
Matthew 26:35 Peter replied, _Even if I must die with You, I will never deny You._ And the rest of the disciples said the same.
Matthew 26:36 At that time Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He told them, _Sit here while I go over there and pray._
Matthew 26:37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.
Matthew 26:38 Then He said to them, _My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me._
Matthew 26:39 Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, _My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will._
Matthew 26:40 Then Jesus returned to the disciples and found them sleeping. _Were you not able to keep watch with Me for one hour?_ He asked Peter.
Matthew 26:41 _Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak._
Matthew 26:42 A second time He went away and prayed, _My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, may Your will be done._
Matthew 26:43 Again Jesus returned and found them sleeping_for their eyes were heavy.
Matthew 26:44 So He left them and went away once more and prayed a third time, saying the same thing.
Matthew 26:45 Then He returned to the disciples and said, _Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Matthew 26:46 Rise, let us go! See, My betrayer is approaching!_
Matthew 26:47 While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and elders of the people.
Matthew 26:48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: _The one I kiss is the man; arrest Him._
Matthew 26:49 Going directly to Jesus, he said, _Greetings, Rabbi,_ and kissed Him.
Matthew 26:50 _Friend,_ Jesus replied, _do what you came for._ Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus, and arrested Him.
Matthew 26:51 At this, one of Jesus_ companions drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
Matthew 26:52 _Put your sword back in its place,_ Jesus said to him. _For all who draw the sword will die by the sword.
Matthew 26:53 Are you not aware that I can call on My Father, and He will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?
Matthew 26:54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?_
Matthew 26:55 At that time Jesus said to the crowd, _Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would an outlaw? Every day I sat teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest Me.
Matthew 26:56 But this has all happened so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled._ Then all the disciples deserted Him and fled.
Matthew 26:57 Those who had arrested Jesus led Him away to the house of Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and elders had gathered.
Matthew 26:58 But Peter followed Him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. And he went in and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.
Matthew 26:59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death.
Matthew 26:60 But they could not find it, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward
Matthew 26:61 and said, _This man declared, _I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.__
Matthew 26:62 So the high priest stood up and asked Him, _Have you no answer? What are these men testifying against you?_
Matthew 26:63 But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to Him, _I charge You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God._
Matthew 26:64 _You have said it yourself,_ Jesus answered. _But I say to all of you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven._
Matthew 26:65 At this, the high priest tore his garments and said, _He has blasphemed! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.
Matthew 26:66 What do you think?_ _He deserves to die,_ they answered.
Matthew 26:67 Then they spat in His face and struck Him. Others slapped Him,
Matthew 26:68 and said, _Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit You?_
Matthew 26:69 Meanwhile, Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came up to him. _You were also with Jesus the Galilean,_ she said.
Matthew 26:70 But he denied it before them all: _I do not know what you are talking about._
Matthew 26:71 When Peter had gone out to the gateway, another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, _This man was with Jesus of Nazareth._
Matthew 26:72 And again he denied it with an oath: _I do not know the man!_
Matthew 26:73 After a little while, those standing nearby came up to Peter. _Surely you are one of them,_ they said, _for your accent gives you away._
Matthew 26:74 At that, he began to curse and swear to them, _I do not know the man!_ And immediately a rooster crowed.
Matthew 26:75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: _Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times._ And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Matthew 27:1 When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people conspired against Jesus to put Him to death.
Matthew 27:2 They bound Him, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate the governor.
Matthew 27:3 When Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was filled with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders.
Matthew 27:4 _I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,_ he said. _What is that to us?_ they replied. _You bear the responsibility._
Matthew 27:5 So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
Matthew 27:6 The chief priests picked up the pieces of silver and said, _It is unlawful to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money._
Matthew 27:7 After conferring together, they used the money to buy the potter_s field as a burial place for foreigners.
Matthew 27:8 That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day.
Matthew 27:9 Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: _They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on Him by the people of Israel,
Matthew 27:10 and they gave them for the potter_s field, as the Lord had commanded me._
Matthew 27:11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, who questioned Him: _Are You the King of the Jews?_ _You have said so,_ Jesus answered.
Matthew 27:12 And when He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He gave no answer.
Matthew 27:13 Then Pilate asked Him, _Do You not hear how many charges they are bringing against You?_
Matthew 27:14 But Jesus gave no answer, not even to a single charge, much to the governor_s amazement.
Matthew 27:15 Now it was the governor_s custom at the feast to release to the crowd a prisoner of their choosing.
Matthew 27:16 At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner named Barabbas.
Matthew 27:17 So when the crowd had assembled, Pilate asked them, _Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?_
Matthew 27:18 For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over.
Matthew 27:19 While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: _Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered terribly in a dream today because of Him._
Matthew 27:20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus put to death.
Matthew 27:21 _Which of the two do you want me to release to you?_ asked the governor. _Barabbas,_ they replied.
Matthew 27:22 _What then should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?_ Pilate asked. They all answered, _Crucify Him!_
Matthew 27:23 _Why?_ asked Pilate. _What has He done wrong?_ But they shouted all the louder, _Crucify Him!_
Matthew 27:24 When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. _I am innocent of this man_s blood,_ he said. _You shall bear the responsibility._
Matthew 27:25 All the people answered, _His blood be on us and on our children!_
Matthew 27:26 So Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged and handed Him over to be crucified.
Matthew 27:27 Then the governor_s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company around Him.
Matthew 27:28 They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him.
Matthew 27:29 And they twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand and knelt down before Him to mock Him, saying, _Hail, King of the Jews!_
Matthew 27:30 And they spat on Him, and took the staff and struck Him on the head repeatedly.
Matthew 27:31 After they had mocked Him, they removed the robe and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him away to crucify Him.
Matthew 27:32 Along the way they found a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross of Jesus.
Matthew 27:33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means The Place of the Skull,
Matthew 27:34 they offered Him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, He refused to drink it.
Matthew 27:35 When they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments by casting lots.
Matthew 27:36 And sitting down, they kept watch over Him there.
Matthew 27:37 Above His head they posted the written charge against Him: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.
Matthew 27:38 Two robbers were crucified with Him, one on His right hand and the other on His left.
Matthew 27:39 And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads,
Matthew 27:40 and saying, _You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!_
Matthew 27:41 Likewise, the chief priests, scribes, and elders mocked Him, saying,
Matthew 27:42 _He saved others, but He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him.
Matthew 27:43 He trusts in God. Let God deliver Him now if He wants Him. For He said, _I am the Son of God.__
Matthew 27:44 In the same way, even the robbers who were crucified with Him berated Him.
Matthew 27:45 From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.
Matthew 27:46 About the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, _Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?_ which means, _My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?_
Matthew 27:47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, _He is calling Elijah._
Matthew 27:48 One of them quickly ran and brought a sponge. He filled it with vinegar, put it on a reed, and held it up for Jesus to drink.
Matthew 27:49 But the others said, _Leave Him alone. Let us see if Elijah comes to save Him._
Matthew 27:50 When Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He yielded up His spirit.
Matthew 27:51 At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split.
Matthew 27:52 The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised.
Matthew 27:53 After Jesus_ resurrection, when they had come out of the tombs, they entered the holy city and appeared to many people.
Matthew 27:54 When the centurion and those with him guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified and said, _Truly this was the Son of God._
Matthew 27:55 And many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to minister to Him.
Matthew 27:56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee_s sons.
Matthew 27:57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who himself was a disciple of Jesus.
Matthew 27:58 He went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him.
Matthew 27:59 So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
Matthew 27:60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut into the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance to the tomb and went away.
Matthew 27:61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.
Matthew 27:62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and Pharisees assembled before Pilate.
Matthew 27:63 _Sir,_ they said, _we remember that while He was alive that deceiver said _After three days I will rise again._
Matthew 27:64 So give the order that the tomb be secured until the third day. Otherwise, His disciples may come and steal Him away and tell the people He has risen from the dead. And this last deception would be worse than the first._
Matthew 27:65 _You have a guard,_ Pilate said. _Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how._
Matthew 27:66 So they went and secured the tomb by sealing the stone and posting the guard.
Matthew 28:1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.
Matthew 28:2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled away the stone, and sat on it.
Matthew 28:3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.
Matthew 28:4 The guards trembled in fear of him and became like dead men.
Matthew 28:5 But the angel said to the women, _Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
Matthew 28:6 He is not here; He has risen, just as He said! Come, see the place where He lay.
Matthew 28:7 Then go quickly and tell His disciples, _He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him._ See, I have told you._
Matthew 28:8 So they hurried away from the tomb in fear and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples.
Matthew 28:9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, _Greetings!_ They came to Him, grasped His feet, and worshiped Him.
Matthew 28:10 _Do not be afraid,_ said Jesus. _Go, tell My brothers to go to Galilee. There they will see Me._
Matthew 28:11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened.
Matthew 28:12 After the chief priests had met with the elders and formed a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money
Matthew 28:13 and instructed them: _You are to say, _His disciples came by night and stole His body while we were asleep._
Matthew 28:14 If this report reaches the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble._
Matthew 28:15 So the guards took the money and did as they were instructed. And this account has been circulated among the Jews to this very day.
Matthew 28:16 Meanwhile, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain Jesus had designated.
Matthew 28:17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him, but some doubted.
Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, _All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
Matthew 28:20 and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age._
Mark 1:1 This is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Mark 1:2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: _Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way._
Mark 1:3 _A voice of one calling in the wilderness, _Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.__
Mark 1:4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Mark 1:5 People went out to him from all of Jerusalem and the countryside of Judea. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
Mark 1:6 John was clothed in camel_s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
Mark 1:7 And he began to proclaim: _After me will come One more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
Mark 1:8 I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit._
Mark 1:9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
Mark 1:10 As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens breaking open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove.
Mark 1:11 And a voice came from heaven: _You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased._
Mark 1:12 At once the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness,
Mark 1:13 and He was there for forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels ministered to Him.
Mark 1:14 After the arrest of John, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God.
Mark 1:15 _The time is fulfilled,_ He said, _and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!_
Mark 1:16 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
Mark 1:17 _Come, follow Me,_ Jesus said, _and I will make you fishers of men._
Mark 1:18 And at once they left their nets and followed Him.
Mark 1:19 Going on a little farther, He saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat, mending their nets.
Mark 1:20 Immediately Jesus called them, and leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, they followed Him.
Mark 1:21 Then Jesus and His companions went to Capernaum, and as soon as the Sabbath began, Jesus entered the synagogue and began to teach.
Mark 1:22 The people were astonished at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.
Mark 1:23 Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue:
Mark 1:24 _What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are_the Holy One of God!_
Mark 1:25 But Jesus rebuked the spirit and said, _Be silent! Come out of him!_
Mark 1:26 At this, the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and came out with a loud shriek.
Mark 1:27 All the people were amazed and began to ask one another, _What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!_
Mark 1:28 And the news about Jesus spread quickly through the whole region of Galilee.
Mark 1:29 As soon as Jesus and His companions had left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew.
Mark 1:30 Simon_s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever, and they promptly told Jesus about her.
Mark 1:31 So He went to her, took her by the hand, and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them.
Mark 1:32 That evening, after sunset, people brought to Him all who were sick and demon-possessed,
Mark 1:33 and the whole town gathered at the door.
Mark 1:34 And Jesus healed many who were ill with various diseases and drove out many demons. But He would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.
Mark 1:35 Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and slipped out to a solitary place to pray.
Mark 1:36 Simon and his companions went to look for Him,
Mark 1:37 and when they found Him, they said, _Everyone is looking for You!_
Mark 1:38 But Jesus answered, _Let us go on to the neighboring towns so I can preach there as well, for that is why I have come._
Mark 1:39 So He went throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
Mark 1:40 Then a leper came to Jesus, begging on his knees: _If You are willing, You can make me clean._
Mark 1:41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. _I am willing,_ He said, _Be clean._
Mark 1:42 Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.
Mark 1:43 Jesus promptly sent him away with a stern warning:
Mark 1:44 _See that you don_t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them._
Mark 1:45 But the man went out and openly began to proclaim and spread the news. Consequently, Jesus could no longer enter a town in plain view, but He stayed out in solitary places. Yet people came to Him from every quarter.
Mark 2:1 A few days later, Jesus went back to Capernaum. And when the people heard He was home,
Mark 2:2 they gathered in such large numbers that there was no more room, not even outside the door, as Jesus spoke the word to them.
Mark 2:3 Then a paralytic was brought to Him, carried by four men.
Mark 2:4 Since they were unable to get to Jesus through the crowd, they uncovered the roof above Him, made an opening, and lowered the paralytic on his mat.
Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, _Son, your sins are forgiven._
Mark 2:6 But some of the scribes were sitting there and contemplating in their hearts,
Mark 2:7 _Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?_
Mark 2:8 At once Jesus knew in His spirit that they were considering this within themselves. _Why do you question these things in your hearts?_ He asked.
Mark 2:9 _Which is easier: to say to a paralyzed man, _Your sins are forgiven,_ or to say, _Get up, pick up your mat, and walk_?
Mark 2:10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins..._ He said to the paralytic,
Mark 2:11 _I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home._
Mark 2:12 And immediately the man got up, picked up his mat, and walked out in front of them all. As a result, everyone was amazed and glorified God, saying, _We have never seen anything like this!_
Mark 2:13 Once again Jesus went out beside the sea. All the people came to Him, and He taught them there.
Mark 2:14 As He was walking along, He saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth. _Follow Me,_ He told him, and Levi got up and followed Him.
Mark 2:15 While Jesus was dining at Levi_s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Him and His disciples_for there were many who followed Him.
Mark 2:16 When the scribes who were Pharisees saw Jesus eating with these people, they asked His disciples, _Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?_
Mark 2:17 On hearing this, Jesus told them, _It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners._
Mark 2:18 Now John_s disciples and the Pharisees were often fasting. So people came to Jesus and asked, _Why don_t Your disciples fast like John_s disciples and those of the Pharisees?_
Mark 2:19 Jesus answered, _Can the guests of the bridegroom fast while He is with them? As long as He is with them, they cannot fast.
Mark 2:20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast.
Mark 2:21 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, and a worse tear will result.
Mark 2:22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. Instead, new wine is poured into new wineskins._
Mark 2:23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and His disciples began to pick the heads of grain as they walked along.
Mark 2:24 So the Pharisees said to Him, _Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?_
Mark 2:25 But Jesus replied, _Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need?
Mark 2:26 During the high priesthood of Abiathar, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which was lawful only for the priests. And he gave some to his companions as well._
Mark 2:27 Then Jesus told them, _The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
Mark 2:28 Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath._
Mark 3:1 Once again Jesus entered the synagogue, and a man with a withered hand was there.
Mark 3:2 In order to accuse Him, they were watching to see if He would heal on the Sabbath.
Mark 3:3 Then Jesus said to the man with the withered hand, _Stand up among us._
Mark 3:4 And He asked them, _Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?_ But they were silent.
Mark 3:5 Jesus looked around at them with anger and sorrow at their hardness of heart. Then He said to the man, _Stretch out your hand._ So he stretched it out, and it was restored.
Mark 3:6 At this, the Pharisees went out and plotted with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.
Mark 3:7 So Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea, accompanied by a large crowd from Galilee, Judea,
Mark 3:8 Jerusalem, Idumea, the region beyond the Jordan, and the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon. The large crowd came to Him when they heard what great things He was doing.
Mark 3:9 Jesus asked His disciples to have a boat ready for Him so that the crowd would not crush Him.
Mark 3:10 For He had healed so many that all who had diseases were pressing forward to touch Him.
Mark 3:11 And when the unclean spirits saw Him, they fell down before Him and cried out, _You are the Son of God!_
Mark 3:12 But He ordered them sternly not to make Him known.
Mark 3:13 Then Jesus went up on the mountain and called for those He wanted, and they came to Him.
Mark 3:14 He appointed twelve of them whom He designated as apostles, to accompany Him, to be sent out to preach,
Mark 3:15 and to have authority to drive out demons.
Mark 3:16 These are the twelve He appointed: Simon (whom He named Peter),
Mark 3:17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (whom He named Boanerges, meaning Sons of Thunder),
Mark 3:18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot,
Mark 3:19 and Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed Him.
Mark 3:20 Then Jesus went home, and once again a crowd gathered, so that He and His disciples could not even eat.
Mark 3:21 When His family heard about this, they went out to take custody of Him, saying, _He is out of His mind._
Mark 3:22 And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, _He is possessed by Beelzebul,_ and, _By the prince of the demons He drives out demons._
Mark 3:23 So Jesus called them together and began to speak to them in parables: _How can Satan drive out Satan?
Mark 3:24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, it cannot stand.
Mark 3:25 If a house is divided against itself, it cannot stand.
Mark 3:26 And if Satan is divided and rises against himself, he cannot stand; his end has come.
Mark 3:27 Indeed, no one can enter a strong man_s house to steal his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.
Mark 3:28 Truly I tell you, the sons of men will be forgiven all sins and blasphemies, as many as they utter.
Mark 3:29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of eternal sin._
Mark 3:30 Jesus made this statement because they were claiming, _He has an unclean spirit._
Mark 3:31 Then Jesus_ mother and brothers came and stood outside. They sent someone in to summon Him,
Mark 3:32 and a crowd was sitting around Him. _Look,_ He was told, _Your mother and brothers are outside, asking for You._
Mark 3:33 But Jesus replied, _Who are My mother and My brothers?_
Mark 3:34 Looking at those seated in a circle around Him, He said, _Here are My mother and My brothers!
Mark 3:35 For whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother._
Mark 4:1 Once again, Jesus began to teach beside the sea, and such a large crowd gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat in it. All the people crowded along the shore,
Mark 4:2 and He taught them many things in parables. And in His teaching He said,
Mark 4:3 _Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.
Mark 4:4 As he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.
Mark 4:5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.
Mark 4:6 But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
Mark 4:7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings, and they yielded no crop.
Mark 4:8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it sprouted, grew up, and produced a crop_one bearing thirtyfold, another sixtyfold, and another a hundredfold._
Mark 4:9 Then Jesus said, _He who has ears to hear, let him hear._
Mark 4:10 As soon as Jesus was alone with the Twelve and those around Him, they asked Him about the parable.
Mark 4:11 And He told them, _The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside, everything is expressed in parables,
Mark 4:12 so that, _they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven.__
Mark 4:13 Then Jesus said to them, _Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables?
Mark 4:14 The farmer sows the word.
Mark 4:15 Some are like the seeds along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.
Mark 4:16 Others are like the seeds sown on rocky places. They hear the word and at once receive it with joy.
Mark 4:17 But they themselves have no root, and they remain for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
Mark 4:18 Still others are like the seeds sown among the thorns. They hear the word,
Mark 4:19 but the cares of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
Mark 4:20 Yet others are like the seeds sown on good soil. They hear the word, receive it, and produce a crop_thirtyfold, sixtyfold, or a hundredfold._
Mark 4:21 Jesus also said to them, _Does anyone bring in a lamp so he can place it under a basket or under a bed? Doesn_t he set it on a lampstand?
Mark 4:22 For everything hidden is meant to be revealed, and everything concealed is meant to be brought to light.
Mark 4:23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear._
Mark 4:24 He went on to say, _Pay attention to what you hear. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and even more will be added to you.
Mark 4:25 For whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him._
Mark 4:26 Jesus also said, _The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground.
Mark 4:27 Night and day he sleeps and wakes, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he knows not how.
Mark 4:28 All by itself the earth produces a crop_first the stalk, then the head, then grain that ripens within.
Mark 4:29 And as soon as the grain is ripe, he swings the sickle, because the harvest has come._
Mark 4:30 Then He asked, _To what can we compare the kingdom of God? With what parable shall we present it?
Mark 4:31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds sown upon the earth.
Mark 4:32 But after it is planted, it grows to be larger than all garden plants and puts forth great branches, so that the birds of the air nest in its shade._
Mark 4:33 With many such parables Jesus spoke the word to them, to the extent that they could understand.
Mark 4:34 He did not say anything to them without a parable. But privately He explained all things to His own disciples.
Mark 4:35 When that evening came, He said to His disciples, _Let us go across to the other side._
Mark 4:36 After they had dismissed the crowd, they took Jesus with them, since He was already in the boat. And there were other boats with Him.
Mark 4:37 Soon a violent windstorm came up, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was being swamped.
Mark 4:38 But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him and said, _Teacher, don_t You care that we are perishing?_
Mark 4:39 Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. _Silence!_ He commanded. _Be still!_ And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm.
Mark 4:40 _Why are you so afraid?_ He asked. _Do you still have no faith?_
Mark 4:41 Overwhelmed with fear, they asked one another, _Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?_
Mark 5:1 On the other side of the sea, they arrived in the region of the Gerasenes.
Mark 5:2 As soon as Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came from the tombs and met Him.
Mark 5:3 He had been living in the tombs and could no longer be restrained, even with chains.
Mark 5:4 Though he was often bound with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains and shattered the shackles. Now no one had the strength to subdue him.
Mark 5:5 Night and day in the tombs and in the mountains, he kept crying out and cutting himself with stones.
Mark 5:6 When the man saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees before Him.
Mark 5:7 And he shouted in a loud voice, _What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You before God not to torture me._
Mark 5:8 For Jesus had already declared, _Come out of this man, you unclean spirit!_
Mark 5:9 _What is your name?_ Jesus asked. _My name is Legion,_ he replied, _for we are many._
Mark 5:10 And he begged Jesus repeatedly not to send them out of that region.
Mark 5:11 There on the nearby hillside a large herd of pigs was feeding.
Mark 5:12 So the demons begged Jesus, _Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them._
Mark 5:13 He gave them permission, and the unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs, and the herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the water.
Mark 5:14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened.
Mark 5:15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons sitting there, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.
Mark 5:16 Those who had seen it described what had happened to the demon-possessed man and also to the pigs.
Mark 5:17 And the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.
Mark 5:18 As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by the demons begged to go with Him.
Mark 5:19 But Jesus would not allow him. _Go home to your own people,_ He said, _and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy He has shown you._
Mark 5:20 So the man went away and began to proclaim throughout the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And everyone was amazed.
Mark 5:21 When Jesus had again crossed by boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him beside the sea.
Mark 5:22 A synagogue leader named Jairus arrived, and seeing Jesus, he fell at His feet
Mark 5:23 and pleaded with Him urgently, _My little daughter is near death. Please come and place Your hands on her, so that she will be healed and live._
Mark 5:24 So Jesus went with him, and a large crowd followed and pressed around Him.
Mark 5:25 And a woman was there who had been afflicted for twelve years by an issue of bleeding.
Mark 5:26 She had suffered greatly under the care of many physicians and had spent all she had, but to no avail. Instead, her condition had only grown worse.
Mark 5:27 When the woman heard about Jesus, she came up through the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak.
Mark 5:28 For she kept saying, _If I only touch His clothes, I will be healed._
Mark 5:29 At that instant, her bleeding stopped, and she sensed in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
Mark 5:30 At once Jesus was aware that power had gone out from Him. Turning to the crowd, He asked, _Who touched My clothes?_
Mark 5:31 His disciples answered, _You can see the crowd pressing in on You, and yet You ask, _Who touched Me?__
Mark 5:32 But He kept looking around to see who had done this.
Mark 5:33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him trembling in fear, and she told Him the whole truth.
Mark 5:34 _Daughter,_ said Jesus, _your faith has healed you; go in peace and be free of your affliction._
Mark 5:35 While He was still speaking, messengers from the house of Jairus arrived and said, _Your daughter is dead; why bother the Teacher anymore?_
Mark 5:36 But Jesus overheard their conversation and said to Jairus, _Do not be afraid; just believe._
Mark 5:37 And He did not allow anyone to accompany Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.
Mark 5:38 When they arrived at the house of Jairus, Jesus saw the commotion and the people weeping and wailing loudly.
Mark 5:39 He went inside and asked, _Why all this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead, but asleep._
Mark 5:40 And they laughed at Him. After He had sent them all out, He took the child_s father and mother and His own companions, and went in to see the child.
Mark 5:41 Taking her by the hand, Jesus said, _Talitha koum!_ which means, _Little girl, I say to you, get up!_
Mark 5:42 Immediately the girl got up and began to walk around. She was twelve years old, and at once they were overcome with astonishment.
Mark 5:43 Then Jesus gave strict orders that no one should know about this, and He told them to give her something to eat.
Mark 6:1 Jesus went on from there and came to His hometown, accompanied by His disciples.
Mark 6:2 When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished. _Where did this man get these ideas?_ they asked. _What is this wisdom He has been given? And how can He perform such miracles?
Mark 6:3 Isn_t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon? Aren_t His sisters here with us as well?_ And they took offense at Him.
Mark 6:4 Then Jesus told them, _A prophet is without honor only in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own household._
Mark 6:5 So He could not perform any miracles there, except to lay His hands on a few of the sick and heal them.
Mark 6:6 And amazed at their unbelief, He went around teaching from village to village.
Mark 6:7 Then Jesus called the Twelve to Him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits.
Mark 6:8 He instructed them to take nothing but a staff for the journey_no bread, no bag, no money in their belts_
Mark 6:9 and to wear sandals, but not a second tunic.
Mark 6:10 And He told them, _When you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town.
Mark 6:11 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that place, as a testimony against them._
Mark 6:12 So they went out and preached that the people should repent.
Mark 6:13 They also drove out many demons and healed many of the sick, anointing them with oil.
Mark 6:14 Now King Herod heard about this, for Jesus_ name had become well known, and people were saying, _John the Baptist has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him._
Mark 6:15 Others said, _He is Elijah,_ and still others, _He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old._
Mark 6:16 But when Herod heard this, he said, _John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!_
Mark 6:17 For Herod himself had ordered that John be arrested and bound and imprisoned, on account of his brother Philip_s wife Herodias, whom Herod had married.
Mark 6:18 For John had been telling Herod, _It is not lawful for you to have your brother_s wife!_
Mark 6:19 So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she had been unable,
Mark 6:20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing he was a righteous and holy man. When he heard John_s words, he was greatly perplexed; yet he listened to him gladly.
Mark 6:21 On Herod_s birthday, her opportunity arose. Herod held a banquet for his nobles and military commanders, as well as the leading men of Galilee.
Mark 6:22 When the daughter of Herodias came and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests, and the king said to the girl, _Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you._
Mark 6:23 And he swore to her, _Whatever you ask of me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom!_
Mark 6:24 Then she went out and said to her mother, _What should I ask for?_ And Herodias answered, _The head of John the Baptist._
Mark 6:25 At once the girl hurried back to the king with her request: _I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately._
Mark 6:26 The king was overwhelmed with sorrow, but because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to refuse her.
Mark 6:27 So without delay, the king commanded that John_s head be brought in. He sent an executioner who went and beheaded him in the prison.
Mark 6:28 The man brought John_s head on a platter and presented it to the girl, who gave it to her mother.
Mark 6:29 When John_s disciples heard about this, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
Mark 6:30 Meanwhile, the apostles gathered around Jesus and brought Him news of all they had done and taught.
Mark 6:31 And He said to them, _Come with Me privately to a solitary place, and let us rest for a while._ For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.
Mark 6:32 So they went away in a boat by themselves to a solitary place.
Mark 6:33 But many people saw them leaving and recognized them. They ran together on foot from all the towns and arrived before them.
Mark 6:34 When Jesus stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And He began to teach them many things.
Mark 6:35 By now the hour was already late. So the disciples came to Jesus and said, _This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late.
Mark 6:36 Dismiss the crowd so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat._
Mark 6:37 But Jesus told them, _You give to them something to eat._ They asked Him, _Should we go out and spend two hundred denarii to give all of them bread to eat?_
Mark 6:38 _Go and see how many loaves you have,_ He told them. And after checking they said, _Five, and two fish._
Mark 6:39 Then Jesus directed them to have the people sit in groups on the green grass.
Mark 6:40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties.
Mark 6:41 Taking the five loaves and two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to His disciples to set before the people. And He divided the two fish among them all.
Mark 6:42 They all ate and were satisfied,
Mark 6:43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.
Mark 6:44 And there were five thousand men who ate the loaves.
Mark 6:45 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and cross over ahead of Him to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd.
Mark 6:46 After bidding them farewell, He went up on the mountain to pray.
Mark 6:47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and Jesus was alone on land.
Mark 6:48 He could see that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. He intended to pass by them,
Mark 6:49 but when they saw Him walking on the sea, they cried out, thinking He was a ghost_
Mark 6:50 for they all saw Him and were terrified. But Jesus spoke up at once: _Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid._
Mark 6:51 Then He climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. And the disciples were utterly astounded,
Mark 6:52 for they had not understood about the loaves, but their hearts had been hardened.
Mark 6:53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret, where they moored the boat.
Mark 6:54 As soon as they got out of the boat, the people recognized Jesus
Mark 6:55 and ran through that whole region, carrying the sick on mats to wherever they heard He was.
Mark 6:56 And wherever He went_villages and towns and countrysides_they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged Him to let them just touch the fringe of His cloak. And all who touched Him were healed.
Mark 7:1 Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus,
Mark 7:2 and they saw some of His disciples eating with hands that were defiled_that is, unwashed.
Mark 7:3 Now in holding to the tradition of the elders, the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat until they wash their hands ceremonially.
Mark 7:4 And on returning from the market, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions for them to observe, including the washing of cups, pitchers, kettles, and couches for dining.
Mark 7:5 So the Pharisees and scribes questioned Jesus: _Why do Your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders? Instead, they eat with defiled hands._
Mark 7:6 Jesus answered them, _Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: _These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.
Mark 7:7 They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men._
Mark 7:8 You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men._
Mark 7:9 He went on to say, _You neatly set aside the commandment of God to maintain your own tradition.
Mark 7:10 For Moses said, _Honor your Father and your mother,_ and, _Whoever curses his father or mother must be put to death._
Mark 7:11 But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, _Whatever you would have received from me is Corban_ (that is, a gift committed to God),
Mark 7:12 he is no longer permitted to do anything for his father or mother.
Mark 7:13 Thus you nullify the word of God by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so in many such matters._
Mark 7:14 Once again Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, _All of you, listen to Me and understand:
Mark 7:15 Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him; but the things that come out of a man, these are what defile him._
Mark 7:16
Mark 7:17 After Jesus had left the crowd and gone into the house, His disciples inquired about the parable.
Mark 7:18 _Are you still so dull?_ He asked. _Do you not understand? Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him,
Mark 7:19 because it does not enter his heart, but it goes into his stomach and then is eliminated._ (Thus all foods are clean.)
Mark 7:20 He continued: _What comes out of a man, that is what defiles him.
Mark 7:21 For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
Mark 7:22 greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness.
Mark 7:23 All these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man._
Mark 7:24 Jesus left that place and went to the region of Tyre. Not wanting anyone to know He was there, He entered a house, but was unable to escape their notice.
Mark 7:25 Instead, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit soon heard about Jesus, and she came and fell at His feet.
Mark 7:26 Now she was a Greek woman of Syrophoenician origin, and she kept asking Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.
Mark 7:27 _First let the children have their fill,_ He said. _For it is not right to take the children_s bread and toss it to the dogs._
Mark 7:28 _Yes, Lord,_ she replied, _even the dogs under the table eat the children_s crumbs._
Mark 7:29 Then Jesus told her, _Because of this answer, you may go. The demon has left your daughter._
Mark 7:30 And she went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon was gone.
Mark 7:31 Then Jesus left the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.
Mark 7:32 Some people brought to Him a man who was deaf and hardly able to speak, and they begged Jesus to place His hand on him.
Mark 7:33 So Jesus took him aside privately, away from the crowd, and put His fingers into the man_s ears. Then He spit and touched the man_s tongue.
Mark 7:34 And looking up to heaven, He sighed deeply and said to him, _Ephphatha!_ (which means, _Be opened!_).
Mark 7:35 Immediately the man_s ears were opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak plainly.
Mark 7:36 Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more He ordered them, the more widely they proclaimed it.
Mark 7:37 The people were utterly astonished and said, _He has done all things well! He makes even the deaf to hear and the mute to speak!_
Mark 8:1 In those days the crowd once again became very large, and they had nothing to eat. Jesus called the disciples to Him and said,
Mark 8:2 _I have compassion for these people, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat.
Mark 8:3 If I send them home hungry, they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a great distance._
Mark 8:4 His disciples replied, _Where in this desolate place could anyone find enough bread to feed all these people?_
Mark 8:5 _How many loaves do you have?_ Jesus asked. _Seven,_ they replied.
Mark 8:6 And He directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then He took the seven loaves, gave thanks and broke them, and gave them to His disciples to set before the people. And they distributed them to the crowd.
Mark 8:7 They also had a few small fish, and Jesus blessed them and ordered that these be set before them as well.
Mark 8:8 The people ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
Mark 8:9 And about four thousand were fed. As soon as Jesus had dismissed the crowd,
Mark 8:10 He got into the boat with His disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.
Mark 8:11 Then the Pharisees came and began to argue with Jesus. They tested Him by demanding from Him a sign from heaven.
Mark 8:12 Jesus sighed deeply in His spirit and said, _Why does this generation demand a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation._
Mark 8:13 Then He left them, got back into the boat, and crossed to the other side.
Mark 8:14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat.
Mark 8:15 _Watch out!_ He cautioned them. _Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod._
Mark 8:16 So they began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread.
Mark 8:17 Aware of their conversation, Jesus asked them, _Why are you debating about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Do you have such hard hearts?
Mark 8:18 _Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear?_ And do you not remember?
Mark 8:19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces did you collect?_ _Twelve,_ they answered.
Mark 8:20 _And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces did you collect?_ _Seven,_ they said.
Mark 8:21 Then He asked them, _Do you still not understand?_
Mark 8:22 When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.
Mark 8:23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then He spit on the man_s eyes and placed His hands on him. _Can you see anything?_ He asked.
Mark 8:24 The man looked up and said, _I can see the people, but they look like trees walking around._
Mark 8:25 Once again Jesus placed His hands on the man_s eyes, and when he opened them his sight was restored, and he could see everything clearly.
Mark 8:26 Jesus sent him home and said, _Do not go back into the village._
Mark 8:27 Then Jesus and His disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way, He questioned His disciples: _Who do people say I am?_
Mark 8:28 They answered, _Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others say You are one of the prophets._
Mark 8:29 _But who do you say I am?_ He asked. Peter answered, _You are the Christ._
Mark 8:30 And Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about Him.
Mark 8:31 Then He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and after three days rise again.
Mark 8:32 He spoke this message quite frankly, and Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.
Mark 8:33 Turning and looking at His disciples, Jesus rebuked Peter and said, _Get behind Me, Satan! For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men._
Mark 8:34 Then Jesus called the crowd to Him along with His disciples, and He told them, _If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.
Mark 8:35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and for the gospel will save it.
Mark 8:36 What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
Mark 8:37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
Mark 8:38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father_s glory with the holy angels._
Mark 9:1 Then Jesus said to them, _Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God arrive with power._
Mark 9:2 After six days, Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There He was transfigured before them.
Mark 9:3 His clothes became radiantly white, brighter than any launderer on earth could bleach them.
Mark 9:4 And Elijah and Moses appeared before them, talking with Jesus.
Mark 9:5 Peter said to Jesus, _Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah._
Mark 9:6 For they were all so terrified that Peter did not know what else to say.
Mark 9:7 Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: _This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him!_
Mark 9:8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they saw no one with them except Jesus.
Mark 9:9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus admonished them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
Mark 9:10 So they kept this matter to themselves, discussing what it meant to rise from the dead.
Mark 9:11 And they asked Jesus, _Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?_
Mark 9:12 He replied, _Elijah does indeed come first, and he restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected?
Mark 9:13 But I tell you that Elijah has indeed come, and they have done to him whatever they wished, just as it is written about him._
Mark 9:14 When they returned to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them.
Mark 9:15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were filled with awe and ran to greet Him.
Mark 9:16 _What are you disputing with them?_ He asked.
Mark 9:17 Someone in the crowd replied, _Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a spirit that makes him mute.
Mark 9:18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked Your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable._
Mark 9:19 _O unbelieving generation!_ Jesus replied. _How long must I remain with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to Me._
Mark 9:20 So they brought him, and seeing Jesus, the spirit immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
Mark 9:21 Jesus asked the boy_s father, _How long has this been with him?_ _From childhood,_ he said.
Mark 9:22 _It often throws him into the fire or into the water, trying to kill him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us._
Mark 9:23 _If You can?_ echoed Jesus. _All things are possible to him who believes!_
Mark 9:24 Immediately the boy_s father cried out, _I do believe; help my unbelief!_
Mark 9:25 When Jesus saw that a crowd had come running, He rebuked the unclean spirit. _You deaf and mute spirit,_ He said, _I command you to come out and never enter him again._
Mark 9:26 After shrieking and convulsing him violently, the spirit came out. The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, _He is dead._
Mark 9:27 But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up.
Mark 9:28 After Jesus had gone into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, _Why couldn_t we drive it out?_
Mark 9:29 Jesus answered, _This kind cannot come out, except by prayer._
Mark 9:30 Going on from there, they passed through Galilee. But Jesus did not want anyone to know,
Mark 9:31 because He was teaching His disciples. He told them, _The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and after three days He will rise._
Mark 9:32 But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.
Mark 9:33 Then they came to Capernaum. While Jesus was in the house, He asked them, _What were you discussing on the way?_
Mark 9:34 But they were silent, for on the way they had been arguing with each other which of them was the greatest.
Mark 9:35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, _If anyone wants to be first, he must be the last of all and the servant of all._
Mark 9:36 Then He had a little child stand among them. Taking the child in His arms, He said to them,
Mark 9:37 _Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes not only Me, but the One who sent Me._
Mark 9:38 John said to Him, _Teacher, we saw someone else driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not accompany us._
Mark 9:39 But Jesus replied, _Do not stop him. No one who performs a miracle in My name can turn around and speak evil of Me.
Mark 9:40 For whoever is not against us is for us.
Mark 9:41 Indeed, if anyone gives you even a cup of water because you bear the name of Christ, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.
Mark 9:42 Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea.
Mark 9:43 If your hand causes you to fall into sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell, into the unquenchable fire.
Mark 9:44
Mark 9:45 If your foot causes you to fall into sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.
Mark 9:46
Mark 9:47 And if your eye causes you to fall into sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,
Mark 9:48 where _their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched._
Mark 9:49 For everyone will be salted with fire.
Mark 9:50 Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another._
Mark 10:1 Then Jesus left that place and went into the region of Judea, beyond the Jordan. Again the crowds came to Him and He taught them, as was His custom.
Mark 10:2 Some Pharisees came to test Him. _Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?_ they inquired.
Mark 10:3 _What did Moses command you?_ He replied.
Mark 10:4 They answered, _Moses permitted a man to write his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away._
Mark 10:5 But Jesus told them, _Moses wrote this commandment for you because your hearts were hard.
Mark 10:6 However, from the beginning of creation, _God made them male and female._
Mark 10:7 _For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,
Mark 10:8 and the two will become one flesh._ So they are no longer two, but one flesh.
Mark 10:9 Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate._
Mark 10:10 When they were back inside the house, the disciples asked Jesus about this matter.
Mark 10:11 So He told them, _Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her.
Mark 10:12 And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery._
Mark 10:13 People were bringing the little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
Mark 10:14 When Jesus saw this, He was indignant and told them, _Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Mark 10:15 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it._
Mark 10:16 And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them, and blessed them.
Mark 10:17 As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up and knelt before Him. _Good Teacher,_ he asked, _what must I do to inherit eternal life?_
Mark 10:18 _Why do you call Me good?_ Jesus replied, _No one is good except God alone.
Mark 10:19 You know the commandments: _Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not defraud, and honor your father and mother.__
Mark 10:20 _Teacher,_ he replied, _I have kept all these from my youth._
Mark 10:21 Jesus looked at him, loved him, and said to him, _There is one thing you lack: Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me._
Mark 10:22 But the man was saddened by these words and went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth.
Mark 10:23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, _How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!_
Mark 10:24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus said to them again, _Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
Mark 10:25 It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God._
Mark 10:26 They were even more astonished and said to one another, _Who then can be saved?_
Mark 10:27 Jesus looked at them and said, _With man this is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God._
Mark 10:28 Peter began to say to Him, _Look, we have left everything and followed You._
Mark 10:29 _Truly I tell you,_ said Jesus, _no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for My sake and for the gospel
Mark 10:30 will fail to receive a hundredfold in the present age_houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, along with persecutions_and to receive eternal life in the age to come.
Mark 10:31 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first._
Mark 10:32 As they were going up the road to Jerusalem, Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were filled with awe, but those who followed were afraid. Again Jesus took the Twelve aside and began to tell them what was going to happen to Him:
Mark 10:33 _Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn Him to death and hand Him over to the Gentiles,
Mark 10:34 who will mock Him and spit on Him and flog Him and kill Him. And after three days He will rise again._
Mark 10:35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and declared, _Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask._
Mark 10:36 _What is it you want Me to do for you?_ He inquired.
Mark 10:37 They answered, _Grant that one of us may sit at Your right hand and the other at Your left in Your glory._
Mark 10:38 _You do not know what you are asking,_ Jesus replied. _Can you drink the cup I will drink, or be baptized with the baptism I will undergo?_
Mark 10:39 _We can,_ they answered. _You will drink the cup that I drink,_ Jesus said, _and you will be baptized with the baptism I undergo.
Mark 10:40 But to sit at My right or My left is not Mine to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared._
Mark 10:41 On hearing this, the ten became indignant with James and John.
Mark 10:42 So Jesus called them together and said, _You know that those regarded as rulers of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them.
Mark 10:43 But it shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
Mark 10:44 and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all.
Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many._
Mark 10:46 Next, they came to Jericho. And as Jesus and His disciples were leaving Jericho with a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road.
Mark 10:47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, _Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!_
Mark 10:48 Many people admonished him to be silent, but he cried out all the louder, _Son of David, have mercy on me!_
Mark 10:49 Jesus stopped and said, _Call him._ So they called the blind man. _Take courage!_ they said. _Get up! He is calling for you._
Mark 10:50 Throwing off his cloak, Bartimaeus jumped up and came to Jesus.
Mark 10:51 _What do you want Me to do for you?_ Jesus asked. _Rabboni,_ said the blind man, _I want to see again._
Mark 10:52 _Go,_ said Jesus, _your faith has healed you._ And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
Mark 11:1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of His disciples
Mark 11:2 and said to them, _Go into the village ahead of you, and as soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it to Me.
Mark 11:3 If anyone asks, _Why are you doing this?_ tell him, _The Lord needs it and will return it shortly.__
Mark 11:4 So they went and found the colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. They untied it,
Mark 11:5 and some who were standing there asked, _Why are you untying the colt?_
Mark 11:6 The disciples answered as Jesus had instructed them, and the people gave them permission.
Mark 11:7 They led the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, and He sat on it.
Mark 11:8 Many in the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut from the fields.
Mark 11:9 The ones who went ahead and those who followed were shouting: _Hosanna!_ _Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!_
Mark 11:10 _Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!_ _Hosanna in the highest!_
Mark 11:11 Then Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, He went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
Mark 11:12 The next day, when they had left Bethany, Jesus was hungry.
Mark 11:13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if there was any fruit on it. But when He reached it, He found nothing on it except leaves, since it was not the season for figs.
Mark 11:14 Then He said to the tree, _May no one ever eat of your fruit again._ And His disciples heard this statement.
Mark 11:15 When they arrived in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began to drive out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves.
Mark 11:16 And He would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.
Mark 11:17 Then He began to teach them and declare, _Is it not written: _My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations_? But you have made it _a den of robbers.__
Mark 11:18 When the chief priests and scribes heard this, they looked for a way to kill Him. For they were afraid of Him, because the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching.
Mark 11:19 And when evening came, Jesus and His disciples went out of the city.
Mark 11:20 As they were walking back in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from its roots.
Mark 11:21 Peter remembered it and said, _Look, Rabbi! The fig tree You cursed has withered._
Mark 11:22 _Have faith in God,_ Jesus said to them.
Mark 11:23 _Truly I tell you that if anyone says to this mountain, _Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,_ and has no doubt in his heart but believes that it will happen, it will be done for him.
Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Mark 11:25 And when you stand to pray, if you hold anything against another, forgive it, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your trespasses as well._
Mark 11:26
Mark 11:27 After their return to Jerusalem, Jesus was walking in the temple courts, and the chief priests, scribes, and elders came up to Him.
Mark 11:28 _By what authority are You doing these things?_ they asked. _And who gave You the authority to do them?_
Mark 11:29 _I will ask you one question,_ Jesus replied, _and if you answer Me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
Mark 11:30 The baptism of John, was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me!_
Mark 11:31 They deliberated among themselves what they should answer: _If we say, _From heaven,_ He will ask, _Why then did you not believe him?_
Mark 11:32 But if we say, _From men_..._ they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John truly was a prophet.
Mark 11:33 So they answered Him, _We do not know._ And Jesus replied, _Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things._
Mark 12:1 Then Jesus began to speak to them in parables: _A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a wine vat, and built a watchtower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey.
Mark 12:2 At harvest time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard.
Mark 12:3 But they seized the servant, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed.
Mark 12:4 Then he sent them another servant, and they struck him over the head and treated him shamefully.
Mark 12:5 He sent still another, and this one they killed. He sent many others; some they beat and others they killed.
Mark 12:6 Finally, having one beloved son, he sent him to them. _They will respect my son,_ he said.
Mark 12:7 But the tenants said to one another, _This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours._
Mark 12:8 So they seized the son, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.
Mark 12:9 What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.
Mark 12:10 Have you never read this Scripture: _The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
Mark 12:11 This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes_?_
Mark 12:12 At this, the leaders sought to arrest Jesus, for they knew that He had spoken this parable against them. But fearing the crowd, they left Him and went away.
Mark 12:13 Later, they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to catch Jesus in His words.
Mark 12:14 _Teacher,_ they said, _we know that You are honest and are swayed by no one. Indeed, You are impartial and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Now then, is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them or not?_
Mark 12:15 But Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, _Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to inspect._
Mark 12:16 So they brought it, and He asked them, _Whose likeness is this? And whose inscription?_ _Caesar_s,_ they answered.
Mark 12:17 Then Jesus told them, _Give to Caesar what is Caesar_s, and to God what is God_s._ And they marveled at Him.
Mark 12:18 Then some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came and questioned Him:
Mark 12:19 _Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man_s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man should marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.
Mark 12:20 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died, leaving no children.
Mark 12:21 Then the second one married the widow, but he also died and left no children. And the third did likewise.
Mark 12:22 In this way, none of the seven left any children. And last of all, the woman died.
Mark 12:23 In the resurrection, whose wife will she be? For all seven were married to her._
Mark 12:24 Jesus said to them, _Aren_t you mistaken because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?
Mark 12:25 When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like the angels in heaven.
Mark 12:26 And regarding the dead rising, have you not read about the burning bush in the book of Moses, how God told him, _I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob_?
Mark 12:27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!_
Mark 12:28 Now one of the scribes had come up and heard their debate. Noticing how well Jesus had answered them, he asked Him, _Which commandment is the most important of all?_
Mark 12:29 Jesus replied, _This is the most important: _Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is One Lord,
Mark 12:30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength._
Mark 12:31 The second is this: _Love your neighbor as yourself._ No other commandment is greater than these._
Mark 12:32 _Right, Teacher,_ the scribe replied. _You have stated correctly that God is One and there is no other but Him,
Mark 12:33 and to love Him with all your heart and with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, which is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices._
Mark 12:34 When Jesus saw that the man had answered wisely, He said, _You are not far from the kingdom of God._ And no one dared to question Him any further.
Mark 12:35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, He asked, _How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?
Mark 12:36 Speaking by the Holy Spirit, David himself declared: _The Lord said to my Lord, _Sit at My right hand until I put Your enemies under Your feet.__
Mark 12:37 David himself calls Him Lord. So how can He be David_s son?_ And the large crowd listened to Him with delight.
Mark 12:38 In His teaching Jesus also said, _Watch out for the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, to receive greetings in the marketplaces,
Mark 12:39 and to have the chief seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.
Mark 12:40 They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation._
Mark 12:41 As Jesus was sitting opposite the treasury, He watched the crowd placing money into it. And many rich people put in large amounts.
Mark 12:42 Then one poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amounted to a small fraction of a denarius.
Mark 12:43 Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, _Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more than all the others into the treasury.
Mark 12:44 For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on._
Mark 13:1 As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, _Teacher, look at the magnificent stones and buildings!_
Mark 13:2 _Do you see all these great buildings?_ Jesus replied. _Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be toppled._
Mark 13:3 While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately,
Mark 13:4 _Tell us, when will all these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to be fulfilled?_
Mark 13:5 Jesus began by telling them, _See to it that no one deceives you.
Mark 13:6 Many will come in My name, claiming, _I am He,_ and will deceive many.
Mark 13:7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come.
Mark 13:8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, as well as famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
Mark 13:9 So be on your guard. You will be handed over to the councils and beaten in the synagogues. On My account, you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.
Mark 13:10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all the nations.
Mark 13:11 But when they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand what to say. Instead, speak whatever you are given at that time, for it will not be you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
Mark 13:12 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.
Mark 13:13 You will be hated by everyone on account of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
Mark 13:14 So when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
Mark 13:15 Let no one on the housetop go back inside to retrieve anything from his house.
Mark 13:16 And let no one in the field return for his cloak.
Mark 13:17 How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers!
Mark 13:18 Pray that it will not occur in the winter.
Mark 13:19 For in those days there will be tribulation unmatched from the beginning of God_s creation until now, and never to be seen again.
Mark 13:20 If the Lord had not shortened those days, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom He has chosen, He has shortened them.
Mark 13:21 At that time if anyone says to you, _Look, here is the Christ!_ or _There He is!_ do not believe it.
Mark 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible.
Mark 13:23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything in advance.
Mark 13:24 However, after the tribulation of those days, _The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light,
Mark 13:25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken._
Mark 13:26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
Mark 13:27 And He will send out the angels to gather His elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
Mark 13:28 Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near.
Mark 13:29 In the same way, when you see these things happening, you know that He is near, right at the door.
Mark 13:30 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened.
Mark 13:31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
Mark 13:32 But as for that day or hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Mark 13:33 Be on your guard and stay alert! For you do not know when the appointed time will come.
Mark 13:34 It is like a man going on a journey who left his house, put each servant in charge of his own task, and instructed the doorkeeper to keep watch.
Mark 13:35 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know when the master of the house will return_whether in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the morning.
Mark 13:36 Otherwise, he may arrive without notice and find you sleeping.
Mark 13:37 And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Keep watch!_
Mark 14:1 Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were two days away, and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a covert way to arrest Jesus and kill Him.
Mark 14:2 _But not during the feast,_ they said, _or there may be a riot among the people._
Mark 14:3 While Jesus was in Bethany reclining at the table in the home of Simon the leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke open the jar and poured it on Jesus_ head.
Mark 14:4 But some of those present expressed their indignation to one another: _Why this waste of perfume?
Mark 14:5 It could have been sold for over three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor._ And they scolded her.
Mark 14:6 But Jesus said, _Leave her alone; why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful deed to Me.
Mark 14:7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them whenever you want. But you will not always have Me.
Mark 14:8 She has done what she could to anoint My body in advance of My burial.
Mark 14:9 And truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached in all the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her._
Mark 14:10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them.
Mark 14:11 They were delighted to hear this, and they promised to give him money. So Judas began to look for an opportunity to hand Him over.
Mark 14:12 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed, Jesus_ disciples asked Him, _Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?_
Mark 14:13 So He sent two of His disciples and told them, _Go into the city, and a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him,
Mark 14:14 and whichever house he enters, say to the owner, _The Teacher asks: Where is My guest room, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?_
Mark 14:15 And he will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there._
Mark 14:16 So the disciples left and went into the city, where they found everything as Jesus had described. And they prepared the Passover.
Mark 14:17 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve.
Mark 14:18 And while they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, _Truly I tell you, one of you who is eating with Me will betray Me._
Mark 14:19 They began to be sorrowful and to ask Him one by one, _Surely not I?_
Mark 14:20 He answered _It is one of the Twelve_the one who is dipping his bread into the bowl with Me.
Mark 14:21 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed! It would be better for him if he had not been born._
Mark 14:22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, _Take it; this is My body._
Mark 14:23 Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
Mark 14:24 He said to them, _This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
Mark 14:25 Truly I tell you, I will no longer drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God._
Mark 14:26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Mark 14:27 Then Jesus said to them, _You will all fall away, for it is written: _I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered._
Mark 14:28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee._
Mark 14:29 Peter declared, _Even if all fall away, I never will._
Mark 14:30 _Truly I tell you,_ Jesus replied, _this very night before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times._
Mark 14:31 But Peter kept insisting, _Even if I have to die with You, I will never deny You._ And all the others said the same.
Mark 14:32 Then they came to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus told His disciples, _Sit here while I pray._
Mark 14:33 He took with Him Peter, James, and John, and began to be deeply troubled and distressed.
Mark 14:34 And He told them, _My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch._
Mark 14:35 Going a little farther, He fell to the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour would pass from Him.
Mark 14:36 _Abba, Father,_ He said, _all things are possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will._
Mark 14:37 Then Jesus returned and found them sleeping. _Simon, are you asleep?_ He asked, _Were you not able to keep watch for one hour?
Mark 14:38 Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak._
Mark 14:39 Again He went away and prayed, saying the same thing.
Mark 14:40 And again He returned and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. And they did not know what to answer Him.
Mark 14:41 When Jesus returned the third time, He said, _Are you still sleeping and resting? That is enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Mark 14:42 Rise, let us go. See, My betrayer is approaching!_
Mark 14:43 While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, scribes, and elders.
Mark 14:44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: _The One I kiss is the man; arrest Him and lead Him away securely._
Mark 14:45 Going directly to Jesus, he said, _Rabbi!_ and kissed Him.
Mark 14:46 Then the men seized Jesus and arrested Him.
Mark 14:47 And one of the bystanders drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
Mark 14:48 Jesus asked the crowd, _Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would an outlaw?
Mark 14:49 Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest Me. But this has happened that the Scriptures would be fulfilled._
Mark 14:50 Then all His disciples deserted Him and fled.
Mark 14:51 One young man who had been following Jesus was wearing a linen cloth around his body. They caught hold of him,
Mark 14:52 but he pulled free of the linen cloth and ran away naked.
Mark 14:53 They led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders, and scribes assembled.
Mark 14:54 Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he sat with the officers to warm himself by the fire.
Mark 14:55 Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but they did not find any.
Mark 14:56 For many bore false witness against Jesus, but their testimony was inconsistent.
Mark 14:57 Then some men stood up and testified falsely against Him:
Mark 14:58 _We heard Him say, _I will destroy this man-made temple, and in three days I will build another that is made without hands.__
Mark 14:59 But even their testimony was inconsistent.
Mark 14:60 So the high priest stood up before them and questioned Jesus, _Have You no answer? What is it these men are testifying against You?_
Mark 14:61 But Jesus remained silent and made no reply. Again the high priest questioned Him, _Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?_
Mark 14:62 _I am,_ said Jesus, _and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven._
Mark 14:63 At this, the high priest tore his clothes and declared, _Why do we need any more witnesses?
Mark 14:64 You have heard the blasphemy. What is your verdict?_ And they all condemned Him as deserving of death.
Mark 14:65 Then some of them began to spit on Him. They blindfolded Him, struck Him with their fists, and said to Him, _Prophesy!_ And the officers received Him with slaps in His face.
Mark 14:66 While Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the high priest_s servant girls came down
Mark 14:67 and saw him warming himself there. She looked at Peter and said, _You also were with Jesus the Nazarene._
Mark 14:68 But he denied it. _I do not know or even understand what you are talking about,_ he said. Then he went out to the gateway, and the rooster crowed.
Mark 14:69 There the servant girl saw him and again said to those standing nearby, _This man is one of them._
Mark 14:70 But he denied it again. After a little while, those standing nearby said once more to Peter, _Surely you are one of them, for you too are a Galilean._
Mark 14:71 But he began to curse and swear, _I do not know this man of whom you speak!_
Mark 14:72 And just then, the rooster crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: _Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times._ And he broke down and wept.
Mark 15:1 Early in the morning, the chief priests, elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin devised a plan. They bound Jesus, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate.
Mark 15:2 So Pilate questioned Him, _Are You the King of the Jews?_ _You have said so,_ Jesus replied.
Mark 15:3 And the chief priests began to accuse Him of many things.
Mark 15:4 Then Pilate questioned Him again, _Do You not answer? Look how many charges they are bringing against You!_
Mark 15:5 But to Pilate_s amazement, Jesus made no further reply.
Mark 15:6 Now it was Pilate_s custom at the feast to release to the people a prisoner of their choosing.
Mark 15:7 And a man named Barabbas was imprisoned with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection.
Mark 15:8 So the crowd went up and began asking Pilate to keep his custom.
Mark 15:9 _Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?_ Pilate asked.
Mark 15:10 For he knew it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over.
Mark 15:11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas to them instead.
Mark 15:12 So Pilate asked them again, _What then do you want me to do with the One you call the King of the Jews?_
Mark 15:13 And they shouted back, _Crucify Him!_
Mark 15:14 _Why?_ asked Pilate. _What has He done wrong?_ But they shouted all the louder, _Crucify Him!_
Mark 15:15 And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.
Mark 15:16 Then the soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called the whole company together.
Mark 15:17 They dressed Him in a purple robe, twisted together a crown of thorns, and set it on His head.
Mark 15:18 And they began to salute Him: _Hail, King of the Jews!_
Mark 15:19 They kept striking His head with a staff and spitting on Him. And they knelt down and bowed before Him.
Mark 15:20 After they had mocked Him, they removed the purple robe and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him out to crucify Him.
Mark 15:21 Now Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and the soldiers forced him to carry the cross of Jesus.
Mark 15:22 They brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha, which means The Place of the Skull.
Mark 15:23 There they offered Him wine mixed with myrrh, but He did not take it.
Mark 15:24 And they crucified Him. They also divided His garments by casting lots to decide what each of them would take.
Mark 15:25 It was the third hour when they crucified Him.
Mark 15:26 And the charge inscribed against Him read: The King of the Jews.
Mark 15:27 Along with Jesus, they crucified two robbers, one on His right and one on His left.
Mark 15:28
Mark 15:29 Those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads and saying, _Aha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,
Mark 15:30 come down from the cross and save Yourself!_
Mark 15:31 In the same way, the chief priests and scribes mocked Him among themselves, saying, _He who saved others cannot even save Himself!
Mark 15:32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, so that we may see and believe!_ And even those who were crucified with Him berated Him.
Mark 15:33 From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.
Mark 15:34 At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, _Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?_ which means, _My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?_
Mark 15:35 When some of those standing nearby heard this, they said, _Look, He is calling Elijah._
Mark 15:36 And someone ran and filled a sponge with vinegar. He put it on a stick and offered it to Jesus to drink. _Wait!_ he said. _Let us see if Elijah comes to take Him down._
Mark 15:37 But Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed His last.
Mark 15:38 And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
Mark 15:39 When the centurion standing there in front of Jesus saw how He had breathed His last, he said, _Truly this man was the Son of God!_
Mark 15:40 And there were also women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome.
Mark 15:41 These women had followed Jesus and ministered to Him while He was in Galilee, and there were many other women who had come up to Jerusalem with Him.
Mark 15:42 Now it was already evening. Since it was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath),
Mark 15:43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent Council member who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God, boldly went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus.
Mark 15:44 Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus was already dead, so he summoned the centurion to ask if this was so.
Mark 15:45 When Pilate had confirmed it with the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.
Mark 15:46 Joseph bought a linen cloth, took down the body of Jesus, wrapped it in the cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb.
Mark 15:47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where His body was laid.
Mark 16:1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could go and anoint Jesus_ body.
Mark 16:2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they went to the tomb.
Mark 16:3 They were asking one another, _Who will roll away the stone from the entrance of the tomb?_
Mark 16:4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, even though it was extremely large.
Mark 16:5 When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
Mark 16:6 But he said to them, _Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here! See the place where they laid Him.
Mark 16:7 But go, tell His disciples and Peter, _He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you.__
Mark 16:8 So they left the tomb and ran away, overwhelmed with shock and amazement. And in their fear they did not say a word to anyone.
Mark 16:9 After Jesus had risen, early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had driven out seven demons.
Mark 16:10 She went and told those who had been with Him, who were now mourning and weeping.
Mark 16:11 And when they heard that Jesus was alive and she had seen Him, they did not believe it.
Mark 16:12 After this, Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them as they walked along in the country.
Mark 16:13 And they went back and reported it to the rest, but they did not believe them either.
Mark 16:14 Later as they were eating, Jesus appeared to the eleven and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.
Mark 16:15 And He said to them, _Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Mark 16:17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
Mark 16:18 they will pick up snakes with their hands, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will be made well._
Mark 16:19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
Mark 16:20 And they went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked through them, confirming His word by the signs that accompanied it.
Luke 1:1 Many have undertaken to compose an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,
Luke 1:2 just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
Luke 1:3 Therefore, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
Luke 1:4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
Luke 1:5 In the time of Herod king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and whose wife Elizabeth was a daughter of Aaron.
Luke 1:6 They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.
Luke 1:7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both of them were well along in years.
Luke 1:8 One day while Zechariah_s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
Luke 1:9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
Luke 1:10 And at the hour of the incense offering, the entire congregation was praying outside.
Luke 1:11 Just then, an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of the incense.
Luke 1:12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and overcome with fear.
Luke 1:13 But the angel said to him, _Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall give him the name John.
Luke 1:14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,
Luke 1:15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother_s womb.
Luke 1:16 Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God.
Luke 1:17 And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous_to make ready a people prepared for the Lord._
Luke 1:18 _How can I be sure of this?_ Zechariah asked the angel. _I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years._
Luke 1:19 _I am Gabriel,_ replied the angel. _I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
Luke 1:20 And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day this comes to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time._
Luke 1:21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.
Luke 1:22 When he came out and was unable to speak to them, they realized he had seen a vision in the temple. He kept making signs to them but remained speechless.
Luke 1:23 And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.
Luke 1:24 After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared,
Luke 1:25 _The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown me favor and taken away my disgrace among the people._
Luke 1:26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
Luke 1:27 to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin_s name was Mary.
Luke 1:28 The angel appeared to her and said, _Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you._
Luke 1:29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
Luke 1:30 So the angel told her, _Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Luke 1:31 Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you shall give Him the name Jesus.
Luke 1:32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,
Luke 1:33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!_
Luke 1:34 _How can this be,_ Mary asked the angel, _since I am a virgin?_
Luke 1:35 The angel replied, _The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.
Luke 1:36 Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month.
Luke 1:37 For nothing will be impossible with God._
Luke 1:38 _I am the Lord_s servant,_ Mary answered. _May it happen to me according to your word._ Then the angel left her.
Luke 1:39 In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,
Luke 1:40 where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
Luke 1:41 When Elizabeth heard Mary_s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Luke 1:42 In a loud voice she exclaimed, _Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
Luke 1:43 And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
Luke 1:44 For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
Luke 1:45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord_s word to her will be fulfilled._
Luke 1:46 Then Mary said: _My soul magnifies the Lord,
Luke 1:47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
Luke 1:48 For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed.
Luke 1:49 For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name.
Luke 1:50 His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
Luke 1:51 He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
Luke 1:52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.
Luke 1:53 He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.
Luke 1:54 He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,
Luke 1:55 as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever._
Luke 1:56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
Luke 1:57 When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.
Luke 1:58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.
Luke 1:59 On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.
Luke 1:60 But his mother replied, _No! He shall be called John._
Luke 1:61 They said to her, _There is no one among your relatives who bears this name._
Luke 1:62 So they made signs to his father to inquire what he wanted to name the child.
Luke 1:63 Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, _His name is John._ And they were all astonished.
Luke 1:64 Immediately Zechariah_s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.
Luke 1:65 All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events.
Luke 1:66 And all who heard this wondered in their hearts and asked, _What then will this child become?_ For the Lord_s hand was with him.
Luke 1:67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
Luke 1:68 _Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.
Luke 1:69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,
Luke 1:70 as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past,
Luke 1:71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
Luke 1:72 to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
Luke 1:73 the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
Luke 1:74 deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
Luke 1:75 in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.
Luke 1:76 And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways,
Luke 1:77 to give to His people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
Luke 1:78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,
Luke 1:79 to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace._
Luke 1:80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.
Luke 2:1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
Luke 2:2 This was the first census to take place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
Luke 2:3 And everyone went to his own town to register.
Luke 2:4 So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the City of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David.
Luke 2:5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child.
Luke 2:6 While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born.
Luke 2:7 And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2:8 And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night.
Luke 2:9 Just then, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
Luke 2:10 But the angel said to them, _Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:
Luke 2:11 Today in the City of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!
Luke 2:12 And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger._
Luke 2:13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying:
Luke 2:14 _Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!_
Luke 2:15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, _Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us._
Luke 2:16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
Luke 2:17 After they had seen the Child, they spread the message they had received about Him.
Luke 2:18 And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
Luke 2:19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
Luke 2:20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, which was just as the angel had told them.
Luke 2:21 When the eight days until His circumcision had passed, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He had been conceived.
Luke 2:22 And when the time of purification according to the Law of Moses was complete, His parents brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord
Luke 2:23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord: _Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to the Lord_),
Luke 2:24 and to offer the sacrifice specified in the Law of the Lord: _A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons._
Luke 2:25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
Luke 2:26 The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord_s Christ.
Luke 2:27 Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him what was customary under the Law,
Luke 2:28 Simeon took Him in his arms and praised God, saying:
Luke 2:29 _Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace.
Luke 2:30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
Luke 2:31 which You have prepared in the sight of all people,
Luke 2:32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel._
Luke 2:33 The Child_s father and mother were amazed at what was spoken about Him.
Luke 2:34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary: _Behold, this Child is appointed to cause the rise and fall of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,
Luke 2:35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed_and a sword will pierce your soul as well._
Luke 2:36 There was also a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who was well along in years. She had been married for seven years,
Luke 2:37 and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
Luke 2:38 Coming forward at that moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the Child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Luke 2:39 When Jesus_ parents had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
Luke 2:40 And the Child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.
Luke 2:41 Every year His parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover.
Luke 2:42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the Feast.
Luke 2:43 When those days were over and they were returning home, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but His parents were unaware He had stayed.
Luke 2:44 Assuming He was in their company, they traveled on for a day before they began to look for Him among their relatives and friends.
Luke 2:45 When they could not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him.
Luke 2:46 Finally, after three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
Luke 2:47 And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.
Luke 2:48 When His parents saw Him, they were astonished. _Child, why have You done this to us?_ His mother asked. _Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You._
Luke 2:49 _Why were you looking for Me?_ He asked, _Did you not know that I had to be in My Father_s house?_
Luke 2:50 But they did not understand the statement He was making to them.
Luke 2:51 Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was subject to them. But His mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
Luke 2:52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
Luke 3:1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,
Luke 3:2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
Luke 3:3 He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,
Luke 3:4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: _A voice of one calling in the wilderness, _Prepare the way for the Lord; make straight paths for Him._
Luke 3:5 Every valley shall be filled in, and every mountain and hill made low. The crooked ways shall be made straight, and the rough ways smooth.
Luke 3:6 And all mankind will see God_s salvation._
Luke 3:7 Then John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, _You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
Luke 3:8 Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, _We have Abraham as our father._ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
Luke 3:9 The ax lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire._
Luke 3:10 The crowds asked him, _What then should we do?_
Luke 3:11 John replied, _Whoever has two tunics should share with him who has none, and whoever has food should do the same._
Luke 3:12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. _Teacher,_ they asked, _what should we do?_
Luke 3:13 _Collect no more than you are authorized,_ he answered.
Luke 3:14 Then some soldiers asked him, _And what should we do?_ _Do not take money by force or false accusation,_ he said. _Be content with your wages._
Luke 3:15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John could be the Christ.
Luke 3:16 John answered all of them: _I baptize you with water, but One more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Luke 3:17 His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather the wheat into His barn. But He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire._
Luke 3:18 With these and many other exhortations, John proclaimed the good news to the people.
Luke 3:19 But when he rebuked Herod the tetrarch regarding his brother_s wife Herodias and all the evils he had done,
Luke 3:20 Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.
Luke 3:21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as He was praying, heaven was opened,
Luke 3:22 and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: _You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased._
Luke 3:23 Jesus Himself was about thirty years old when He began His ministry. He was known as the son of Joseph, the son of Heli,
Luke 3:24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,
Luke 3:25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,
Luke 3:26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda,
Luke 3:27 the son of Joannen, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,
Luke 3:28 the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,
Luke 3:29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,
Luke 3:30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,
Luke 3:31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,
Luke 3:32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon,
Luke 3:33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,
Luke 3:34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,
Luke 3:35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,
Luke 3:36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
Luke 3:37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan,
Luke 3:38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
Luke 4:1 Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
Luke 4:2 where for forty days He was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He was hungry.
Luke 4:3 The devil said to Him, _If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread._
Luke 4:4 But Jesus answered, _It is written: _Man shall not live on bread alone.__
Luke 4:5 Then the devil led Him up to a high place and showed Him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.
Luke 4:6 _I will give You authority over all these kingdoms and all their glory,_ he said. _For it has been relinquished to me, and I can give it to anyone I wish.
Luke 4:7 So if You worship me, it will all be Yours._
Luke 4:8 But Jesus replied, _It is written: _Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.__
Luke 4:9 Then the devil led Him to Jerusalem and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple. _If You are the Son of God,_ he said, _throw Yourself down from here.
Luke 4:10 For it is written: _He will command His angels concerning You to guard You carefully;
Luke 4:11 and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.__
Luke 4:12 But Jesus declared, _It also says, _Do not put the Lord your God to the test.__
Luke 4:13 When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.
Luke 4:14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and the news about Him spread throughout the surrounding region.
Luke 4:15 He taught in their synagogues and was glorified by everyone.
Luke 4:16 Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath. And when He stood up to read,
Luke 4:17 the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it was written:
Luke 4:18 _The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed,
Luke 4:19 to proclaim the year of the Lord_s favor._
Luke 4:20 Then He rolled up the scroll, returned it to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him,
Luke 4:21 and He began by saying, _Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing._
Luke 4:22 All spoke well of Him and marveled at the gracious words that came from His lips. _Isn_t this the son of Joseph?_ they asked.
Luke 4:23 Jesus said to them, _Surely you will quote this proverb to Me: _Physician heal yourself! Do here in Your hometown what we have heard that You did in Capernaum.__
Luke 4:24 Then He added, _Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in his hometown.
Luke 4:25 But I tell you truthfully that there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and great famine swept over all the land.
Luke 4:26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to the widow of Zarephath in Sidon.
Luke 4:27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet. Yet not one of them was cleansed_only Naaman the Syrian._
Luke 4:28 On hearing this, all the people in the synagogue were enraged.
Luke 4:29 They got up, drove Him out of the town, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw Him over the cliff.
Luke 4:30 But Jesus passed through the crowd and went on His way.
Luke 4:31 Then He went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath He began to teach the people.
Luke 4:32 They were astonished at His teaching, because His message had authority.
Luke 4:33 In the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon. He cried out in a loud voice,
Luke 4:34 _Ha! What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are, the Holy One of God!_
Luke 4:35 But Jesus rebuked the demon. _Be silent!_ He said. _Come out of him!_ Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without harming him.
Luke 4:36 All the people were overcome with amazement and asked one another, _What is this message? With authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!_
Luke 4:37 And the news about Him spread throughout the surrounding region.
Luke 4:38 Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon, whose mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever. They appealed to Jesus on her behalf,
Luke 4:39 and He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And she got up at once and began to serve them.
Luke 4:40 At sunset, all who were ill with various diseases were brought to Jesus, and laying His hands on each one, He healed them.
Luke 4:41 Demons also came out of many people, shouting, _You are the Son of God._ But He rebuked the demons and would not allow them to speak, because they knew He was the Christ.
Luke 4:42 At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place, and the crowds were looking for Him. They came to Him and tried to keep Him from leaving.
Luke 4:43 But Jesus told them, _I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well, because that is why I was sent._
Luke 4:44 And He continued to preach in the synagogues of Judea.
Luke 5:1 On one occasion, while Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret with the crowd pressing in on Him to hear the word of God,
Luke 5:2 He saw two boats at the edge of the lake. The fishermen had left them and were washing their nets.
Luke 5:3 Jesus got into the boat belonging to Simon and asked him to put out a little from shore. And sitting down, He taught the people from the boat.
Luke 5:4 When Jesus had finished speaking, He said to Simon, _Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch._
Luke 5:5 _Master,_ Simon replied, _we have worked through the night without catching anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets._
Luke 5:6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to tear.
Luke 5:7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
Luke 5:8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus_ knees. _Go away from me, Lord,_ he said, _for I am a sinful man._
Luke 5:9 For he and his companions were astonished at the catch of the fish they had taken,
Luke 5:10 and so were his partners James and John, the sons of Zebedee. _Do not be afraid,_ Jesus said to Simon, _from now on you will catch men._
Luke 5:11 And when they had brought their boats ashore, they left everything and followed Him.
Luke 5:12 While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell facedown and begged Him, _Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean._
Luke 5:13 Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. _I am willing,_ He said, _be clean!_ And immediately the leprosy left him.
Luke 5:14 _Do not tell anyone,_ Jesus instructed him. _But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them._
Luke 5:15 But the news about Jesus spread all the more, and great crowds came to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses.
Luke 5:16 Yet He frequently withdrew to the wilderness to pray.
Luke 5:17 One day Jesus was teaching, and the Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. People had come from Jerusalem and from every village of Galilee and Judea, and the power of the Lord was present for Him to heal the sick.
Luke 5:18 Just then, some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They tried to bring him inside to set him before Jesus,
Luke 5:19 but they could not find a way through the crowd. So they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.
Luke 5:20 When Jesus saw their faith, He said, _Friend, your sins are forgiven._
Luke 5:21 But the scribes and Pharisees began to consider this and ask, _Who is this man who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?_
Luke 5:22 Knowing what they were thinking, Jesus replied, _Why do you question this in your hearts?
Luke 5:23 Which is easier: to say, _Your sins are forgiven,_ or to say, _Get up and walk?_
Luke 5:24 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on the earth to forgive sins..._ He said to the paralytic, _I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home._
Luke 5:25 Immediately the man stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God.
Luke 5:26 Everyone was taken with amazement and glorified God. They were filled with awe and said, _We have seen remarkable things today._
Luke 5:27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax booth. _Follow Me,_ He told him,
Luke 5:28 and Levi got up, left everything, and followed Him.
Luke 5:29 Then Levi hosted a great banquet for Jesus at his house. A large crowd of tax collectors was there, along with others who were eating with them.
Luke 5:30 But the Pharisees and their scribes complained to Jesus_ disciples, _Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?_
Luke 5:31 Jesus answered, _It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
Luke 5:32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance._
Luke 5:33 Then they said to Him, _John_s disciples and those of the Pharisees frequently fast and pray, but Yours keep on eating and drinking._
Luke 5:34 Jesus replied, _Can you make the guests of the bridegroom fast while He is with them?
Luke 5:35 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast._
Luke 5:36 He also told them a parable: _No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and sews it on an old one. If he does, he will tear the new garment as well, and the patch from the new will not match the old.
Luke 5:37 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will spill, and the wineskins will be ruined.
Luke 5:38 Instead, new wine is poured into new wineskins.
Luke 5:39 And no one after drinking old wine wants new, for he says, _The old is better.__
Luke 6:1 One Sabbath Jesus was passing through the grainfields, and His disciples began to pick the heads of grain, rub them in their hands, and eat them.
Luke 6:2 But some of the Pharisees asked, _Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?_
Luke 6:3 Jesus replied, _Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
Luke 6:4 He entered the house of God, took the consecrated bread and gave it to his companions, and ate what is lawful only for the priests to eat._
Luke 6:5 Then Jesus declared, _The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath._
Luke 6:6 On another Sabbath, Jesus entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered.
Luke 6:7 Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, the scribes and Pharisees were watching Him closely to see if He would heal on the Sabbath.
Luke 6:8 But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to the man with the withered hand, _Get up and stand among us._ So he got up and stood there.
Luke 6:9 Then Jesus said to them, _I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?_
Luke 6:10 And after looking around at all of them, He said to the man, _Stretch out your hand._ He did so, and it was restored.
Luke 6:11 But the scribes and Pharisees were filled with rage and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.
Luke 6:12 In those days, Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and He spent the night in prayer to God.
Luke 6:13 When daylight came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated as apostles:
Luke 6:14 Simon, whom He named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,
Luke 6:15 Matthew and Thomas, James son of Alphaeus and Simon called the Zealot,
Luke 6:16 Judas son of James and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
Luke 6:17 Then Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of His disciples was there, along with a great number of people from all over Judea, Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon.
Luke 6:18 They had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases, and those troubled by unclean spirits were healed.
Luke 6:19 The entire crowd was trying to touch Him, because power was coming from Him and healing them all.
Luke 6:20 Looking up at His disciples, Jesus said: _Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
Luke 6:21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
Luke 6:22 Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil because of the Son of Man.
Luke 6:23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For their fathers treated the prophets in the same way.
Luke 6:24 But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.
Luke 6:25 Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.
Luke 6:26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers treated the false prophets in the same way.
Luke 6:27 But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
Luke 6:28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Luke 6:29 If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone takes your cloak, do not withhold your tunic as well.
Luke 6:30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what is yours, do not demand it back.
Luke 6:31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Luke 6:32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
Luke 6:33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same.
Luke 6:34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.
Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
Luke 6:36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Luke 6:37 Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you._
Luke 6:39 Jesus also told them a parable: _Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?
Luke 6:40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.
Luke 6:41 Why do you look at the speck in your brother_s eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye?
Luke 6:42 How can you say, _Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,_ while you yourself fail to see the beam in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother_s eye.
Luke 6:43 No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.
Luke 6:44 For each tree is known by its own fruit. Indeed, people do not gather figs from thornbushes, or grapes from brambles.
Luke 6:45 The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.
Luke 6:46 Why do you call Me _Lord, Lord,_ but not do what I say?
Luke 6:47 I will show you what he is like who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them:
Luke 6:48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid his foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the torrent crashed against that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.
Luke 6:49 But the one who hears My words and does not act on them is like a man who built his house on ground without a foundation. The torrent crashed against that house, and immediately it collapsed_and great was its destruction._
Luke 7:1 When Jesus had concluded His discourse in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum.
Luke 7:2 There a highly valued servant of a centurion was sick and about to die.
Luke 7:3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to ask Him to come and heal his servant.
Luke 7:4 They came to Jesus and pleaded with Him earnestly, _This man is worthy to have You grant this,
Luke 7:5 for he loves our nation and has built our synagogue._
Luke 7:6 So Jesus went with them. But when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends with the message: _Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy to have You come under my roof.
Luke 7:7 That is why I did not consider myself worthy to come to You. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
Luke 7:8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes; and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it._
Luke 7:9 When Jesus heard this, He was amazed at the centurion. Turning to the crowd following Him, He said, _I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith!_
Luke 7:10 And when the messengers returned to the house, they found the servant in good health.
Luke 7:11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain. His disciples went with Him, accompanied by a large crowd.
Luke 7:12 As He approached the town gate, He saw a dead man being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a sizeable crowd from the town was with her.
Luke 7:13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, _Do not weep._
Luke 7:14 Then He went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. _Young man,_ He said, _I tell you, get up!_
Luke 7:15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak! Then Jesus gave him back to his mother.
Luke 7:16 A sense of awe swept over all of them, and they glorified God. _A great prophet has appeared among us!_ they said. _God has visited His people!_
Luke 7:17 And the news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding region.
Luke 7:18 Then John_s disciples informed him about all these things.
Luke 7:19 So John called two of his disciples and sent them to ask the Lord, _Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?_
Luke 7:20 The men came to Jesus and said, _John the Baptist sent us to ask, _Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?__
Luke 7:21 At that very hour Jesus healed many people of their diseases, afflictions, and evil spirits, and He gave sight to many who were blind.
Luke 7:22 So He replied, _Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.
Luke 7:23 Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me._
Luke 7:24 After John_s messengers had left, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: _What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?
Luke 7:25 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Look, those who wear elegant clothing and live in luxury are found in palaces.
Luke 7:26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
Luke 7:27 This is the one about whom it is written: _Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You._
Luke 7:28 I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John, yet even the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he._
Luke 7:29 All the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged God_s justice. For they had received the baptism of John.
Luke 7:30 But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God_s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.
Luke 7:31 _To what, then, can I compare the men of this generation? What are they like?
Luke 7:32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another: _We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep._
Luke 7:33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, _He has a demon!_
Luke 7:34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, _Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and of sinners!_
Luke 7:35 But wisdom is vindicated by all her children._
Luke 7:36 Then one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him, and He entered the Pharisee_s house and reclined at the table.
Luke 7:37 When a sinful woman from that town learned that Jesus was dining there, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume.
Luke 7:38 As she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair. Then she kissed His feet and anointed them with the perfume.
Luke 7:39 When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, _If this man were a prophet, He would know who this is and what kind of woman is touching Him_for she is a sinner!_
Luke 7:40 But Jesus answered him, _Simon, I have something to tell you._ _Tell me, Teacher,_ he said.
Luke 7:41 _Two men were debtors to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
Luke 7:42 When they were unable to repay him, he forgave both of them. Which one, then, will love him more?_
Luke 7:43 _I suppose the one who was forgiven more,_ Simon replied. _You have judged correctly._ Jesus said.
Luke 7:44 And turning to the woman, He said to Simon, _Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give Me water for My feet, but she wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
Luke 7:45 You did not greet Me with a kiss, but she has not stopped kissing My feet since I arrived.
Luke 7:46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfume.
Luke 7:47 Therefore I tell you, because her many sins have been forgiven, she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little._
Luke 7:48 Then Jesus said to her, _Your sins are forgiven._
Luke 7:49 But those at the table began to say to themselves, _Who is this who even forgives sins?_
Luke 7:50 And Jesus told the woman, _Your faith has saved you; go in peace._
Luke 8:1 Soon afterward, Jesus traveled from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with Him,
Luke 8:2 as well as some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
Luke 8:3 Joanna the wife of Herod_s household manager Chuza, Susanna, and many others. These women were ministering to them out of their own means.
Luke 8:4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, He told them this parable:
Luke 8:5 _A farmer went out to sow his seed. And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, where it was trampled, and the birds of the air devoured it.
Luke 8:6 Other seed fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the seedlings withered because they had no moisture.
Luke 8:7 Other seed fell among the thorns, which grew up with it and choked the seedlings.
Luke 8:8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it sprang up and produced a crop_a hundredfold._ As Jesus said this, He called out, _He who has ears to hear, let him hear._
Luke 8:9 Then His disciples asked Him what this parable meant.
Luke 8:10 He replied, _The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, _Though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand._
Luke 8:11 Now this is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.
Luke 8:12 The seeds along the path are those who hear, but the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.
Luke 8:13 The seeds on rocky ground are those who hear the word and receive it with joy, but they have no root. They believe for a season, but in the time of testing, they fall away.
Luke 8:14 The seeds that fell among the thorns are those who hear, but as they go on their way, they are choked by the worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and their fruit does not mature.
Luke 8:15 But the seeds on good soil are those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, cling to it, and by persevering produce a crop.
Luke 8:16 No one lights a lamp and covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he sets it on a lampstand, so those who enter can see the light.
Luke 8:17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing concealed that will not be known and illuminated.
Luke 8:18 Pay attention, therefore, to how you listen. Whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him._
Luke 8:19 Then Jesus_ mother and brothers came to see Him, but they were unable to reach Him because of the crowd.
Luke 8:20 He was told, _Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see You._
Luke 8:21 But He replied, _My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and carry it out._
Luke 8:22 One day Jesus said to His disciples, _Let us cross to the other side of the lake._ So He got into a boat with them and set out.
Luke 8:23 As they sailed, He fell asleep, and a squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
Luke 8:24 The disciples went and woke Him saying, _Master, Master, we are perishing!_ Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters, and they subsided, and all was calm.
Luke 8:25 _Where is your faith?_ He asked. Frightened and amazed, they asked one another, _Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him!_
Luke 8:26 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee.
Luke 8:27 When Jesus stepped ashore, He was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothing or lived in a house, but he stayed in the tombs.
Luke 8:28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before Him, shouting in a loud voice, _What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You not to torture me!_
Luke 8:29 For Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was bound with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains and been driven by the demon into solitary places.
Luke 8:30 _What is your name?_ Jesus asked. _Legion,_ he answered, because many demons had gone into him.
Luke 8:31 And the demons kept begging Jesus not to order them to go into the abyss.
Luke 8:32 There on the hillside a large herd of pigs was feeding. So the demons begged Jesus to let them enter the pigs, and He permitted them.
Luke 8:33 Then the demons came out of the man and went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
Luke 8:34 When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside.
Luke 8:35 So the people went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man whom the demons had left, sitting at Jesus_ feet, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.
Luke 8:36 Meanwhile, those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed.
Luke 8:37 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to depart from them, because great fear had swept over them. So He got into the boat and started back.
Luke 8:38 The man whom the demons had left begged to go with Jesus. But He sent him away, saying,
Luke 8:39 _Return home and tell how much God has done for you._ So the man went and proclaimed all over the town how much Jesus had done for him.
Luke 8:40 When Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed Him, for they had all been waiting for Him.
Luke 8:41 Just then, a synagogue leader named Jairus came and fell at Jesus_ feet. He begged Him to come to his house,
Luke 8:42 because his only daughter, who was about twelve, was dying. As Jesus went with him, the crowds pressed around Him,
Luke 8:43 including a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had spent all her money on physicians, but no one was able to heal her.
Luke 8:44 She came up behind Jesus and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
Luke 8:45 _Who touched Me?_ Jesus asked. But they all denied it. _Master,_ said Peter, _the people are crowding and pressing against You._
Luke 8:46 But Jesus declared, _Someone touched Me, for I know that power has gone out from Me._
Luke 8:47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not escape notice, came trembling and fell down before Him. In the presence of all the people she explained why she had touched Him and how she had immediately been healed.
Luke 8:48 _Daughter,_ said Jesus, _your faith has healed you. Go in peace._
Luke 8:49 While He was still speaking, someone arrived from the house of the synagogue leader. _Your daughter is dead,_ he told Jairus. _Do not trouble the Teacher anymore._
Luke 8:50 But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, _Do not be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed._
Luke 8:51 When He entered the house, He did not allow anyone to go in with Him except Peter, John, James, and the child_s father and mother.
Luke 8:52 Meanwhile everyone was weeping and mourning for her. But Jesus said, _Stop weeping; she is not dead but asleep._
Luke 8:53 And they laughed at Him, knowing that she was dead.
Luke 8:54 But Jesus took her by the hand and called out, _Child, get up!_
Luke 8:55 Her spirit returned, and at once she got up. And He directed that she be given something to eat.
Luke 8:56 Her parents were astonished, but Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.
Luke 9:1 Then Jesus called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and power to cure diseases.
Luke 9:2 And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
Luke 9:3 _Take nothing for the journey,_ He told them, _no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no second tunic.
Luke 9:4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that area.
Luke 9:5 If anyone does not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that town, as a testimony against them._
Luke 9:6 So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.
Luke 9:7 When Herod the Tetrarch heard about all that was happening, he was perplexed. For some were saying that John had risen from the dead,
Luke 9:8 others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that a prophet of old had arisen.
Luke 9:9 _I beheaded John,_ Herod said, _but who is this man I hear such things about?_ And he kept trying to see Jesus.
Luke 9:10 Then the apostles returned and reported to Jesus all that they had done. Taking them away privately, He withdrew to a town called Bethsaida.
Luke 9:11 But the crowds found out and followed Him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and He healed those who needed healing.
Luke 9:12 As the day neared its end, the Twelve came to Jesus and said, _Dismiss the crowd so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside for lodging and provisions. For we are in a desolate place here._
Luke 9:13 But Jesus told them, _You give them something to eat._ _We have only five loaves of bread and two fish,_ they answered, _unless we go and buy food for all these people._
Luke 9:14 (There were about five thousand men.) He told His disciples, _Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each._
Luke 9:15 They did so, and everyone was seated.
Luke 9:16 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke them. Then He gave them to the disciples to set before the people.
Luke 9:17 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
Luke 9:18 One day as Jesus was praying in private and the disciples were with Him, He questioned them: _Who do the people say I am?_
Luke 9:19 _Some say John the Baptist,_ they answered, _others say Elijah, and still others that a prophet of old has arisen._
Luke 9:20 _But who do you say I am?_ He asked. Peter replied, _The Christ of God._
Luke 9:21 Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone.
Luke 9:22 _The Son of Man must suffer many things,_ He said. _He must be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life._
Luke 9:23 Then Jesus said to all of them, _If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.
Luke 9:24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.
Luke 9:25 What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet loses or forfeits his very self?
Luke 9:26 If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
Luke 9:27 But I tell you truthfully, some who are standing here will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God._
Luke 9:28 About eight days after Jesus had said these things, He took Peter, John, and James, and went up on a mountain to pray.
Luke 9:29 And as He was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothes became radiantly white.
Luke 9:30 Suddenly two men, Moses and Elijah, began talking with Jesus.
Luke 9:31 They appeared in glory and spoke about His departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
Luke 9:32 Meanwhile Peter and his companions were overcome by sleep, but when they awoke, they saw Jesus_ glory and the two men standing with Him.
Luke 9:33 As Moses and Elijah were leaving, Peter said to Jesus, _Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah._ (He did not know what he was saying.)
Luke 9:34 While Peter was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.
Luke 9:35 And a voice came from the cloud, saying, _This is My Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him!_
Luke 9:36 After the voice had spoken, only Jesus was present with them. The disciples kept this to themselves, and in those days they did not tell anyone what they had seen.
Luke 9:37 The next day, when they came down from the mountain, Jesus was met by a large crowd.
Luke 9:38 Suddenly a man in the crowd cried out, _Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, for he is my only child.
Luke 9:39 A spirit keeps seizing him, and he screams abruptly. It throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It keeps mauling him and rarely departs from him.
Luke 9:40 I begged Your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable._
Luke 9:41 _O unbelieving and perverse generation,_ Jesus replied, _How long must I remain with you and put up with you? Bring your son here._
Luke 9:42 Even while the boy was approaching, the demon slammed him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.
Luke 9:43 And they were all astonished at the greatness of God. While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus was doing, He said to His disciples,
Luke 9:44 _Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men._
Luke 9:45 But they did not understand this statement. It was veiled from them so that they could not comprehend it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.
Luke 9:46 Then an argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.
Luke 9:47 But Jesus, knowing the thoughts of their hearts, had a little child stand beside Him.
Luke 9:48 And He said to them, _Whoever welcomes this little child in My name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes the One who sent Me. For whoever is the least among all of you, he is the greatest._
Luke 9:49 _Master,_ said John, _we saw someone driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not accompany us._
Luke 9:50 _Do not stop him,_ Jesus replied, _for whoever is not against you is for you._
Luke 9:51 As the day of His ascension approached, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.
Luke 9:52 He sent messengers on ahead, who went into a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him.
Luke 9:53 But the people there refused to welcome Him, because He was heading for Jerusalem.
Luke 9:54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, _Lord, do You want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?_
Luke 9:55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them,
Luke 9:56 and they went on to another village.
Luke 9:57 As they were walking along the road, someone said to Jesus, _I will follow You wherever You go._
Luke 9:58 Jesus replied, _Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head._
Luke 9:59 Then He said to another man, _Follow Me._ _Lord,_ the man replied, _first let me go and bury my father._
Luke 9:60 But Jesus told him, _Let the dead bury their own dead. You, however, go and proclaim the kingdom of God._
Luke 9:61 Still another said, _I will follow You, Lord; but first let me bid farewell to my family._
Luke 9:62 Then Jesus declared, _No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God._
Luke 10:1 After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place He was about to visit.
Luke 10:2 And He told them, _The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.
Luke 10:3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.
Luke 10:4 Carry no purse or bag or sandals. Do not greet anyone along the road.
Luke 10:5 Whatever house you enter, begin by saying, _Peace to this house._
Luke 10:6 If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you.
Luke 10:7 Stay at the same house, eating and drinking whatever you are offered. For the worker is worthy of his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
Luke 10:8 If you enter a town and they welcome you, eat whatever is set before you.
Luke 10:9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, _The kingdom of God is near you._
Luke 10:10 But if you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into the streets and declare,
Luke 10:11 _Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off as a testimony against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near._
Luke 10:12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
Luke 10:13 Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had happened in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
Luke 10:14 But it will be more bearable at the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you.
Luke 10:15 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will go down to Hades!
Luke 10:16 Whoever listens to you listens to Me; whoever rejects you rejects Me; and whoever rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me._
Luke 10:17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, _Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name._
Luke 10:18 So He said to them, _I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
Luke 10:19 See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you.
Luke 10:20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven._
Luke 10:21 At that time, Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and declared, _I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight.
Luke 10:22 All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son, and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him._
Luke 10:23 Then Jesus turned to the disciples and said privately, _Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.
Luke 10:24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it._
Luke 10:25 One day an expert in the law stood up to test Him. _Teacher,_ he asked, _what must I do to inherit eternal life?_
Luke 10:26 _What is written in the Law?_ Jesus replied. _How do you read it?_
Luke 10:27 He answered, __Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind_ and _Love your neighbor as yourself.__
Luke 10:28 _You have answered correctly,_ Jesus said. _Do this and you will live._
Luke 10:29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, _And who is my neighbor?_
Luke 10:30 Jesus took up this question and said, _A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.
Luke 10:31 Now by chance a priest was going down the same road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
Luke 10:32 So too, when a Levite came to that spot and saw him, he passed by on the other side.
Luke 10:33 But when a Samaritan on a journey came upon him, he looked at him and had compassion.
Luke 10:34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
Luke 10:35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. _Take care of him,_ he said, _and on my return I will repay you for any additional expense._
Luke 10:36 Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?_
Luke 10:37 _The one who showed him mercy,_ replied the expert in the law. Then Jesus told him, _Go and do likewise._
Luke 10:38 As they traveled along, Jesus entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.
Luke 10:39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord_s feet, listening to His message.
Luke 10:40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations to be made. She came to Jesus and said, _Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me!_
Luke 10:41 _Martha, Martha,_ the Lord replied, _you are worried and upset about many things.
Luke 10:42 But only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her._
Luke 11:1 One day in a place where Jesus had just finished praying, one of His disciples requested, _Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples._
Luke 11:2 So Jesus told them, _When you pray, say: _Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come.
Luke 11:3 Give us each day our daily bread.
Luke 11:4 And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.__
Luke 11:5 Then Jesus said to them, _Suppose one of you goes to his friend at midnight and says, _Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,
Luke 11:6 because a friend of mine has come to me on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him._
Luke 11:7 And the one inside answers, _Do not bother me. My door is already shut and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything._
Luke 11:8 I tell you, even though he will not get up to provide for him because of his friendship, yet because of the man_s persistence, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
Luke 11:9 So I tell you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
Luke 11:10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Luke 11:11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?
Luke 11:12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
Luke 11:13 So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!_
Luke 11:14 One day Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. And when the demon was gone, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowds were amazed,
Luke 11:15 but some of them said, _It is by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons, that He drives out demons._
Luke 11:16 And others tested Him by demanding a sign from heaven.
Luke 11:17 But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, _Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and a house divided against a house will fall.
Luke 11:18 If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? After all, you say that I drive out demons by Beelzebul.
Luke 11:19 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
Luke 11:20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Luke 11:21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his house, his possessions are secure.
Luke 11:22 But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor on which the man relied, and then he divides up his plunder.
Luke 11:23 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
Luke 11:24 When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, _I will return to the house I left._
Luke 11:25 On its return, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.
Luke 11:26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and dwell there. And the final plight of that man is worse than the first._
Luke 11:27 As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, _Blessed is the womb that bore You, and blessed are the breasts that nursed You._
Luke 11:28 But He replied, _Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it._
Luke 11:29 As the crowds were increasing, Jesus said, _This is a wicked generation. It demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.
Luke 11:30 For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation.
Luke 11:31 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.
Luke 11:32 The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.
Luke 11:33 No one lights a lamp and puts it in a cellar or under a basket. Instead, he sets it on a lampstand, so those who enter can see the light.
Luke 11:34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your vision is clear, your whole body also is full of light. But when it is poor, your body is full of darkness.
Luke 11:35 Be careful, then, that the light within you is not darkness.
Luke 11:36 So if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it in darkness, you will be radiant, as though a lamp were shining on you._
Luke 11:37 As Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee invited Him to dine with him; so He went in and reclined at the table.
Luke 11:38 But the Pharisee was astonished to see that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.
Luke 11:39 _Now then,_ said the Lord, _you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.
Luke 11:40 You fools! Did not the One who made the outside make the inside as well?
Luke 11:41 But give as alms the things that are within you, and you will see that everything is clean for you.
Luke 11:42 Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint and rue and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.
Luke 11:43 Woe to you Pharisees! You love the chief seats in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces.
Luke 11:44 Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, which men walk across without even noticing._
Luke 11:45 One of the experts in the law told Him, _Teacher, when You say these things, You insult us as well._
Luke 11:46 _Woe to you as well, experts in the law!_ He replied. _You weigh men down with heavy burdens, but you yourselves will not lift a finger to lighten their load.
Luke 11:47 Woe to you! You build tombs for the prophets, but it was your fathers who killed them.
Luke 11:48 So you are witnesses who consent to the deeds of your fathers: They killed the prophets, and you build their tombs.
Luke 11:49 Because of this, the Wisdom of God said, _I will send them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and others they will persecute._
Luke 11:50 As a result, this generation will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the foundation of the world,
Luke 11:51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, all of it will be charged to this generation.
Luke 11:52 Woe to you experts in the law! For you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering._
Luke 11:53 As Jesus went on from there, the scribes and Pharisees began to oppose Him bitterly and to ply Him with questions about many things,
Luke 11:54 waiting to catch Him in something He might say.
Luke 12:1 In the meantime, a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling one another. Jesus began to speak first to His disciples: _Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Luke 12:2 There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that not will be made known.
Luke 12:3 What you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops.
Luke 12:4 I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.
Luke 12:5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!
Luke 12:6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.
Luke 12:7 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Luke 12:8 I tell you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will also confess him before the angels of God.
Luke 12:9 But whoever denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.
Luke 12:10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
Luke 12:11 When you are brought before the synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say.
Luke 12:12 For at that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you should say._
Luke 12:13 Someone in the crowd said to Him, _Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me._
Luke 12:14 But Jesus replied, _Man, who appointed Me judge or executor between you?_
Luke 12:15 And He said to them, _Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for a man_s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions._
Luke 12:16 Then He told them a parable: _The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance.
Luke 12:17 So he thought to himself, _What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?_
Luke 12:18 Then he said, _This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods.
Luke 12:19 Then I will say to myself, _You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!__
Luke 12:20 But God said to him, _You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?_
Luke 12:21 This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God._
Luke 12:22 Then Jesus said to His disciples, _Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.
Luke 12:23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.
Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap; they have no storehouse or barn, yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than the birds!
Luke 12:25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his lifespan?
Luke 12:26 So if you cannot do such a small thing, why do you worry about the rest?
Luke 12:27 Consider how the lilies grow: They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these.
Luke 12:28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith!
Luke 12:29 And do not be concerned about what you will eat or drink. Do not worry about it.
Luke 12:30 For the nations of the world strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.
Luke 12:31 But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added unto you.
Luke 12:32 Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
Luke 12:33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.
Luke 12:34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Luke 12:35 Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning.
Luke 12:36 Then you will be like servants waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.
Luke 12:37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve and will have them recline at the table, and he himself will come and wait on them.
Luke 12:38 Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night and finds them alert, those servants will be blessed!
Luke 12:39 But understand this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.
Luke 12:40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect._
Luke 12:41 _Lord,_ said Peter, _are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?_
Luke 12:42 And the Lord answered, _Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time?
Luke 12:43 Blessed is that servant whom his master finds doing so when he returns.
Luke 12:44 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
Luke 12:45 But suppose that servant says in his heart, _My master will be a long time in coming,_ and he begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk.
Luke 12:46 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him, and at an hour of which he is unaware. Then He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
Luke 12:47 That servant who knows his master_s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows.
Luke 12:48 But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.
Luke 12:49 I have come to ignite a fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!
Luke 12:50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!
Luke 12:51 Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division.
Luke 12:52 From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three.
Luke 12:53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law._
Luke 12:54 Then Jesus said to the crowds, _As soon as you see a cloud rising in the west, you say, _A shower is coming,_ and that is what happens.
Luke 12:55 And when the south wind blows, you say, _It will be hot,_ and it is.
Luke 12:56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and sky. Why don_t you know how to interpret the present time?
Luke 12:57 And why don_t you judge for yourselves what is right?
Luke 12:58 Make every effort to reconcile with your adversary while you are on your way to the magistrate. Otherwise, he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and the officer may throw you into prison.
Luke 12:59 I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the very last penny._
Luke 13:1 At that time, some of those present told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.
Luke 13:2 To this He replied, _Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered this fate?
Luke 13:3 No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
Luke 13:4 Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam collapsed on them: Do you think that they were more sinful than all the others living in Jerusalem?
Luke 13:5 No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish._
Luke 13:6 Then Jesus told this parable: _A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any.
Luke 13:7 So he said to the keeper of the vineyard, _Look, for the past three years I have come to search for fruit on this fig tree and haven_t found any. Therefore cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?_
Luke 13:8 _Sir,_ the man replied, _leave it alone again this year, until I dig around it and fertilize it.
Luke 13:9 If it bears fruit next year, fine. But if not, you can cut it down.__
Luke 13:10 One Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues,
Luke 13:11 and a woman there had been disabled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was hunched over and could not stand up straight.
Luke 13:12 When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said, _Woman, you are set free from your infirmity._
Luke 13:13 Then He laid His hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and began to glorify God.
Luke 13:14 But the synagogue leader was indignant that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. _There are six days for work,_ he told the crowd. _So come and be healed on those days and not on the Sabbath._
Luke 13:15 _You hypocrites!_ the Lord replied, _Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it to water?
Luke 13:16 Then should not this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, be released from her bondage on the Sabbath day?_
Luke 13:17 When Jesus said this, all His adversaries were humiliated. And the whole crowd rejoiced at all the glorious things He was doing.
Luke 13:18 Then Jesus asked, _What is the kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it?
Luke 13:19 It is like a mustard seed that a man tossed into his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches._
Luke 13:20 Again He asked, _To what can I compare the kingdom of God?
Luke 13:21 It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour until all of it was leavened._
Luke 13:22 Then Jesus traveled throughout the towns and villages, teaching as He made His way toward Jerusalem.
Luke 13:23 _Lord,_ someone asked Him, _will only a few people be saved?_ Jesus answered,
Luke 13:24 _Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.
Luke 13:25 After the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking and saying, _Lord, open the door for us._ But he will reply, _I do not know where you are from._
Luke 13:26 Then you will say, _We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets._
Luke 13:27 And he will answer, _I tell you, I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers._
Luke 13:28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves are thrown out.
Luke 13:29 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God.
Luke 13:30 And indeed, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last._
Luke 13:31 At that very hour, some Pharisees came to Jesus and told Him, _Leave this place and get away, because Herod wants to kill You._
Luke 13:32 But Jesus replied, _Go tell that fox, _Look, I will keep driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach My goal._
Luke 13:33 Nevertheless, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day, for it is not admissible for a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem.
Luke 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling.
Luke 13:35 Look, your house is left to you desolate. And I tell you, you will not see Me again until you say, _Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.__
Luke 14:1 One Sabbath, Jesus went to eat in the home of a leading Pharisee, and those in attendance were watching Him closely.
Luke 14:2 Right there in front of Him was a man with dropsy.
Luke 14:3 So Jesus asked the experts in the law and the Pharisees, _Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?_
Luke 14:4 But they remained silent. Then Jesus took hold of the man, healed him, and sent him on his way.
Luke 14:5 And He asked them, _Which of you whose son or ox falls into a pit on the Sabbath day will not immediately pull him out?_
Luke 14:6 And they were unable to answer these questions.
Luke 14:7 When Jesus noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, He told them a parable:
Luke 14:8 _When you are invited to a wedding banquet, do not sit in the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited.
Luke 14:9 Then the host who invited both of you will come and tell you, _Give this man your seat._ And in humiliation, you will have to take the last place.
Luke 14:10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the last place, so that your host will come and tell you, _Friend, move up to a better place._ Then you will be honored in front of everyone at the table with you.
Luke 14:11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted._
Luke 14:12 Then Jesus said to the man who had invited Him, _When you host a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or brothers or relatives or rich neighbors. Otherwise, they may invite you in return, and you will be repaid.
Luke 14:13 But when you host a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind,
Luke 14:14 and you will be blessed. Since they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous._
Luke 14:15 When one of those reclining with Him heard this, he said to Jesus, _Blessed is everyone who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God._
Luke 14:16 But Jesus replied, _A certain man prepared a great banquet and invited many guests.
Luke 14:17 When it was time for the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, _Come, for everything is now ready._
Luke 14:18 But one after another, they all began to make excuses. The first one said, _I have bought a field and I need to go see it. Please excuse me._
Luke 14:19 Another said, _I have bought five yoke of oxen and I am going to try them out. Please excuse me._
Luke 14:20 Still another said, _I have married a wife, so I cannot come._
Luke 14:21 The servant returned and reported all this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his servant, _Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame._
Luke 14:22 _Sir,_ the servant replied, _what you ordered has been done, and there is still room._
Luke 14:23 So the master told his servant, _Go out to the highways and the hedges and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.
Luke 14:24 For I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will taste my banquet.__
Luke 14:25 Large crowds were now traveling with Jesus, and He turned and said to them,
Luke 14:26 _If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters_yes, even his own life_he cannot be My disciple.
Luke 14:27 And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.
Luke 14:28 Which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it?
Luke 14:29 Otherwise, if he lays the foundation and is unable to finish the work, everyone who sees it will ridicule him,
Luke 14:30 saying, _This man could not finish what he started to build._
Luke 14:31 Or what king on his way to war with another king will not first sit down and consider whether he can engage with ten thousand men the one coming against him with twenty thousand?
Luke 14:32 And if he is unable, he will send a delegation while the other king is still far off, to ask for terms of peace.
Luke 14:33 In the same way, any one of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple.
Luke 14:34 Salt is good, but if the salt loses its savor, with what will it be seasoned?
Luke 14:35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile, and it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear._
Luke 15:1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around to listen to Jesus.
Luke 15:2 So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: _This man welcomes sinners and eats with them._
Luke 15:3 Then Jesus told them this parable:
Luke 15:4 _What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?
Luke 15:5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders,
Luke 15:6 comes home, and calls together his friends and neighbors to tell them, _Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep!_
Luke 15:7 In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.
Luke 15:8 Or what woman who has ten silver coins and loses one of them does not light a lamp, sweep her house, and search carefully until she finds it?
Luke 15:9 And when she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors to say, _Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost coin._
Luke 15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God_s angels over one sinner who repents._
Luke 15:11 Then Jesus said, _There was a man who had two sons.
Luke 15:12 The younger son said to him, _Father, give me my share of the estate._ So he divided his property between them.
Luke 15:13 After a few days, the younger son got everything together and journeyed to a distant country, where he squandered his wealth in wild living.
Luke 15:14 After he had spent all he had, a severe famine swept through that country, and he began to be in need.
Luke 15:15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.
Luke 15:16 He longed to fill his belly with the pods the pigs were eating, but no one would give him a thing.
Luke 15:17 Finally he came to his senses and said, _How many of my father_s hired servants have plenty of food? But here I am, starving to death!
Luke 15:18 I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, _Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
Luke 15:19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.__
Luke 15:20 So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
Luke 15:21 The son declared, _Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son._
Luke 15:22 But the father said to his servants, _Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Luke 15:23 Bring the fatted calf and kill it. Let us feast and celebrate.
Luke 15:24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!_ So they began to celebrate.
Luke 15:25 Meanwhile the older son was in the field, and as he approached the house, he heard music and dancing.
Luke 15:26 So he called one of the servants and asked what was going on.
Luke 15:27 _Your brother has returned,_ he said, _and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has him back safe and sound._
Luke 15:28 The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.
Luke 15:29 But he answered his father, _Look, all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
Luke 15:30 But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fatted calf for him!_
Luke 15:31 _Son, you are always with me,_ the father said, _and all that is mine is yours.
Luke 15:32 But it was fitting to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.__
Luke 16:1 Jesus also said to His disciples, _There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions.
Luke 16:2 So he called him in to ask, _What is this I hear about you? Turn in an account of your management, for you cannot be manager any longer._
Luke 16:3 The manager said to himself, _What shall I do, now that my master is taking away my position? I am too weak to dig and too ashamed to beg.
Luke 16:4 I know what I will do, so that after my removal from management, people will welcome me into their homes..._
Luke 16:5 And he called in each one of his master_s debtors. _How much do you owe my master?_ he asked the first.
Luke 16:6 _A hundred measures of olive oil,_ he answered. _Take your bill,_ said the manager. _Sit down quickly, and write fifty._
Luke 16:7 Then he asked another, _And how much do you owe?_ _A hundred measures of wheat._ he replied. _Take your bill and write eighty,_ he told him.
Luke 16:8 The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the sons of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the sons of light.
Luke 16:9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to make friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, they will welcome you into eternal dwellings.
Luke 16:10 Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
Luke 16:11 If, then, you have not been faithful with worldly wealth, who will entrust you with true riches?
Luke 16:12 And if you have not been faithful with the belongings of another, who will give you belongings of your own?
Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money._
Luke 16:14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all of this and were scoffing at Jesus.
Luke 16:15 So He said to them, _You are the ones who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is prized among men is detestable before God.
Luke 16:16 The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the gospel of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
Luke 16:17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for a single stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.
Luke 16:18 Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Luke 16:19 Now there was a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, who lived each day in joyous splendor.
Luke 16:20 And a beggar named Lazarus lay at his gate, covered with sores
Luke 16:21 and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man_s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
Luke 16:22 One day the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham_s side. And the rich man also died and was buried.
Luke 16:23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham from afar, with Lazarus by his side.
Luke 16:24 So he cried out, _Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire._
Luke 16:25 But Abraham answered, _Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. But now he is comforted here, while you are left to suffer.
Luke 16:26 And besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that even those who wish cannot cross from here to you, nor can anyone cross from there to us._
Luke 16:27 _Then I beg you, father,_ he said, _send Lazarus to my father_s house,
Luke 16:28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them so they will not also end up in this place of torment._
Luke 16:29 But Abraham replied, _They have Moses and the prophets; let your brothers listen to them._
Luke 16:30 _No, father Abraham,_ he said, _but if someone is sent to them from the dead, they will repent._
Luke 16:31 Then Abraham said to him, _If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.__
Luke 17:1 Jesus said to His disciples, _It is inevitable that stumbling blocks will come, but woe to the one through whom they come!
Luke 17:2 It would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.
Luke 17:3 Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
Luke 17:4 Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, _I repent,_ you must forgive him._
Luke 17:5 The apostles said to the Lord, _Increase our faith!_
Luke 17:6 And the Lord answered, _If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, _Be uprooted and planted in the sea,_ and it will obey you.
Luke 17:7 Which of you whose servant comes in from plowing or shepherding in the field will say to him, _Come at once and sit down to eat?_
Luke 17:8 Instead, won_t he tell him, _Prepare my meal and dress yourself to serve me while I eat and drink; and afterward you may eat and drink_?
Luke 17:9 Does he thank the servant because he did what he was told?
Luke 17:10 So you also, when you have done everything commanded of you, should say, _We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.__
Luke 17:11 While Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee.
Luke 17:12 As He entered one of the villages, He was met by ten lepers. They stood at a distance
Luke 17:13 and raised their voices, shouting, _Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!_
Luke 17:14 When Jesus saw them, He said, _Go, show yourselves to the priests._ And as they were on their way, they were cleansed.
Luke 17:15 When one of them saw that he was healed, he came back, praising God in a loud voice.
Luke 17:16 He fell facedown at Jesus_ feet in thanksgiving to Him_and he was a Samaritan.
Luke 17:17 _Were not all ten cleansed?_ Jesus asked. _Where then are the other nine?
Luke 17:18 Was no one found except this foreigner to return and give glory to God?_
Luke 17:19 Then Jesus said to him, _Rise and go; your faith has made you well!_
Luke 17:20 When asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, _The kingdom of God will not come with observable signs.
Luke 17:21 Nor will people say, _Look, here it is,_ or _There it is._ For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst._
Luke 17:22 Then He said to the disciples, _The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it.
Luke 17:23 People will tell you, _Look, there He is,_ or _Here He is._ Do not go out or chase after them.
Luke 17:24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other, so will be the Son of Man in His day.
Luke 17:25 But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
Luke 17:26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man:
Luke 17:27 People were eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.
Luke 17:28 It was the same in the days of Lot: People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building.
Luke 17:29 But on the day Lot left Sodom, fire and brimstone rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.
Luke 17:30 It will be just like that on the day the Son of Man is revealed.
Luke 17:31 On that day, let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve his possessions. Likewise, let no one in the field return for anything he has left behind.
Luke 17:32 Remember Lot_s wife!
Luke 17:33 Whoever tries to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it.
Luke 17:34 I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed: One will be taken and the other left.
Luke 17:35 Two women will be grinding grain together: One will be taken and the other left._
Luke 17:36
Luke 17:37 _Where, Lord?_ they asked. Jesus answered, _Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather._
Luke 18:1 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart:
Luke 18:2 _In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected men.
Luke 18:3 And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, _Give me justice against my adversary._
Luke 18:4 For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, _Even though I do not fear God or respect men,
Luke 18:5 yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice. Then she will stop wearing me out with her perpetual requests.__
Luke 18:6 And the Lord said, _Listen to the words of the unjust judge.
Luke 18:7 Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He continue to defer their help?
Luke 18:8 I tell you, He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?_
Luke 18:9 To some who trusted in their own righteousness and viewed others with contempt, He also told this parable:
Luke 18:10 _Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
Luke 18:11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, _God, I thank You that I am not like the other men_swindlers, evildoers, adulterers_or even like this tax collector.
Luke 18:12 I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I receive._
Luke 18:13 But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, _God, have mercy on me, a sinner!_
Luke 18:14 I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted._
Luke 18:15 Now people were even bringing their babies to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them. And when the disciples saw this, they rebuked them.
Luke 18:16 But Jesus called the children to Him and said, _Let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Luke 18:17 Truly I tell you, if anyone does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child, he will never enter it._
Luke 18:18 Then a certain ruler asked Him, _Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?_
Luke 18:19 _Why do you call Me good?_ Jesus replied. _No one is good except God alone.
Luke 18:20 You know the commandments: _Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother.__
Luke 18:21 _All these have I kept from my youth,_ he said.
Luke 18:22 On hearing this, Jesus told him, _You still lack one thing: Sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me._
Luke 18:23 But when the ruler heard this, he became very sad, because he was extremely wealthy.
Luke 18:24 Seeing the man_s sorrow, Jesus said, _How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.
Luke 18:25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to pass through an eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God._
Luke 18:26 Those who heard this asked, _Who then can be saved?_
Luke 18:27 But Jesus said, _What is impossible with man is possible with God._
Luke 18:28 _Look,_ said Peter, _we have left everything we had to follow You._
Luke 18:29 _Truly I tell you,_ Jesus replied, _no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God
Luke 18:30 will fail to receive many times more at the proper time_and in the age to come, eternal life._
Luke 18:31 Then Jesus took the Twelve aside and said to them, _Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything the prophets have written about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.
Luke 18:32 He will be handed over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon.
Luke 18:33 They will flog Him and kill Him, and on the third day He will rise again._
Luke 18:34 But the disciples did not understand any of these things. The meaning was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend what He was saying.
Luke 18:35 As Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting beside the road, begging.
Luke 18:36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening.
Luke 18:37 _Jesus of Nazareth is passing by,_ they told him.
Luke 18:38 So he called out, _Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!_
Luke 18:39 Those who led the way admonished him to be silent, but he cried out all the louder, _Son of David, have mercy on me._
Luke 18:40 Jesus stopped and directed that the man be brought to Him. When he had been brought near, Jesus asked him,
Luke 18:41 _What do you want Me to do for you?_ _Lord,_ he said, _let me see again._
Luke 18:42 _Receive your sight!_ Jesus replied. _Your faith has healed you._
Luke 18:43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, glorifying God. And all the people who saw this gave praise to God.
Luke 19:1 Then Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.
Luke 19:2 And there was a man named Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, who was very wealthy.
Luke 19:3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but could not see over the crowd, because he was small in stature.
Luke 19:4 So he ran on ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see Him, since Jesus was about to pass that way.
Luke 19:5 When Jesus came to that place, He looked up and said, _Zacchaeus, hurry down, for I must stay at your house today._
Luke 19:6 So Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed Him joyfully.
Luke 19:7 And all who saw this began to grumble, saying, _He has gone to be the guest of a sinful man!_
Luke 19:8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, _Look, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay it fourfold._
Luke 19:9 Jesus said to him, _Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham.
Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost._
Luke 19:11 While the people were listening to this, Jesus proceeded to tell them a parable, because He was near Jerusalem and they thought the kingdom of God would appear imminently.
Luke 19:12 So He said, _A man of noble birth went to a distant country to lay claim to his kingship and then return.
Luke 19:13 Beforehand, he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. _Conduct business with this until I return,_ he said.
Luke 19:14 But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, _We do not want this man to rule over us._
Luke 19:15 When he returned from procuring his kingship, he summoned the servants to whom he had given the money, to find out what each one had earned.
Luke 19:16 The first servant came forward and said, _Master, your mina has produced ten more minas._
Luke 19:17 His master replied, _Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, you shall have authority over ten cities._
Luke 19:18 The second servant came and said, _Master, your mina has made five minas._
Luke 19:19 And to this one he said, _You shall have authority over five cities._
Luke 19:20 Then another servant came and said, _Master, here is your mina, which I have laid away in a piece of cloth.
Luke 19:21 For I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man. You withdraw what you did not deposit and reap what you did not sow._
Luke 19:22 His master replied, _You wicked servant, I will judge you by your own words. So you knew that I am a harsh man, withdrawing what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow?
Luke 19:23 Why then did you not deposit my money in the bank, and upon my return I could have collected it with interest?_
Luke 19:24 Then he told those standing by, _Take the mina from him and give it to the one who has ten minas._
Luke 19:25 _Master,_ they said, _he already has ten!_
Luke 19:26 _I tell you that everyone who has will be given more; but the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
Luke 19:27 And these enemies of mine who were unwilling for me to rule over them, bring them here and slay them in front of me.__
Luke 19:28 After Jesus had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
Luke 19:29 As He approached Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples.
Luke 19:30 _Go to the village ahead of you,_ He said. _As you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here.
Luke 19:31 If anyone asks why you are untying it, tell him that the Lord needs it._
Luke 19:32 So those who were sent went out and found it just as Jesus had told them.
Luke 19:33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked, _Why are you untying the colt?_
Luke 19:34 _The Lord needs it,_ they answered.
Luke 19:35 Then they brought the colt to Jesus, threw their cloaks over it, and put Jesus on it.
Luke 19:36 As He rode along, the people spread their cloaks on the road.
Luke 19:37 And as He approached the descent from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of disciples began to praise God joyfully in a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen:
Luke 19:38 _Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!_ _Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!_
Luke 19:39 But some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, _Teacher, rebuke Your disciples!_
Luke 19:40 _I tell you,_ He answered, _if they remain silent, the very stones will cry out._
Luke 19:41 As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it
Luke 19:42 and said, _If only you had known on this day what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes.
Luke 19:43 For the days will come upon you when your enemies will barricade you and surround you and hem you in on every side.
Luke 19:44 They will level you to the ground_you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God._
Luke 19:45 Then Jesus entered the temple courts and began to drive out those who were selling there.
Luke 19:46 He declared to them, _It is written: _My house will be a house of prayer._ But you have made it _a den of robbers.__
Luke 19:47 Jesus was teaching at the temple every day, but the chief priests, scribes, and leaders of the people were intent on killing Him.
Luke 19:48 Yet they could not find a way to do so, because all the people hung on His words.
Luke 20:1 One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the gospel, the chief priests and scribes, together with the elders, came up to Him.
Luke 20:2 _Tell us,_ they said, _by what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?_
Luke 20:3 _I will also ask you a question,_ Jesus replied. _Tell Me:
Luke 20:4 John_s baptism_was it from heaven, or from men?_
Luke 20:5 They deliberated among themselves and said, _If we say, _From heaven,_ He will ask, _Why did you not believe him?_
Luke 20:6 But if we say, _From men,_ all the people will stone us, for they are convinced that John was a prophet._
Luke 20:7 So they answered that they did not know where it was from.
Luke 20:8 And Jesus replied, _Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things._
Luke 20:9 Then He proceeded to tell the people this parable: _A man planted a vineyard, rented it out to some tenants, and went away for a long time.
Luke 20:10 At harvest time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed.
Luke 20:11 So he sent another servant, but they beat him and humiliated him, sending him away empty-handed.
Luke 20:12 Then he sent a third, but they wounded him and threw him out.
Luke 20:13 _What shall I do?_ asked the owner of the vineyard. _I will send my beloved son. Perhaps they will respect him._
Luke 20:14 But when the tenants saw the son, they discussed it among themselves and said, _This is the heir; let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours._
Luke 20:15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?
Luke 20:16 He will come and kill those tenants, and will give the vineyard to others._ And when the people heard this, they said, _May such a thing never happen!_
Luke 20:17 But Jesus looked directly at them and said, _Then what is the meaning of that which is written: _The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone_ ?
Luke 20:18 Everyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed._
Luke 20:19 When the scribes and chief priests realized that Jesus had spoken this parable against them, they sought to arrest Him that very hour. But they were afraid of the people.
Luke 20:20 So they watched Him closely and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They were hoping to catch Him in His words in order to hand Him over to the rule and authority of the governor.
Luke 20:21 _Teacher,_ they inquired, _we know that You speak and teach correctly. You show no partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.
Luke 20:22 Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?_
Luke 20:23 But Jesus saw through their duplicity and said to them,
Luke 20:24 _Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?_ _Caesar_s,_ they answered.
Luke 20:25 So Jesus told them, _Give to Caesar what is Caesar_s, and to God what is God_s._
Luke 20:26 And they were unable to trap Him in His words before the people; and astonished at His answer, they fell silent.
Luke 20:27 Then some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to question Him.
Luke 20:28 _Teacher,_ they said, _Moses wrote for us that if a man_s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man should marry his brother_s widow and raise up offspring for him.
Luke 20:29 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a wife, but died childless.
Luke 20:30 Then the second
Luke 20:31 and the third married her, and in the same way all seven died, leaving no children.
Luke 20:32 And last of all, the woman died.
Luke 20:33 So then, in the resurrection, whose wife will she be? For all seven were married to her._
Luke 20:34 Jesus answered, _The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.
Luke 20:35 But those who are considered worthy to share in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage.
Luke 20:36 In fact, they can no longer die, because they are like the angels. And since they are sons of the resurrection, they are sons of God.
Luke 20:37 Even Moses demonstrates that the dead are raised, in the passage about the burning bush. For he calls the Lord _the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob._
Luke 20:38 He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for to Him all are alive._
Luke 20:39 Some of the scribes answered, _Teacher, you have spoken well!_
Luke 20:40 And they did not dare to question Him any further.
Luke 20:41 Then Jesus declared, _How can it be said that the Christ is the Son of David?
Luke 20:42 For David himself says in the book of Psalms: _The Lord said to my Lord, _Sit at My right hand
Luke 20:43 until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.__
Luke 20:44 So if David calls Him Lord, how can He be David_s son?_
Luke 20:45 In the hearing of all the people, Jesus said to His disciples,
Luke 20:46 _Beware of the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, and they love the greetings in the marketplaces, the chief seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets.
Luke 20:47 They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation._
Luke 21:1 Then Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury,
Luke 21:2 and He saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.
Luke 21:3 _Truly I tell you,_ He said, _this poor widow has put in more than all the others.
Luke 21:4 For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on._
Luke 21:5 As some of the disciples were remarking how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and consecrated gifts, Jesus said,
Luke 21:6 _As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one will be toppled._
Luke 21:7 _Teacher,_ they asked, _when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?_
Luke 21:8 Jesus answered, _See to it that you are not deceived. For many will come in My name, claiming, _I am He,_ and, _The time is near._ Do not follow them.
Luke 21:9 When you hear of wars and rebellions, do not be alarmed. These things must happen first, but the end is not imminent._
Luke 21:10 Then He told them, _Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
Luke 21:11 There will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places, along with fearful sights and great signs from heaven.
Luke 21:12 But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. On account of My name, they will deliver you to the synagogues and prisons, and they will bring you before kings and governors.
Luke 21:13 This will be your opportunity to serve as witnesses.
Luke 21:14 So make up your mind not to worry beforehand how to defend yourselves.
Luke 21:15 For I will give you speech and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
Luke 21:16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death.
Luke 21:17 And you will be hated by everyone because of My name.
Luke 21:18 Yet not even a hair of your head will perish.
Luke 21:19 By your patient endurance, you will gain your souls.
Luke 21:20 But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you will know that her desolation is near.
Luke 21:21 Then let those in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country stay out of the city.
Luke 21:22 For these are the days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.
Luke 21:23 How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers. For there will be great distress upon the land and wrath against this people.
Luke 21:24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Luke 21:25 There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves.
Luke 21:26 Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Luke 21:27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Luke 21:28 When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near._
Luke 21:29 Then Jesus told them a parable: _Look at the fig tree and all the trees.
Luke 21:30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near.
Luke 21:31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you will know that the kingdom of God is near.
Luke 21:32 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened.
Luke 21:33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
Luke 21:34 But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life_and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare.
Luke 21:35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Luke 21:36 So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man._
Luke 21:37 Every day Jesus taught at the temple, but every evening He went out to spend the night on the Mount of Olives.
Luke 21:38 And early in the morning all the people would come to hear Him at the temple.
Luke 22:1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching,
Luke 22:2 and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death; for they feared the people.
Luke 22:3 Then Satan entered Judas Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve.
Luke 22:4 And Judas went to discuss with the chief priests and temple officers how he might betray Jesus to them.
Luke 22:5 They were delighted and agreed to give him money.
Luke 22:6 Judas consented, and began to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them in the absence of a crowd.
Luke 22:7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed.
Luke 22:8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, _Go and prepare for us to eat the Passover._
Luke 22:9 _Where do You want us to prepare it?_ they asked.
Luke 22:10 He answered, _When you enter the city, a man carrying a jug of water will meet you. Follow him to the house he enters,
Luke 22:11 and say to the owner of that house, _The Teacher asks, _Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?__
Luke 22:12 And he will show you a large, furnished upper room. Make the preparations there._
Luke 22:13 So they went and found it just as Jesus had told them. And they prepared the Passover.
Luke 22:14 When the hour had come, Jesus reclined at the table with His apostles.
Luke 22:15 And He said to them, _I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before My suffering.
Luke 22:16 For I tell you that I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God._
Luke 22:17 After taking the cup, He gave thanks and said, _Take this and divide it among yourselves.
Luke 22:18 For I tell you that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes._
Luke 22:19 And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, _This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me._
Luke 22:20 In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, _This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.
Luke 22:21 Look! The hand of My betrayer is with Mine on the table.
Luke 22:22 Indeed, the Son of Man will go as it has been determined, but woe to that man who betrays Him._
Luke 22:23 Then they began to question among themselves which of them was going to do this.
Luke 22:24 A dispute also arose among the disciples as to which of them would be considered the greatest.
Luke 22:25 So Jesus declared, _The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority over them call themselves benefactors.
Luke 22:26 But you shall not be like them. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves.
Luke 22:27 For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is not the one who reclines? But I am among you as the One who serves.
Luke 22:28 You are the ones who have stood by Me in My trials.
Luke 22:29 And I bestow on you a kingdom, just as My Father has bestowed on Me,
Luke 22:30 so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Luke 22:31 Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat.
Luke 22:32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers._
Luke 22:33 _Lord,_ said Peter, _I am ready to go with You even to prison and to death._
Luke 22:34 But Jesus replied, _I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me._
Luke 22:35 Then Jesus asked them, _When I sent you out without purse or bag or sandals, did you lack anything?_ _Nothing,_ they answered.
Luke 22:36 _Now, however,_ He told them, _the one with a purse should take it, and likewise a bag; and the one without a sword should sell his cloak and buy one.
Luke 22:37 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 is reaching its fulfillment._
Luke 22:38 So they said, _Look, Lord, here are two swords._ _That is enough,_ He answered.
Luke 22:39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed Him.
Luke 22:40 When He came to the place, He told them, _Pray that you will not enter into temptation._
Luke 22:41 And He withdrew about a stone_s throw beyond them, where He knelt down and prayed,
Luke 22:42 _Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done._
Luke 22:43 Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him.
Luke 22:44 And in His anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.
Luke 22:45 When Jesus rose from prayer and returned to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.
Luke 22:46 _Why are you sleeping?_ He asked. _Get up and pray so that you will not enter into temptation._
Luke 22:47 While He was still speaking, a crowd arrived, led by the man called Judas, one of the Twelve. He approached Jesus to kiss Him.
Luke 22:48 But Jesus asked him, _Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?_
Luke 22:49 Those around Jesus saw what was about to happen and said, _Lord, should we strike with our swords?_
Luke 22:50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.
Luke 22:51 But Jesus answered, _No more of this!_ And He touched the man_s ear and healed him.
Luke 22:52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple officers, and elders who had come for Him, _Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against an outlaw?
Luke 22:53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on Me. But this hour belongs to you and to the power of darkness._
Luke 22:54 Then they seized Jesus, led Him away, and took Him into the house of the high priest. And Peter followed at a distance.
Luke 22:55 When those present had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them.
Luke 22:56 A servant girl saw him seated in the firelight and looked intently at him. _This man was also with Him,_ she said.
Luke 22:57 But Peter denied it. _Woman, I do not know Him,_ he said.
Luke 22:58 A short time later, someone else saw him and said, _You also are one of them._ But Peter said, _Man, I am not._
Luke 22:59 About an hour later, another man insisted, _Certainly this man was with Him, for he too is a Galilean._
Luke 22:60 _Man, I do not know what you are talking about,_ Peter replied. While he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.
Luke 22:61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: _Before the rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times._
Luke 22:62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Luke 22:63 The men who were holding Jesus began to mock Him and beat Him.
Luke 22:64 They blindfolded Him and kept demanding, _Prophesy! Who hit You?_
Luke 22:65 And they said many other blasphemous things against Him.
Luke 22:66 At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and scribes, met together. They led Jesus into their council and said,
Luke 22:67 _If You are the Christ, tell us._ Jesus answered, _If I tell you, you will not believe.
Luke 22:68 And if I ask you a question, you will not answer.
Luke 22:69 But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God._
Luke 22:70 So they all asked, _Are You then the Son of God?_ He replied, _You say that I am._
Luke 22:71 _Why do we need any more testimony?_ they declared. _We have heard it for ourselves from His own lips._
Luke 23:1 Then the whole council rose and led Jesus away to Pilate.
Luke 23:2 And they began to accuse Him, saying, _We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding payment of taxes to Caesar, and proclaiming Himself to be Christ, a king._
Luke 23:3 So Pilate asked Him, _Are You the King of the Jews?_ _You have said so,_ Jesus replied.
Luke 23:4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, _I find no basis for a charge against this man._
Luke 23:5 But they kept insisting, _He stirs up the people all over Judea with His teaching. He began in Galilee and has come all the way here._
Luke 23:6 When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was a Galilean.
Luke 23:7 And learning that Jesus was under Herod_s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself was in Jerusalem at that time.
Luke 23:8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased. He had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had heard about Him and was hoping to see Him perform a miracle.
Luke 23:9 Herod questioned Jesus at great length, but He gave no answer.
Luke 23:10 Meanwhile, the chief priests and scribes stood there, vehemently accusing Him.
Luke 23:11 And even Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked Him. Dressing Him in a fine robe, they sent Him back to Pilate.
Luke 23:12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends; before this time they had been enemies.
Luke 23:13 Then Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people,
Luke 23:14 and said to them, _You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined Him here in your presence and found Him not guilty of your charges against Him.
Luke 23:15 Neither has Herod, for he sent Him back to us. As you can see, He has done nothing deserving of death.
Luke 23:16 Therefore I will punish Him and release Him._
Luke 23:17
Luke 23:18 But they all cried out in unison: _Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!_
Luke 23:19 (Barabbas had been imprisoned for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)
Luke 23:20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate addressed them again,
Luke 23:21 but they kept shouting, _Crucify Him! Crucify Him!_
Luke 23:22 A third time he said to them, _What evil has this man done? I have found in Him no offense worthy of death. So after I punish Him, I will release Him._
Luke 23:23 But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices for Jesus to be crucified. And their clamor prevailed.
Luke 23:24 So Pilate sentenced that their demand be met.
Luke 23:25 As they had requested, he released the one imprisoned for insurrection and murder, and surrendered Jesus to their will.
Luke 23:26 As the soldiers led Him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him to carry behind Jesus.
Luke 23:27 A great number of people followed Him, including women who kept mourning and wailing for Him.
Luke 23:28 But Jesus turned to them and said, _Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
Luke 23:29 Look, the days are coming when people will say, _Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore, and breasts that never nursed._
Luke 23:30 At that time, _They will say to the mountains, _Fall on us,_ and to the hills, _Cover us.__
Luke 23:31 For if men do these things while the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?_
Luke 23:32 Two others, who were criminals, were also led away to be executed with Jesus.
Luke 23:33 When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals, one on His right and the other on His left.
Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, _Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing._ And they divided up His garments by casting lots.
Luke 23:35 The people stood watching, and the rulers sneered at Him, saying, _He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One._
Luke 23:36 The soldiers also mocked Him and came up to offer Him sour wine.
Luke 23:37 _If You are the King of the Jews,_ they said, _save Yourself!_
Luke 23:38 Above Him was posted an inscription: This is the King of the Jews.
Luke 23:39 One of the criminals who hung there heaped abuse on Him. _Are You not the Christ?_ he said. _Save Yourself and us!_
Luke 23:40 But the other one rebuked him, saying, _Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same judgment?
Luke 23:41 We are punished justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our actions. But this man has done nothing wrong._
Luke 23:42 Then he said, _Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!_
Luke 23:43 And Jesus said to him, _Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise._
Luke 23:44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour.
Luke 23:45 The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.
Luke 23:46 Then Jesus called out in a loud voice, _Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit._ And when He had said this, He breathed His last.
Luke 23:47 When the centurion saw what had happened, he gave glory to God, saying, _Surely this was a righteous man._
Luke 23:48 And when all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home beating their breasts.
Luke 23:49 But all those who knew Jesus, including the women who had followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching these things.
Luke 23:50 Now there was a Council member named Joseph, a good and righteous man,
Luke 23:51 who had not consented to their decision or action. He was from the Judean town of Arimathea, and was waiting for the kingdom of God.
Luke 23:52 He went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus.
Luke 23:53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had yet been laid.
Luke 23:54 It was the Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was just beginning.
Luke 23:55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how His body was placed.
Luke 23:56 Then they returned to prepare spices and perfumes. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.
Luke 24:1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared.
Luke 24:2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,
Luke 24:3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
Luke 24:4 While they were puzzling over this, suddenly two men in radiant apparel stood beside them.
Luke 24:5 As the women bowed their faces to the ground in terror, the two men asked them, _Why do you look for the living among the dead?
Luke 24:6 He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you while He was still in Galilee:
Luke 24:7 _The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.__
Luke 24:8 Then they remembered His words.
Luke 24:9 And when they returned from the tomb, they reported all these things to the eleven and to all the others.
Luke 24:10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles.
Luke 24:11 But their words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women.
Luke 24:12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. And after bending down and seeing only the linen cloths, he went away wondering to himself what had happened.
Luke 24:13 That same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.
Luke 24:14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.
Luke 24:15 And as they talked and deliberated, Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them.
Luke 24:16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him.
Luke 24:17 He asked them, _What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?_ They stood still, with sadness on their faces.
Luke 24:18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked Him, _Are You the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in recent days?_
Luke 24:19 _What things?_ He asked. _The events involving Jesus of Nazareth,_ they answered. _This man was a prophet, powerful in speech and action before God and all the people.
Luke 24:20 Our chief priests and rulers delivered Him up to the sentence of death, and they crucified Him.
Luke 24:21 But we were hoping He was the One who would redeem Israel. And besides all this, it is the third day since these things took place.
Luke 24:22 Furthermore, some of our women amazed us. They were at the tomb early this morning,
Luke 24:23 but they did not find His body. They came and told us they had seen a vision of angels who said that Jesus was alive.
Luke 24:24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had described. But Him they did not see._
Luke 24:25 Then Jesus said to them, _O foolish ones, how slow are your hearts to believe all that the prophets have spoken.
Luke 24:26 Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then to enter His glory?_
Luke 24:27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself.
Luke 24:28 As they approached the village where they were headed, He seemed to be going farther.
Luke 24:29 But they pleaded with Him, _Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over._ So He went in to stay with them.
Luke 24:30 While He was reclining at the table with them, He took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to them.
Luke 24:31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus_and He disappeared from their sight.
Luke 24:32 They asked one another, _Were not our hearts burning within us as He spoke with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?_
Luke 24:33 And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven and those with them, gathered together
Luke 24:34 and saying, _The Lord has indeed risen, and He has appeared to Simon!_
Luke 24:35 Then the two told what had happened on the road, and how they had recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread.
Luke 24:36 While they were describing these events, Jesus Himself stood among them and said, _Peace be with you._
Luke 24:37 But they were startled and frightened, thinking they had seen a spirit.
Luke 24:38 _Why are you troubled,_ Jesus asked, _and why do doubts arise in your hearts?
Luke 24:39 Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself. Touch Me and see_for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have._
Luke 24:40 And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and feet.
Luke 24:41 While they were still in disbelief because of their joy and amazement, He asked them, _Do you have anything here to eat?_
Luke 24:42 So they gave Him a piece of broiled fish,
Luke 24:43 and He took it and ate it in front of them.
Luke 24:44 Jesus said to them, _These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms._
Luke 24:45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.
Luke 24:46 And He told them, _This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,
Luke 24:47 and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.
Luke 24:48 You are witnesses of these things.
Luke 24:49 And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But remain in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high._
Luke 24:50 When Jesus had led them out as far as Bethany, He lifted up His hands and blessed them.
Luke 24:51 While He was blessing them, He left them and was carried up into heaven.
Luke 24:52 And they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
Luke 24:53 praising God continually in the temple.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:2 He was with God in the beginning.
John 1:3 Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.
John 1:4 In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.
John 1:5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:6 There came a man who was sent from God. His name was John.
John 1:7 He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe.
John 1:8 He himself was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
John 1:9 The true Light who gives light to every man was coming into the world.
John 1:10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him.
John 1:11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
John 1:12 But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God_
John 1:13 children born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but born of God.
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:15 John testified concerning Him. He cried out, saying, _This is He of whom I said, _He who comes after me has surpassed me, because He was before me.__
John 1:16 From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.
John 1:17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John 1:18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father_s side, has made Him known.
John 1:19 And this was John_s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, _Who are you?_
John 1:20 He did not refuse to confess, but openly declared, _I am not the Christ._
John 1:21 _Who are you then?_ they inquired. _Are you Elijah?_ He said, _I am not._ _Are you the prophet?_ He answered, _No._
John 1:22 So they said to him, _Who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?_
John 1:23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet: _I am a voice of one calling in the wilderness, _Make straight the way for the Lord.__
John 1:24 Then the Pharisees who had been sent
John 1:25 asked him, _Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?_
John 1:26 _I baptize with water,_ John replied, _but among you stands One you do not know.
John 1:27 He is the One who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie._
John 1:28 All this happened at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, _Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
John 1:30 This is He of whom I said, _A man who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me._
John 1:31 I myself did not know Him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel._
John 1:32 Then John testified, _I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and resting on Him.
John 1:33 I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, _The man on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit._
John 1:34 I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God._
John 1:35 The next day John was standing there again with two of his disciples.
John 1:36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, _Look, the Lamb of God!_
John 1:37 And when the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.
John 1:38 Jesus turned around and saw them following. _What are you looking for?_ He asked. They said to Him, _Rabbi_ (which means Teacher), _where are You staying?_
John 1:39 _Come and see,_ He replied. So they went and saw where He was staying, and spent that day with Him. It was about the tenth hour.
John 1:40 Andrew, Simon Peter_s brother, was one of the two who heard John_s testimony and followed Jesus.
John 1:41 He first found his brother Simon and told him, _We have found the Messiah_ (which is translated as Christ).
John 1:42 Andrew brought him to Jesus, who looked at him and said, _You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas_ (which means Peter).
John 1:43 The next day Jesus decided to set out for Galilee. Finding Philip, He told him, _Follow Me._
John 1:44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the same town as Andrew and Peter.
John 1:45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, _We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, the One whom the prophets foretold_Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph._
John 1:46 _Can anything good come from Nazareth?_ Nathanael asked. _Come and see,_ said Philip.
John 1:47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He said of him, _Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit._
John 1:48 _How do You know me?_ Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, _Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree._
John 1:49 _Rabbi,_ Nathanael answered, _You are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!_
John 1:50 Jesus said to him, _Do you believe just because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these._
John 1:51 Then He declared, _Truly, truly, I say to all of you that you will see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man._
John 2:1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus_ mother was there,
John 2:2 and Jesus and His disciples had also been invited to the wedding.
John 2:3 When the wine ran out, Jesus_ mother said to Him, _They have no more wine._
John 2:4 _Woman, why does this concern us?_ Jesus replied. _My hour has not yet come._
John 2:5 His mother said to the servants, _Do whatever He tells you._
John 2:6 Now six stone water jars had been set there for the Jewish rites of purification. Each could hold from twenty to thirty gallons.
John 2:7 Jesus told the servants, _Fill the jars with water._ So they filled them to the brim.
John 2:8 _Now draw some out,_ He said, _and take it to the master of the banquet._ They did so,
John 2:9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not know where it was from, but the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside
John 2:10 and said, _Everyone serves the fine wine first, and then the cheap wine after the guests are drunk. But you have saved the fine wine until now!_
John 2:11 Jesus performed this first sign at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.
John 2:12 After this, He went down to Capernaum with His mother and brothers and His disciples, and they stayed there a few days.
John 2:13 When the Jewish Passover was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
John 2:14 In the temple courts He found men selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and money changers seated at their tables.
John 2:15 So He made a whip out of cords and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle. He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.
John 2:16 To those selling doves He said, _Get these out of here! How dare you turn My Father_s house into a marketplace!_
John 2:17 His disciples remembered that it is written: _Zeal for Your house will consume Me._
John 2:18 On account of this, the Jews demanded, _What sign can You show us to prove Your authority to do these things?_
John 2:19 Jesus answered, _Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again._
John 2:20 _This temple took forty-six years to build,_ the Jews replied, _and You are going to raise it up in three days?_
John 2:21 But Jesus was speaking about the temple of His body.
John 2:22 After He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this. Then they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
John 2:23 While He was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the signs He was doing and believed in His name.
John 2:24 But Jesus did not entrust Himself to them, for He knew all men.
John 2:25 He did not need any testimony about man, for He knew what was in a man.
John 3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews.
John 3:2 He came to Jesus at night and said, _Rabbi, we know You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with him._
John 3:3 Jesus replied, _Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again._
John 3:4 _How can a man be born when he is old?_ Nicodemus asked. _Can he enter his mother_s womb a second time to be born?_
John 3:5 Jesus answered _Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
John 3:6 Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit.
John 3:7 Do not be amazed that I said, _You must be born again._
John 3:8 The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit._
John 3:9 _How can this be?_ Nicodemus asked.
John 3:10 _You are Israel_s teacher,_ Jesus replied, _and do you not understand these things?
John 3:11 Truly, truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, and yet you people do not accept our testimony.
John 3:12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?
John 3:13 No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven_the Son of Man.
John 3:14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,
John 3:15 that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.
John 3:18 Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God_s one and only Son.
John 3:19 And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness more than light, because their deeds were evil.
John 3:20 Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
John 3:21 But whoever practices the truth comes into the Light, so that it may be clearly seen that what he has done has been accomplished in God._
John 3:22 After this, Jesus and His disciples went into the Judean countryside, where He spent some time with them and baptized.
John 3:23 Now John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because the water was plentiful there, and people kept coming to be baptized.
John 3:24 (For John had not yet been thrown into prison.)
John 3:25 A dispute arose between John_s disciples and a certain Jew over the issue of ceremonial washing.
John 3:26 So John_s disciples came to him and said, _Look, Rabbi, the One who was with you beyond the Jordan, whom you testified about_He is baptizing, and everyone is going to Him._
John 3:27 John replied, _A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.
John 3:28 You yourselves can testify that I said, _I am not the Christ, but am sent ahead of Him._
John 3:29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands by and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom_s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.
John 3:30 He must increase; I must decrease.
John 3:31 The One who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth. The One who comes from heaven is above all.
John 3:32 He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony.
John 3:33 Whoever accepts His testimony has certified that God is truthful.
John 3:34 For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.
John 3:35 The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in His hands.
John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him._
John 4:1 When Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard He was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John
John 4:2 (although it was not Jesus who baptized, but His disciples),
John 4:3 He left Judea and returned to Galilee.
John 4:4 Now He had to pass through Samaria.
John 4:5 So He came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph.
John 4:6 Since Jacob_s well was there, Jesus, weary from His journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.
John 4:7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, _Give Me a drink._
John 4:8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
John 4:9 _You are a Jew,_ said the woman. _How can You ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?_ (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
John 4:10 Jesus answered, _If you knew the gift of God and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water._
John 4:11 _Sir,_ the woman replied, _You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where then will You get this living water?
John 4:12 Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock?_
John 4:13 Jesus said to her, _Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again.
John 4:14 But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life._
John 4:15 The woman said to Him, _Sir, give me this water so that I will not get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water._
John 4:16 Jesus told her, _Go, call your husband and come back._
John 4:17 _I have no husband,_ the woman replied. Jesus said to her, _You are correct to say that you have no husband.
John 4:18 In fact, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. You have spoken truthfully._
John 4:19 _Sir,_ the woman said, _I see that You are a prophet.
John 4:20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews say that the place where one must worship is in Jerusalem._
John 4:21 _Believe Me, woman,_ Jesus replied, _a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
John 4:22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.
John 4:23 But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him.
John 4:24 God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth._
John 4:25 The woman said, _I know that Messiah (called Christ) is coming. When He comes, He will explain everything to us._
John 4:26 Jesus answered, _I who speak to you am He._
John 4:27 Just then, His disciples returned and were astonished that He was speaking with a woman. But no one asked Him, _What do You want from her?_ or _Why are You talking with her?_
John 4:28 Then the woman left her water jar, went back into the town, and said to the people,
John 4:29 _Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?_
John 4:30 So they left the town and made their way toward Jesus.
John 4:31 Meanwhile, the disciples urged Him, _Rabbi, eat something._
John 4:32 But He told them, _I have food to eat that you know nothing about._
John 4:33 So the disciples asked one another, _Could someone have brought Him food?_
John 4:34 Jesus explained, _My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.
John 4:35 Do you not say, _There are still four months until the harvest?_ I tell you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ripe for harvest.
John 4:36 Already the reaper draws his wages and gathers a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may rejoice together.
John 4:37 For in this case the saying _One sows and another reaps_ is true.
John 4:38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for; others have done the hard work, and now you have taken up their labor._
John 4:39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Jesus because of the woman_s testimony, _He told me everything I ever did._
John 4:40 So when the Samaritans came to Him, they asked Him to stay with them, and He stayed two days.
John 4:41 And many more believed because of His message.
John 4:42 They said to the woman, _We now believe not only because of your words; we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man truly is the Savior of the world._
John 4:43 After two days, Jesus left for Galilee.
John 4:44 Now He Himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.
John 4:45 Yet when He arrived, the Galileans welcomed Him. They had seen all the great things He had done in Jerusalem at the feast, for they had gone there as well.
John 4:46 So once again He came to Cana in Galilee, where He had turned the water into wine. And there was a royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.
John 4:47 When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Him to come down and heal his son, who was about to die.
John 4:48 Jesus said to him, _Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe._
John 4:49 _Sir,_ The official said, _come down before my child dies._
John 4:50 _Go,_ said Jesus, _your son will live._ The man believed the word that Jesus had given him and went on his way.
John 4:51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was alive.
John 4:52 So he inquired as to the hour when his son had recovered, and they told him, _The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour._
John 4:53 Then the father realized that this was the very hour in which Jesus had told him, _Your son will live._ And he and all his household believed.
John 4:54 This was now the second sign that Jesus performed after coming from Judea into Galilee.
John 5:1 Later on there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
John 5:2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool with five covered colonnades, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda.
John 5:3 On these walkways lay a great number of the sick, the blind, the lame, and the paralyzed.
John 5:4
John 5:5 One man there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.
John 5:6 Jesus saw him lying there and realized he had already been there a long time. _Do you want to get well?_ He asked.
John 5:7 _Sir,_ replied the sick man, _I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am on my way, someone else goes in before me._
John 5:8 Then Jesus told him, _Get up, pick up your mat, and walk._
John 5:9 Immediately the man was made well, and he picked up his mat and began to walk. Now this happened on the Sabbath day,
John 5:10 so the Jews said to the man who was healed, _This is the Sabbath! It is unlawful for you to carry your mat._
John 5:11 But he answered, _The man who made me well told me, _Pick up your mat and walk.__
John 5:12 _Who is this man who told you to pick it up and walk?_ they asked.
John 5:13 But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away while the crowd was there.
John 5:14 Afterward, Jesus found the man in the temple and said to him, _See, you have been restored. Stop sinning, or something worse may happen to you._
John 5:15 And the man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
John 5:16 Now because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews began to persecute Him.
John 5:17 But Jesus answered them, _To this very day My Father is at His work, and I too am working._
John 5:18 Because of this, the Jews tried all the harder to kill Him. Not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He was even calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.
John 5:19 So Jesus replied, _Truly, truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself, unless He sees the Father doing it. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does.
John 5:20 The Father loves the Son and shows Him all He does. And to your amazement, He will show Him even greater works than these.
John 5:21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He wishes.
John 5:22 Furthermore, the Father judges no one, but has assigned all judgment to the Son,
John 5:23 so 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.
John 5:24 Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life.
John 5:25 Truly, truly, I tell you, the hour is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
John 5:26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so also He has granted the Son to have life in Himself.
John 5:27 And He has given Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.
John 5:28 Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice
John 5:29 and come out_those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
John 5:30 I can do nothing by Myself; I judge only as I hear. And My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
John 5:31 If I testify about Myself, My testimony is not valid.
John 5:32 There is another who testifies about Me, and I know that His testimony about Me is valid.
John 5:33 You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth.
John 5:34 Even though I do not accept human testimony, I say these things so that you may be saved.
John 5:35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you were willing for a season to bask in his light.
John 5:36 But I have testimony more substantial than that of John. For the works that the Father has given Me to accomplish_the very works I am doing_testify about Me that the Father has sent Me.
John 5:37 And the Father who sent Me has Himself testified about Me. You have never heard His voice nor seen His form,
John 5:38 nor does His word abide in you, because you do not believe the One He sent.
John 5:39 You pore over the Scriptures because you presume that by them you possess eternal life. These are the very words that testify about Me,
John 5:40 yet you refuse to come to Me to have life.
John 5:41 I do not accept glory from men,
John 5:42 but I know you, that you do not have the love of God within you.
John 5:43 I have come in My Father_s name, and you have not received Me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will receive him.
John 5:44 How can you believe if you accept glory from one another, yet do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
John 5:45 Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, in whom you have put your hope.
John 5:46 If you had believed Moses, you would believe Me, because he wrote about Me.
John 5:47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?_
John 6:1 After this, Jesus crossed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias).
John 6:2 A large crowd followed Him because they saw the signs He had performed on the sick.
John 6:3 Then Jesus went up on the mountain and sat down with His disciples.
John 6:4 Now the Jewish Feast of the Passover was near.
John 6:5 When Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward Him, He said to Philip, _Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?_
John 6:6 But He was asking this to test him, for He knew what He was about to do.
John 6:7 Philip answered, _Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to have a small piece._
John 6:8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter_s brother, said to Him,
John 6:9 _Here is a boy with five barley loaves and two small fish. But what difference will these make among so many?_
John 6:10 _Have the people sit down,_ Jesus said. There was plenty of grass in that place, so the men sat down, about five thousand of them.
John 6:11 Then Jesus took the loaves and the fish, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted.
John 6:12 And when everyone was full, He said to His disciples, _Gather the pieces that are left over so that nothing will be wasted._
John 6:13 So they collected them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
John 6:14 When the people saw the sign that Jesus had performed, they began to say, _Truly this is the prophet who is to come into the world._
John 6:15 Realizing they were about to come and make Him king by force, Jesus withdrew again to a mountain by Himself.
John 6:16 When evening came, His disciples went down to the sea,
John 6:17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was already dark, and Jesus had not yet gone out to them.
John 6:18 A strong wind was blowing and the sea grew agitated.
John 6:19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the sea_and they were terrified.
John 6:20 But Jesus spoke up: _It is I; do not be afraid._
John 6:21 Then they were willing to take Him into the boat, and at once the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
John 6:22 The next day, the crowd that had remained on the other side of the sea realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not boarded it with His disciples, but they had gone away alone.
John 6:23 However, some boats from Tiberias arrived near the place they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.
John 6:24 So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum to look for Him.
John 6:25 When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they asked Him, _Rabbi, when did You get here?_
John 6:26 Jesus replied, _Truly, truly, I tell you, it is not because you saw these signs that you are looking for Me, but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.
John 6:27 Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For God the Father has placed His seal of approval on Him._
John 6:28 Then they inquired, _What must we do to perform the works of God?_
John 6:29 Jesus replied, _This is the work of God: to believe in the One He has sent._
John 6:30 So they asked Him, _What sign then will You perform, so that we may see it and believe You? What will You do?
John 6:31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written: _He gave them bread from heaven to eat.__
John 6:32 Jesus said to them, _Truly, truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.
John 6:33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world._
John 6:34 _Sir,_ they said, _give us this bread at all times._
John 6:35 Jesus answered, _I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst.
John 6:36 But as I told you, you have seen Me and still you do not believe.
John 6:37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never turn away.
John 6:38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.
John 6:39 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of all those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day.
John 6:40 For it is My Father_s will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day._
John 6:41 At this, the Jews began to grumble about Jesus because He had said, _I am the bread that came down from heaven._
John 6:42 They were asking, _Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then can He say, _I have come down from heaven?__
John 6:43 _Stop grumbling among yourselves,_ Jesus replied.
John 6:44 _No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:45 It is written in the prophets: _And they will all be taught by God._ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from Him comes to Me_
John 6:46 not that anyone has seen the Father except the One who is from God; only He has seen the Father.
John 6:47 Truly, truly, I tell you, he who believes has eternal life.
John 6:48 I am the bread of life.
John 6:49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died.
John 6:50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven so that anyone may eat of it and not die.
John 6:51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And this bread, which I will give for the life of the world, is My flesh._
John 6:52 At this, the Jews began to argue among themselves, _How can this man give us His flesh to eat?_
John 6:53 So Jesus said to them, _Truly, truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of Man, you have no life in you.
John 6:54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:55 For My flesh is real food, and My blood is real drink.
John 6:56 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him.
John 6:57 Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me.
John 6:58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your fathers, who ate the manna and died, the one who eats this bread will live forever._
John 6:59 Jesus said these things while He was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
John 6:60 On hearing this, many of His disciples said, _This is a difficult teaching. Who can accept it?_
John 6:61 Aware that His disciples were grumbling about this teaching, Jesus asked them, _Does this offend you?
John 6:62 Then what will happen if you see the Son of Man ascend to where He was before?
John 6:63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
John 6:64 However, there are some of you who do not believe._ (For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray Him.)
John 6:65 Then Jesus said, _This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless the Father has granted it to him._
John 6:66 From that time on, many of His disciples turned back and no longer accompanied Him.
John 6:67 So Jesus asked the Twelve, _Do you want to leave too?_
John 6:68 Simon Peter replied, _Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.
John 6:69 We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God._
John 6:70 Jesus answered them, _Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!_
John 6:71 He was speaking about Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. For although Judas was one of the Twelve, he was later to betray Jesus.
John 7:1 After this, Jesus traveled throughout Galilee. He did not want to travel in Judea, because the Jews there were trying to kill Him.
John 7:2 However, the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near.
John 7:3 So Jesus_ brothers said to Him, _Leave here and go to Judea, so that Your disciples there may see the works You are doing.
John 7:4 No one who wants to be known publicly acts in secret. Since You are doing these things, show Yourself to the world._
John 7:5 For even His own brothers did not believe in Him.
John 7:6 Therefore Jesus told them, _Although your time is always at hand, My time has not yet come.
John 7:7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me, because I testify that its works are evil.
John 7:8 Go up to the feast on your own. I am not going up to this feast, because My time has not yet come._
John 7:9 Having said this, Jesus remained in Galilee.
John 7:10 But after His brothers had gone up to the feast, He also went_not publicly, but in secret.
John 7:11 So the Jews were looking for Him at the feast and asking, _Where is He?_
John 7:12 Many in the crowds were whispering about Him. Some said, _He is a good man._ But others replied, _No, He deceives the people._
John 7:13 Yet no one would speak about Him publicly for fear of the Jews.
John 7:14 About halfway through the feast, Jesus went up to the temple courts and began to teach.
John 7:15 The Jews were amazed and asked, _How did this man attain such learning without having studied?_
John 7:16 _My teaching is not My own,_ Jesus replied. _It comes from Him who sent Me.
John 7:17 If anyone desires to do His will, he will know whether My teaching is from God or whether I speak on My own.
John 7:18 He who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory, but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is a man of truth; in Him there is no falsehood.
John 7:19 Has not Moses given you the Law? Yet not one of you keeps it. Why are you trying to kill Me?_
John 7:20 _You have a demon,_ the crowd replied. _Who is trying to kill You?_
John 7:21 Jesus answered them, _I did one miracle, and you are all astonished.
John 7:22 But because Moses gave you circumcision, you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath (not that it is from Moses, but from the patriarchs.)
John 7:23 If a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, why are you angry with Me for making the whole man well on the Sabbath?
John 7:24 Stop judging by outward appearances, and start judging justly._
John 7:25 Then some of the people of Jerusalem began to say, _Isn_t this the man they are trying to kill?
John 7:26 Yet here He is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying anything to Him. Have the rulers truly recognized that this is the Christ?
John 7:27 But we know where this man is from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where He is from._
John 7:28 Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, _You know Me, and you know where I am from. I have not come on My own accord, but He who sent Me is true. You do not know Him,
John 7:29 but I know Him, because I am from Him and He sent Me._
John 7:30 So they tried to seize Him, but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.
John 7:31 Many in the crowd, however, believed in Him and said, _When the Christ comes, will He perform more signs than this man?_
John 7:32 When the Pharisees heard the crowd whispering these things about Jesus, they and the chief priests sent officers to arrest Him.
John 7:33 So Jesus said, _I am with you only a little while longer, and then I am going to the One who sent Me.
John 7:34 You will look for Me, but you will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come._
John 7:35 At this, the Jews said to one another, _Where does He intend to go that we will not find Him? Will He go where the Jews are dispersed among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?
John 7:36 What does He mean by saying, _You will look for Me, but you will not find Me,_ and, _Where I am, you cannot come_?_
John 7:37 On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, _If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.
John 7:38 To the one who believes in Me, it is just as the Scripture has said: _Streams of living water will flow from within him.__
John 7:39 He was speaking about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. For the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.
John 7:40 On hearing these words, some of the people said, _This is truly the Prophet._
John 7:41 Others declared, _This is the Christ._ But still others asked, _How can the Christ come from Galilee?
John 7:42 Doesn_t the Scripture say that the Christ will come from the line of David and from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?_
John 7:43 So there was division in the crowd because of Jesus.
John 7:44 Some of them wanted to seize Him, but no one laid a hand on Him.
John 7:45 Then the officers returned to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, _Why didn_t you bring Him in?_
John 7:46 _Never has anyone spoken like this man!_ the officers answered.
John 7:47 _Have you also been deceived?_ replied the Pharisees.
John 7:48 _Have any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in Him?
John 7:49 But this crowd that does not know the Law, they are under a curse._
John 7:50 Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier, and who himself was one of them, asked,
John 7:51 _Does our Law convict a man without first hearing from him to determine what he has done?_
John 7:52 _Aren_t you also from Galilee?_ they replied, _Look into it and you will see that no prophet comes out of Galilee._
John 7:53 Then each went to his own home.
John 8:1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
John 8:2 Early in the morning He went back into the temple courts. All the people came to Him, and He sat down to teach them.
John 8:3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before them
John 8:4 and said, _Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.
John 8:5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. So what do You say?_
John 8:6 They said this to test Him, in order to have a basis for accusing Him. But Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with His finger.
John 8:7 When they continued to question Him, He straightened up and said to them, _Whoever is without sin among you, let him be the first to cast a stone at her._
John 8:8 And again He bent down and wrote on the ground.
John 8:9 When they heard this, they began to go away one by one, beginning with the older ones, until only Jesus was left, with the woman standing there.
John 8:10 Then Jesus straightened up and asked her, _Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?_
John 8:11 _No one, Lord,_ she answered. _Neither do I condemn you,_ Jesus declared. _Now go and sin no more._
John 8:12 Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, _I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life._
John 8:13 So the Pharisees said to Him, _You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not valid._
John 8:14 Jesus replied, _Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is valid, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you do not know where I came from or where I am going.
John 8:15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.
John 8:16 But even if I do judge, My judgment is true, because I am not alone when I judge; I am with the Father, who sent Me.
John 8:17 Even in your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.
John 8:18 I am One who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me also testifies about Me._
John 8:19 _Where is Your Father?_ they asked Him. _You do not know Me or My Father,_ Jesus answered. _If you knew Me, you would know My Father as well._
John 8:20 He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts, near the treasury. Yet no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.
John 8:21 Again He said to them, _I am going away, and you will look for Me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come._
John 8:22 So the Jews began to ask, _Will He kill Himself, since He says, _Where I am going, you cannot come_?_
John 8:23 Then He told them, _You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
John 8:24 That is why I told you that you would die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins._
John 8:25 _Who are You?_ they asked. _Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,_ Jesus replied.
John 8:26 _I have much to say about you and much to judge. But the One who sent Me is truthful, and what I have heard from Him, I tell the world._
John 8:27 They did not understand that He was telling them about the Father.
John 8:28 So Jesus said, _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, but speak exactly what the Father has taught Me.
John 8:29 He who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him._
John 8:30 As Jesus spoke these things, many believed in Him.
John 8:31 So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, _If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples.
John 8:32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free._
John 8:33 _We are Abraham_s descendants,_ they answered. _We have never been slaves to anyone. How can You say we will be set free?_
John 8:34 Jesus replied, _Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
John 8:35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son belongs to it forever.
John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
John 8:37 I know you are Abraham_s descendants, but you are trying to kill Me because My word has no place within you.
John 8:38 I speak of what I have seen in the presence of the Father, and you do what you have heard from your father._
John 8:39 _Abraham is our father,_ they replied. _If you were children of Abraham,_ said Jesus, _you would do the works of Abraham.
John 8:40 But now you are trying to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing.
John 8:41 You are doing the works of your father._ _We are not illegitimate children,_ they answered. _Our only Father is God Himself._
John 8:42 Jesus said to them, _If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on My own, but He sent Me.
John 8:43 Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to accept My message.
John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.
John 8:45 But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me!
John 8:46 Which of you can prove Me guilty of sin? If I speak the truth, why do you not believe Me?
John 8:47 Whoever belongs to God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God._
John 8:48 The Jews answered Him, _Are we not right to say that You are a Samaritan and You have a demon?_
John 8:49 _I do not have a demon,_ Jesus replied, _but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.
John 8:50 I do not seek My own glory. There is One who seeks it, and He is the Judge.
John 8:51 Truly, truly, I tell you, if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death._
John 8:52 _Now we know that You have a demon!_ declared the Jews. _Abraham died, and so did the prophets, yet You say that anyone who keeps Your word will never taste death.
John 8:53 Are You greater than our father Abraham? He died, as did the prophets. Who do You claim to be?_
John 8:54 Jesus answered, _If I glorify Myself, My glory means nothing. The One who glorifies Me is My Father, of whom you say _He is our God._
John 8:55 You do not know Him, but I know Him. If I said I did not know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know Him, and I keep His word.
John 8:56 Your father Abraham was overjoyed to see My day. He saw it and was glad._
John 8:57 Then the Jews said to Him, _You are not yet fifty years old, and You have seen Abraham?_
John 8:58 _Truly, truly, I tell you,_ Jesus declared, _before Abraham was born, I am!_
John 8:59 At this, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus hid Himself and slipped away from the temple area.
John 9:1 As Jesus was passing by, He saw a man blind from birth.
John 9:2 His disciples asked Him, _Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?_
John 9:3 Jesus answered, _Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened that the works of God would be displayed in him.
John 9:4 While it is daytime, we must do the work of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work.
John 9:5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world._
John 9:6 When Jesus had said this, He spat on the ground, made some mud, and applied it to the man_s eyes.
John 9:7 Then He told him, _Go, wash in the pool of Siloam_ (which means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came back seeing.
John 9:8 At this, his neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging began to ask, _Isn_t this the man who used to sit and beg?_
John 9:9 Some claimed that he was, but others said, _No, he just looks like him._ But the man kept saying, _I am the one._
John 9:10 _How then were your eyes opened?_ they asked.
John 9:11 He answered, _The man they call Jesus made some mud and anointed my eyes, and He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed and received my sight._
John 9:12 _Where is He?_ they asked. _I do not know,_ he answered.
John 9:13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind.
John 9:14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened his eyes was a Sabbath.
John 9:15 So the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. The man answered, _He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see._
John 9:16 Because of this, some of the Pharisees said, _This man is not from God, for He does not keep the Sabbath._ But others said, _How can a sinful man perform such signs?_ And there was division among them.
John 9:17 So once again they asked the man who had been blind, _What do you have to say about Him, since it was your eyes He opened?_ _He is a prophet._ the man replied.
John 9:18 The Jews still did not believe that the man had been blind and had received his sight until they summoned his parents
John 9:19 and asked, _Is this your son, the one you say was born blind? So how is it that he can now see?_
John 9:20 His parents answered, _We know he is our son, and we know he was born blind.
John 9:21 But how he can now see or who opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him. He is old enough to speak for himself._
John 9:22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews. For the Jews had already determined that anyone who confessed Jesus as the Christ would be put out of the synagogue.
John 9:23 That was why his parents said, _He is old enough. Ask him._
John 9:24 So a second time they called for the man who had been blind and said, _Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner._
John 9:25 He answered, _Whether He is a sinner I do not know. There is one thing I do know: I was blind, but now I see!_
John 9:26 _What did He do to you?_ they asked. _How did He open your eyes?_
John 9:27 He replied, _I already told you and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?_
John 9:28 Then they heaped insults on him and said, _You are His disciple; we are disciples of Moses.
John 9:29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this man is from._
John 9:30 _That is remarkable indeed!_ the man said. _You do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes.
John 9:31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but He does listen to the one who worships Him and does His will.
John 9:32 Never before has anyone heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind.
John 9:33 If this man were not from God, He could not do anything like this._
John 9:34 They replied, _You were born in utter sin, and you are instructing us?_ And they threw him out.
John 9:35 When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, He found the man and said, _Do you believe in the Son of Man?_
John 9:36 _Who is He, Sir?_ he replied. _Tell me so that I may believe in Him._
John 9:37 _You have already seen Him,_ Jesus answered. _He is the One speaking with you._
John 9:38 _Lord, I believe,_ he said. And he worshiped Jesus.
John 9:39 Then Jesus declared, _For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind._
John 9:40 Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard this, and they asked Him, _Are we blind too?_
John 9:41 _If you were blind,_ Jesus replied, _you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, your guilt remains._
John 10:1 _Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber.
John 10:2 But the one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
John 10:3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen for his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
John 10:4 When he has brought out all who are his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
John 10:5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will flee from him because they do not recognize his voice._
John 10:6 Jesus spoke to them using this illustration, but they did not understand what He was telling them.
John 10:7 So He said to them again, _Truly, truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.
John 10:8 All who came before Me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
John 10:9 I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture.
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.
John 10:11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
John 10:12 The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock.
John 10:13 The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep.
John 10:14 I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me,
John 10:15 just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep.
John 10:16 I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.
John 10:17 The reason the Father loves Me is that I lay down My life in order to take it up again.
John 10:18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father._
John 10:19 Again there was division among the Jews because of Jesus_ message.
John 10:20 Many of them said, _He is demon-possessed and insane. Why would you listen to Him?_
John 10:21 But others replied, _These are not the words of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?_
John 10:22 At that time the Feast of Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter,
John 10:23 and Jesus was walking in the temple courts in Solomon_s Colonnade.
John 10:24 So the Jews gathered around Him and demanded, _How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly._
John 10:25 _I already told you,_ Jesus replied, _but you did not believe. The works I do in My Father_s name testify on My behalf.
John 10:26 But because you are not My sheep, you refuse to believe.
John 10:27 My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.
John 10:28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand.
John 10:29 My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father_s hand.
John 10:30 I and the Father are one._
John 10:31 At this, the Jews again picked up stones to stone Him.
John 10:32 But Jesus answered, _I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone Me?_
John 10:33 _We are not stoning You for any good work,_ said the Jews, _but for blasphemy, because You, who are a man, declare Yourself to be God._
John 10:34 Jesus replied, _Is it not written in your Law: _I have said you are gods_ ?
John 10:35 If he called them gods to whom the word of God came_and the Scripture cannot be broken_
John 10:36 then what about the One whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world? How then can you accuse Me of blasphemy for stating that I am the Son of God?
John 10:37 If I am not doing the works of My Father, then do not believe Me.
John 10:38 But if I am doing them, even though you do not believe Me, believe the works themselves, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father._
John 10:39 At this, they tried again to seize Him, but He escaped their grasp.
John 10:40 Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had first been baptizing, and He stayed there.
John 10:41 Many came to Him and said, _Although John never performed a sign, everything he said about this man was true._
John 10:42 And many in that place believed in Jesus.
John 11:1 At this time a man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
John 11:2 (Mary, whose brother Lazarus was sick, was later to anoint the Lord with perfume and wipe His feet with her hair.)
John 11:3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, _Lord, the one You love is sick._
John 11:4 When Jesus heard this, He said, _This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it._
John 11:5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
John 11:6 Yet when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was for two days.
John 11:7 Finally, He said to the disciples, _Let us go back to Judea._
John 11:8 _Rabbi,_ they replied, _the Jews just tried to stone You, and You are going back there?_
John 11:9 Jesus answered, _Are there not twelve hours of daylight? If anyone walks in the daytime, he will not stumble, because he sees by the light of this world.
John 11:10 But if anyone walks at night, he will stumble, because he has no light._
John 11:11 After He had said this, He told them, _Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to wake him up._
John 11:12 His disciples said, _Lord, if he is sleeping, he will get better._
John 11:13 They thought that Jesus was talking about actual sleep, but He was speaking about the death of Lazarus.
John 11:14 So Jesus told them plainly, _Lazarus is dead,
John 11:15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him._
John 11:16 Then Thomas called Didymus said to his fellow disciples, _Let us also go, so that we may die with Him._
John 11:17 When Jesus arrived, He found that Lazarus had already spent four days in the tomb.
John 11:18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, a little less than two miles away,
John 11:19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them in the loss of their brother.
John 11:20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet Him; but Mary stayed at home.
John 11:21 Martha said to Jesus, _Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.
John 11:22 But even now I know that God will give You whatever You ask Him._
John 11:23 _Your brother will rise again,_ Jesus told her.
John 11:24 Martha replied, _I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day._
John 11:25 Jesus said to her, _I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies.
John 11:26 And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?_
John 11:27 _Yes, Lord,_ she answered, _I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world._
John 11:28 After Martha had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside to tell her, _The Teacher is here and is asking for you._
John 11:29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to Him.
John 11:30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met Him.
John 11:31 When the Jews who were in the house consoling Mary saw how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
John 11:32 When Mary came to Jesus and saw Him, she fell at His feet and said, _Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died._
John 11:33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.
John 11:34 _Where have you laid him?_ He asked. _Come and see, Lord,_ they answered.
John 11:35 Jesus wept.
John 11:36 Then the Jews said, _See how He loved him!_
John 11:37 But some of them asked, _Could not this man who opened the eyes of the blind also have prevented Lazarus from dying?_
John 11:38 Jesus, once again deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.
John 11:39 _Take away the stone,_ Jesus said. _Lord, by now he stinks,_ said Martha, the sister of the dead man. _It has already been four days._
John 11:40 Jesus replied, _Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?_
John 11:41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, _Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.
John 11:42 I knew that You always hear Me, but I say this for the benefit of the people standing here, so they may believe that You sent Me._
John 11:43 After Jesus had said this, He called out in a loud voice, _Lazarus, come out!_
John 11:44 The man who had been dead came out with his hands and feet bound in strips of linen, and his face wrapped in a headcloth. _Unwrap him and let him go,_ Jesus told them.
John 11:45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in Him.
John 11:46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.
John 11:47 Then the chief priests and Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, _What are we to do? This man is performing many signs.
John 11:48 If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation._
John 11:49 But one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, _You know nothing at all!
John 11:50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish._
John 11:51 Caiaphas did not say this on his own. Instead, as high priest that year, he was prophesying that Jesus would die for the nation,
John 11:52 and not only for the nation, but also for the scattered children of God, to gather them together into one.
John 11:53 So from that day on they plotted to kill Him.
John 11:54 As a result, Jesus no longer went about publicly among the Jews, but He withdrew to a town called Ephraim in an area near the wilderness. And He stayed there with the disciples.
John 11:55 Now the Jewish Passover was near, and many people went up from the country to Jerusalem to purify themselves before the Passover.
John 11:56 They kept looking for Jesus and asking one another as they stood in the temple courts, _What do you think? Will He come to the feast at all?_
John 11:57 But the chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that anyone who knew where He was must report it, so that they could arrest Him.
John 12:1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.
John 12:2 So they hosted a dinner for Jesus there. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Him.
John 12:3 Then Mary took about a pint of expensive perfume, made of pure nard, and anointed Jesus_ feet and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
John 12:4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray Him, asked,
John 12:5 _Why wasn_t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?_
John 12:6 Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money bag, he used to take from what was put into it.
John 12:7 _Leave her alone,_ Jesus replied. _She was intended to keep this perfume to prepare for the day of My burial.
John 12:8 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me._
John 12:9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews learned that Jesus was there. And they came not only because of Him, but also to see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.
John 12:10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well,
John 12:11 for on account of him many of the Jews were deserting them and believing in Jesus.
John 12:12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.
John 12:13 They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting: _Hosanna!_ _Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!_ _Blessed is the King of Israel!_
John 12:14 Finding a young donkey, Jesus sat on it, as it is written:
John 12:15 _Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. See, your King is coming, seated on the colt of a donkey._
John 12:16 At first His disciples did not understand these things, but after Jesus was glorified they remembered what had been done to Him, and they realized that these very things had also been written about Him.
John 12:17 Meanwhile, many people continued to testify that they were with Jesus when He called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead.
John 12:18 That is also why the crowd went out to meet Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign.
John 12:19 Then the Pharisees said to one another, _You can see that this is doing you no good. Look how the whole world has gone after Him!_
John 12:20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the feast.
John 12:21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, _Sir, we want to see Jesus._
John 12:22 Philip relayed this appeal to Andrew, and both of them went and told Jesus.
John 12:23 But Jesus replied, _The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
John 12:24 Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
John 12:25 Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
John 12:26 If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, My servant will be as well. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
John 12:27 Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? _Father, save Me from this hour_? No, it is for this purpose that I have come to this hour.
John 12:28 Father, glorify Your name!_ Then a voice came from heaven: _I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again._
John 12:29 The crowd standing there heard it and said it had thundered. Others said that an angel had spoken to Him.
John 12:30 In response, Jesus said, _This voice was not for My benefit, but yours.
John 12:31 Now judgment is upon this world; now the prince of this world will be cast out.
John 12:32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself._
John 12:33 He said this to signify the kind of death He was going to die.
John 12:34 The crowd replied, _We have heard from the Law that Christ will remain forever. So how can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?_
John 12:35 So Jesus told them, _For a little while longer, the Light will be among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.
John 12:36 While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of light._ After Jesus had spoken these things, He went away and hid Himself from them.
John 12:37 Although Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still did not believe in Him.
John 12:38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: _Lord, who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?_
John 12:39 For this reason they were unable to believe. For again, Isaiah says:
John 12:40 _He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they cannot see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them._
John 12:41 Isaiah said these things because he saw Jesus_ glory and spoke about Him.
John 12:42 Nevertheless, many of the leaders believed in Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue.
John 12:43 For they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
John 12:44 Then Jesus cried out, _Whoever believes in Me does not believe in Me alone, but in the One who sent Me.
John 12:45 And whoever sees Me sees the One who sent Me.
John 12:46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should remain in darkness.
John 12:47 As for anyone who hears My words and does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world.
John 12:48 There is a judge for the one who rejects Me and does not receive My words: The word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.
John 12:49 I have not spoken on My own, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it.
John 12:50 And I know that His command leads to eternal life. So I speak exactly what the Father has told Me to say._
John 13:1 It was now just before the Passover Feast, and Jesus knew that His hour had come to leave this world and return to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the very end.
John 13:2 The evening meal was underway, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.
John 13:3 Jesus knew that the Father had delivered all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was returning to God.
John 13:4 So He got up from the supper, laid aside His outer garments, and wrapped a towel around His waist.
John 13:5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples_ feet and dry them with the towel that was around Him.
John 13:6 He came to Simon Peter, who asked Him, _Lord, are You going to wash my feet?_
John 13:7 Jesus replied, _You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand._
John 13:8 _Never shall You wash my feet!_ Peter told Him. Jesus answered, _Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me._
John 13:9 _Then Lord,_ Simon Peter replied, _not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well._
John 13:10 Jesus told him, _Whoever has already bathed needs only to wash his feet, and he will be completely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you._
John 13:11 For He knew who would betray Him. That is why He said, _Not all of you are clean._
John 13:12 When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His outer garments, He reclined with them again and asked, _Do you know what I have done for you?
John 13:13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, because I am.
John 13:14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another_s feet.
John 13:15 I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you.
John 13:16 Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
John 13:17 If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
John 13:18 I am not speaking about all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the Scripture: _The one who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me._
John 13:19 I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it comes to pass, you will believe that I am He.
John 13:20 Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever receives the one I send receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives the One who sent Me._
John 13:21 After Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit and testified, _Truly, truly, I tell you, one of you will betray Me._
John 13:22 The disciples began to look at one another, perplexed as to which of them He meant.
John 13:23 One of His disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at His side.
John 13:24 So Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus which one He was talking about.
John 13:25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked, _Lord, who is it?_
John 13:26 Jesus answered, _It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread after I have dipped it._ Then He dipped the piece of bread and gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot.
John 13:27 After Judas took the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to Judas, _What you are about to do, do quickly._
John 13:28 But no one at the table knew why Jesus had said this to him.
John 13:29 Since Judas kept the money bag, some thought that Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the feast, or to give something to the poor.
John 13:30 As soon as he had received the piece of bread, Judas went out into the night.
John 13:31 When Judas had gone out, Jesus said, _Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him.
John 13:32 If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify the Son in Himself_and will glorify Him at once.
John 13:33 Little children, I am with you only a little while longer. You will look for Me, and as I said to the Jews, so now I say to you: _Where I am going, you cannot come._
John 13:34 A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so also you must love one another.
John 13:35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another._
John 13:36 _Lord, where are You going?_ Simon Peter asked. Jesus answered, _Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now, but you will follow later._
John 13:37 _Lord,_ Peter asked, _Why can_t I follow You now? I will lay down my life for You._
John 13:38 _Will you lay down your life for Me?_ Jesus replied. _Truly, truly, I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.
John 14:1 Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe in Me as well.
John 14:2 In My Father_s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am.
John 14:4 You know the way to the place where I am going._
John 14:5 _Lord,_ said Thomas, _we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?_
John 14:6 Jesus answered, _I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 14:7 If you had known Me, you would know My Father as well. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him._
John 14:8 Philip said to Him, _Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us._
John 14:9 Jesus replied, _Philip, I have been with you all this time, and still you do not know Me? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, _Show us the Father_?
John 14:10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you, I do not speak on My own. Instead, it is the Father dwelling in Me, carrying out His work.
John 14:11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me_or at least believe because of the works themselves.
John 14:12 Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
John 14:13 And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
John 14:14 If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.
John 14:15 If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever_
John 14:17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and He will be in you.
John 14:18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
John 14:19 In a little while, the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live.
John 14:20 On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you.
John 14:21 Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him._
John 14:22 Judas (not Iscariot) asked Him, _Lord, why are You going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?_
John 14:23 Jesus replied, _If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make Our home with him.
John 14:24 Whoever does not love Me does not keep My words. The word that you hear is not My own, but it is from the Father who sent Me.
John 14:25 All this I have spoken to you while I am still with you.
John 14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.
John 14:28 You heard Me say, _I am going away and I am coming back to you._ If you loved Me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I.
John 14:29 And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe.
John 14:30 I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming, and he has no claim on Me.
John 14:31 But I do exactly what the Father has commanded Me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Get up! Let us go on from here.
John 15:1 I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard.
John 15:2 He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful.
John 15:3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
John 15:4 Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.
John 15:5 I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.
John 15:6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned.
John 15:7 If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
John 15:8 This is to My Father_s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples.
John 15:9 As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Remain in My love.
John 15:10 If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father_s commandments and remain in His love.
John 15:11 I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.
John 15:12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I loved you.
John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:14 You are My friends if you do what I command you.
John 15:15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you.
John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit_fruit that will remain_so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.
John 15:17 This is My command to you: Love one another.
John 15:18 If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first.
John 15:19 If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.
John 15:20 Remember the word that I spoke to you: _No servant is greater than his master._ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well.
John 15:21 But they will treat you like this on account of My name, because they do not know the One who sent Me.
John 15:22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin.
John 15:23 Whoever hates Me hates My Father as well.
John 15:24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have seen and hated both Me and My Father.
John 15:25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: _They hated Me without reason._
John 15:26 When the Advocate comes, whom I will send you from the Father_the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father_He will testify about Me.
John 15:27 And you also must testify, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
John 16:1 I have told you these things so that you will not fall away.
John 16:2 They will put you out of the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.
John 16:3 They will do these things because they have not known the Father or Me.
John 16:4 But I have told you these things so that when their hour comes, you will remember that I told you about them. I did not tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.
John 16:5 Now, however, I am going to Him who sent Me; yet none of you asks Me, _Where are You going?_
John 16:6 Instead, your hearts are filled with sorrow because I have told you these things.
John 16:7 But I tell you the truth, it is for your benefit that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
John 16:8 And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:
John 16:9 in regard to sin, because they do not believe in Me;
John 16:10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see Me;
John 16:11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world already stands condemned.
John 16:12 I still have much to tell you, but you cannot yet bear to hear it.
John 16:13 However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come.
John 16:14 He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.
John 16:15 Everything that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said that the Spirit will take from what is Mine and disclose it to you.
John 16:16 In a little while you will see Me no longer, and then after a little while you will see Me._
John 16:17 Then some of his disciples asked one another, _Why is He telling us, _In a little while you will not see Me, and then after a little while you will see Me_ and _Because I am going to the Father_?_
John 16:18 They kept asking, _Why is He saying, _a little while_? We do not understand what He is talking about._
John 16:19 Aware that they wanted to ask Him, Jesus said to them, _Are you asking one another why I said, _In a little while you will not see Me, and then after a little while you will see Me_?
John 16:20 Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and wail while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.
John 16:21 A woman has pain in childbirth because her time has come; but when she brings forth her child, she forgets her anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.
John 16:22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.
John 16:23 In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.
John 16:24 Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
John 16:25 I have spoken these things to you as illustrations. A time is coming when I will no longer speak to you this way, but I will tell you plainly about the Father.
John 16:26 In that day you will ask in My name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf.
John 16:27 For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from God.
John 16:28 I came from the Father and entered the world. In turn, I will leave the world and go to the Father._
John 16:29 His disciples said, _See, now You are speaking plainly and without figures of speech.
John 16:30 Now we understand that You know all things and that You have no need for anyone to question You. Because of this, we believe that You came from God._
John 16:31 _Do you finally believe?_ Jesus replied.
John 16:32 _Look, an hour is coming and has already come when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and you will leave Me all alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.
John 16:33 I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!_
John 17:1 When Jesus had spoken these things, He lifted His eyes to heaven and said, _Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You.
John 17:2 For You granted Him authority over all humanity, so that He may give eternal life to all those You have given Him.
John 17:3 Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.
John 17:4 I have glorified You on earth by accomplishing the work You gave Me to do.
John 17:5 And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world existed.
John 17:6 I have revealed Your name to those You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours; You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.
John 17:7 Now they know that everything You have given Me comes from You.
John 17:8 For I have given them the words You gave Me, and they have received them. They knew with certainty that I came from You, and they believed that You sent Me.
John 17:9 I ask on their account. I do not ask on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those You have given Me; for they are Yours.
John 17:10 All I have is Yours, and all You have is Mine; and in them I have been glorified.
John 17:11 I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, protect them by Your name, the name You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one.
John 17:12 While I was with them, I protected them and guarded them by Your name, the name You gave Me. Not one of them has been lost, except the son of destruction, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.
John 17:13 But now I am coming to You, and I am saying these things while I am in the world, so that they may have My joy fulfilled within them.
John 17:14 I have given them Your word and the world has hated them; for they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
John 17:15 I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one.
John 17:16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
John 17:17 Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.
John 17:18 As You sent Me into the world, I have also sent them into the world.
John 17:19 For them I sanctify Myself, so that they too may be sanctified by the truth.
John 17:20 I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message,
John 17:21 that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.
John 17:22 I have given them the glory You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one_
John 17:23 I in them and You in Me_that they may be perfectly united, so that the world may know that You sent Me and have loved them just as You have loved Me.
John 17:24 Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, that they may see the glory You gave Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
John 17:25 Righteous Father, although the world has not known You, I know You, and they know that You sent Me.
John 17:26 And I have made Your name known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love You have for Me may be in them, and I in them._
John 18:1 When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples across the Kidron Valley, where they entered a garden.
John 18:2 Now Judas, His betrayer, also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with His disciples.
John 18:3 So Judas brought a band of soldiers and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees. They arrived at the garden carrying lanterns, torches, and weapons.
John 18:4 Jesus, knowing all that was coming upon Him, stepped forward and asked them, _Who are you looking for?_
John 18:5 _Jesus of Nazareth,_ they answered. Jesus said, _I am He._ And Judas His betrayer was standing there with them.
John 18:6 When Jesus said, _I am He,_ they drew back and fell to the ground.
John 18:7 So He asked them again, _Who are you looking for?_ _Jesus of Nazareth,_ they answered.
John 18:8 _I told you that I am He,_ Jesus replied. _So if you are looking for Me, let these men go._
John 18:9 This was to fulfill the word He had spoken: _I have not lost one of those You have given Me._
John 18:10 Then Simon Peter drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. The servant_s name was Malchus.
John 18:11 _Put your sword back in its sheath!_ Jesus said to Peter. _Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given Me?_
John 18:12 Then the band of soldiers, with its commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him.
John 18:13 They brought Him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.
John 18:14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be better if one man died for the people.
John 18:15 Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he also went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest.
John 18:16 But Peter stood outside at the door. Then the disciple who was known to the high priest went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in.
John 18:17 At this, the servant girl watching the door said to Peter, _Aren_t you also one of this man_s disciples?_ _I am not,_ he answered.
John 18:18 Because it was cold, the servants and officers were standing around a charcoal fire they had made to keep warm. And Peter was also standing with them, warming himself.
John 18:19 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching.
John 18:20 _I have spoken openly to the world,_ Jesus answered. _I always taught in the synagogues and at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.
John 18:21 Why are you asking Me? Ask those who heard My message. Surely they know what I said._
John 18:22 When Jesus had said this, one of the officers standing nearby slapped Him in the face and said, _Is this how You answer the high priest?_
John 18:23 Jesus replied, _If I said something wrong, testify to what was wrong. But if I spoke correctly, why did you strike Me?_
John 18:24 Then Annas sent Him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.
John 18:25 Simon Peter was still standing and warming himself. So they asked him, _Aren_t you also one of His disciples?_ He denied it and said, _I am not._
John 18:26 One of the high priest_s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, _Didn_t I see you with Him in the garden?_
John 18:27 Peter denied it once more, and immediately a rooster crowed.
John 18:28 Then they led Jesus away from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. By now it was early morning, and the Jews did not enter the Praetorium to avoid being defiled and unable to eat the Passover.
John 18:29 So Pilate went out to them and asked, _What accusation are you bringing against this man?_
John 18:30 _If He were not a criminal,_ they replied, _we would not have handed Him over to you._
John 18:31 _You take Him and judge Him by your own Law,_ Pilate told them. _We are not permitted to execute anyone,_ the Jews replied.
John 18:32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to indicate the kind of death He was to die.
John 18:33 Pilate went back into the Praetorium, summoned Jesus, and asked Him, _Are You the King of the Jews?_
John 18:34 _Are you saying this on your own,_ Jesus asked, _or did others tell you about Me?_
John 18:35 _Am I a Jew?_ Pilate replied. _Your own people and chief priests handed You over to me. What have You done?_
John 18:36 Jesus answered, _My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now, My kingdom is not of this realm._
John 18:37 _Then You are a king?_ Pilate said. _You say that I am a king,_ Jesus answered. _For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice._
John 18:38 _What is truth?_ Pilate asked. And having said this, he went out again to the Jews and told them, _I find no basis for a charge against Him.
John 18:39 But it is your custom that I release to you one prisoner at the Passover. So then, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?_
John 18:40 _Not this man,_ they shouted, _but Barabbas!_ (Now Barabbas was an insurrectionist.)
John 19:1 Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged.
John 19:2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns, put it on His head, and dressed Him in a purple robe.
John 19:3 And they went up to Him again and again, saying, _Hail, King of the Jews!_ and slapping Him in the face.
John 19:4 Once again Pilate came out and said to the Jews, _Look, I am bringing Him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against Him._
John 19:5 When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, _Here is the man!_
John 19:6 As soon as the chief priests and officers saw Him, they shouted, _Crucify Him! Crucify Him!_ _Take Him and crucify Him yourselves,_ Pilate replied, _for I find no basis for a charge against Him._
John 19:7 _We have a law,_ answered the Jews, _and according to that law He must die, because He declared Himself to be the Son of God._
John 19:8 When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid,
John 19:9 and he went back into the Praetorium. _Where are You from?_ he asked. But Jesus gave no answer.
John 19:10 So Pilate said to Him, _Do You refuse to speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You and authority to crucify You?_
John 19:11 Jesus answered, _You would have no authority over Me unless it were given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed Me over to you is guilty of greater sin._
John 19:12 From this moment on, Pilate tried to release Him, but the Jews kept shouting, _If you release this man, you are not a friend of Caesar. Everyone who declares himself a king is defying Caesar._
John 19:13 When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat on the judgment seat at a place called the Stone Pavement, which in Aramaic is Gabbatha.
John 19:14 It was the day of Preparation for the Passover, about the sixth hour. And Pilate said to the Jews, _Here is your King!_
John 19:15 At this, they shouted, _Away with Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him!_ _Shall I crucify your King?_ Pilate asked. _We have no king but Caesar,_ replied the chief priests.
John 19:16 Then Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified, and the soldiers took Him away.
John 19:17 Carrying His own cross, He went out to The Place of the Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha.
John 19:18 There they crucified Him, and with Him two others, one on each side, with Jesus in the middle.
John 19:19 Pilate also had a notice posted on the cross. It read: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.
John 19:20 Many of the Jews read this sign, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek.
John 19:21 So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, _Do not write, _The King of the Jews,_ but only that He said, _I am the King of the Jews.__
John 19:22 Pilate answered, _What I have written, I have written._
John 19:23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided His garments into four parts, one for each soldier, with the tunic remaining. It was seamless, woven in one piece from the top to bottom.
John 19:24 So they said to one another, _Let_s not tear it, but instead let us cast lots to see who will get it._ This was to fulfill the Scripture: _They divided My garments among them, and cast lots for My clothing._ So that is what the soldiers did.
John 19:25 Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother and her sister, as well as Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene.
John 19:26 When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, _Woman, here is your son._
John 19:27 Then He said to the disciple, _Here is your mother._ So from that hour, this disciple took her into his home.
John 19:28 After this, knowing that everything had now been accomplished, and to fulfill the Scripture, Jesus said, _I am thirsty._
John 19:29 A jar of sour wine was sitting there. So they soaked a sponge in the wine, put it on a stalk of hyssop, and lifted it to His mouth.
John 19:30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, _It is finished._ And bowing His head, He yielded up His spirit.
John 19:31 It was the day of Preparation, and the next day was a High Sabbath. So in order that the bodies would not remain on the cross during the Sabbath, the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies removed.
John 19:32 The soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and those of the other.
John 19:33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.
John 19:34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out.
John 19:35 The one who saw it has testified to this, and his testimony is true. He knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe.
John 19:36 Now these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: _Not one of His bones will be broken._
John 19:37 And, as another Scripture says: _They will look on the One they have pierced._
John 19:38 Later on, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus (but secretly for fear of the Jews), asked Pilate_s permission to take away the body of Jesus. Pilate granted it, so he came and removed His body.
John 19:39 Nicodemus, who had previously come to Jesus at night, also brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.
John 19:40 They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in linen cloths with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom.
John 19:41 Now there was a garden in the place where Jesus was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.
John 19:42 So because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
John 20:1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.
John 20:2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. _They have taken the Lord out of the tomb,_ she said, _and we do not know where they have put Him!_
John 20:3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out for the tomb.
John 20:4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.
John 20:5 He bent down and looked in at the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.
John 20:6 Simon Peter arrived just after him. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there.
John 20:7 The face cloth that had been around Jesus_ head was rolled up, lying separate from the linen cloths.
John 20:8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in. And he saw and believed.
John 20:9 For they still did not understand from the Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.
John 20:10 Then the disciples returned to their homes.
John 20:11 But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent down to look into the tomb,
John 20:12 and she saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and the other at the feet.
John 20:13 _Woman, why are you weeping?_ they asked. _Because they have taken my Lord away,_ she said, _and I do not know where they have put Him._
John 20:14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there; but she did not recognize that it was Jesus.
John 20:15 _Woman, why are you weeping?_ Jesus asked her. _Who are you looking for?_ Thinking He was the gardener, she said, _Sir, if you have carried Him off, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him._
John 20:16 Jesus said to her, _Mary._ She turned and said to Him in Aramaic, _Rabboni!_ (which means Teacher).
John 20:17 _Do not cling to Me,_ Jesus said, _For I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go and tell My brothers, _I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.__
John 20:18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, _I have seen the Lord!_ And she told them what He had said to her.
John 20:19 It was the first day of the week, and that very evening, while the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them. _Peace be with you!_ He said to them.
John 20:20 After He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
John 20:21 Again Jesus said to them, _Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so also I am sending you._
John 20:22 When He had said this, He breathed on them and said, _Receive the Holy Spirit.
John 20:23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld._
John 20:24 Now Thomas called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.
John 20:25 So the other disciples told him, _We have seen the Lord._ But he replied, _Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger where the nails have been, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe._
John 20:26 Eight days later, His disciples were once again inside with the doors locked, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came and stood among them and said, _Peace be with you._
John 20:27 Then Jesus said to Thomas, _Put your finger here and look at My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe._
John 20:28 Thomas replied, _My Lord and my God!_
John 20:29 Jesus said to him, _Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have believed._
John 20:30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book.
John 20:31 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.
John 21:1 Later, by the Sea of Tiberias, Jesus again revealed Himself to the disciples. He made Himself known in this way:
John 21:2 Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.
John 21:3 Simon Peter told them, _I am going fishing._ _We will go with you,_ they said. So they went out and got into the boat, but caught nothing that night.
John 21:4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not recognize that it was Jesus.
John 21:5 So He said to them, _Children, do you have any fish?_ _No,_ they answered.
John 21:6 He told them, _Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some._ So they cast it there, and they were unable to haul it in because of the great number of fish.
John 21:7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, _It is the Lord!_ As soon as Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it) and jumped into the sea.
John 21:8 The other disciples came ashore in the boat. They dragged in the net full of fish, for they were not far from land, only about a hundred yards.
John 21:9 When they landed, they saw that a charcoal fire had been prepared, with fish on it, and some bread.
John 21:10 Jesus told them, _Bring some of the fish you have just caught._
John 21:11 So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, one hundred fifty-three. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.
John 21:12 _Come, have breakfast,_ Jesus said to them. None of the disciples dared to ask Him, _Who are You?_ They knew it was the Lord.
John 21:13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and He did the same with the fish.
John 21:14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to the disciples after He was raised from the dead.
John 21:15 When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, _Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?_ _Yes, Lord,_ He answered, _You know I love You._ Jesus replied, _Feed My lambs._
John 21:16 Jesus asked a second time, _Simon son of John, do you love Me?_ _Yes, Lord,_ he answered, _You know I love You._ Jesus told him, _Shepherd My sheep._
John 21:17 Jesus asked a third time, _Simon son of John, do you love Me?_ Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, _Do you love Me?_ _Lord, You know all things;_ he replied, _You know I love You._ Jesus said to him, _Feed My sheep.
John 21:18 Truly, truly, I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and walked where you wanted; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go._
John 21:19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. After He had said this, He told him, _Follow Me._
John 21:20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. He was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper to ask, _Lord, who is going to betray You?_
John 21:21 When Peter saw him, he asked, _Lord, what about him?_
John 21:22 Jesus answered, _If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you? You follow Me!_
John 21:23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. However, Jesus did not say that he would not die, but only, _If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you?_
John 21:24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who has written them down. And we know that his testimony is true.
John 21:25 There are many more things that Jesus did. If all of them were written down, I suppose not even the world itself would have space for the books that would be written.
Acts 1:1 In my first book, O Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach,
Acts 1:2 until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen.
Acts 1:3 After His suffering, He presented Himself to them with many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a span of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
Acts 1:4 And when they were gathered together, He commanded them: _Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift the Father promised, which you have heard Me discuss.
Acts 1:5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit._
Acts 1:6 So when they came together, they asked Him, _Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?_
Acts 1:7 Jesus replied, _It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority.
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth._
Acts 1:9 After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.
Acts 1:10 They were looking intently into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.
Acts 1:11 _Men of Galilee,_ they said, _Why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven._
Acts 1:12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near the city, a Sabbath day_s journey away.
Acts 1:13 When they arrived, they went to the upper room where they were staying: Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.
Acts 1:14 With one accord they all continued in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
Acts 1:15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (a gathering of about a hundred and twenty) and said,
Acts 1:16 _Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit foretold through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus.
Acts 1:17 He was one of our number and was allotted a share in this ministry._
Acts 1:18 (With the reward of his wickedness Judas bought a field, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines spilled out.
Acts 1:19 This became known to everyone living in Jerusalem; so they called that field in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)
Acts 1:20 _For it is written in the book of Psalms: _May his dwelling be deserted; let there be no one to live in it,_ and, _May another take his office._
Acts 1:21 Therefore it is necessary to select one of the men who have accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
Acts 1:22 beginning from John_s baptism until the day Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection._
Acts 1:23 So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.
Acts 1:24 And they prayed, _Lord, You know everyone_s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen
Acts 1:25 to assume this ministry and apostleship, which Judas abandoned to go to his rightful place._
Acts 1:26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, the believers were all together in one place.
Acts 2:2 Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Acts 2:3 They saw tongues like flames of a fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Acts 2:5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.
Acts 2:6 And when this sound rang out, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking his own language.
Acts 2:7 In wonder and amazement, they asked, _Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?
Acts 2:8 How is it then that each of us hears them in his own native language?
Acts 2:9 Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
Acts 2:10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome,
Acts 2:11 both Jews and converts to Judaism; Cretans and Arabs_we hear them declaring the mighty works of God in our own tongues!_
Acts 2:12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, _What does this mean?_
Acts 2:13 But others mocked them and said, _They are drunk on new wine!_
Acts 2:14 Then Peter stood up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and addressed the crowd: _Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen carefully to my words.
Acts 2:15 These men are not drunk as you suppose. It is only the third hour of the day!
Acts 2:16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
Acts 2:17 _In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people; your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
Acts 2:18 Even on My servants, both men and women, I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
Acts 2:19 I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
Acts 2:20 The sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
Acts 2:21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved._
Acts 2:22 Men of Israel, listen to this message: Jesus of Nazareth was a man certified by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know.
Acts 2:23 He was handed over by God_s set plan and foreknowledge, and you, by the hands of the lawless, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross.
Acts 2:24 But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for Him to be held in its clutches.
Acts 2:25 David says about Him: _I saw the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Acts 2:26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices, my body also will live in hope,
Acts 2:27 because You will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay.
Acts 2:28 You have made known to me the paths of life, You will fill me with joy in Your presence._
Acts 2:29 Brothers, I can tell you with confidence that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
Acts 2:30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that He would place one of his descendants on his throne.
Acts 2:31 Foreseeing this, David spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His body see decay.
Acts 2:32 God has raised this Jesus to life, to which we are all witnesses.
Acts 2:33 Exalted, then, to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.
Acts 2:34 For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says: _The Lord said to my Lord, _Sit at My right hand,
Acts 2:35 until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.__
Acts 2:36 Therefore let all Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ!_
Acts 2:37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, _Brothers, what shall we do?_
Acts 2:38 Peter replied, _Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:39 This promise belongs to you and to your children and to all who are far off, to all whom the Lord our God will call to Himself._
Acts 2:40 With many other words he testified, and he urged them, _Be saved from this corrupt generation._
Acts 2:41 Those who embraced his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day.
Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles_ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Acts 2:43 A sense of awe came over everyone, and the apostles performed many wonders and signs.
Acts 2:44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.
Acts 2:45 Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need.
Acts 2:46 With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart,
Acts 2:47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 3:1 One afternoon Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
Acts 3:2 And a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those entering the temple courts.
Acts 3:3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter the temple, he asked them for money.
Acts 3:4 Peter looked directly at him, as did John. _Look at us!_ said Peter.
Acts 3:5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
Acts 3:6 But Peter said, _Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!_
Acts 3:7 Taking him by the right hand, Peter helped him up, and at once the man_s feet and ankles were strengthened.
Acts 3:8 He sprang to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and leaping and praising God.
Acts 3:9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God,
Acts 3:10 they recognized him as the man who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Acts 3:11 While the man clung to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and ran to them in the walkway called Solomon_s Colonnade.
Acts 3:12 When Peter saw this, he addressed the people: _Men of Israel, why are you surprised by this? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?
Acts 3:13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus. You handed Him over and rejected Him before Pilate, even though he had decided to release Him.
Acts 3:14 You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.
Acts 3:15 You killed the Author of life, but God raised Him from the dead, and we are witnesses of the fact.
Acts 3:16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know has been made strong. It is Jesus_ name and the faith that comes through Him that has given him this complete healing in your presence.
Acts 3:17 And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.
Acts 3:18 But in this way God has fulfilled what He foretold through all the prophets, saying that His Christ would suffer.
Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away,
Acts 3:20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus, the Christ, who has been appointed for you.
Acts 3:21 Heaven must take Him in until the time comes for the restoration of all things, which God announced long ago through His holy prophets.
Acts 3:22 For Moses said, _The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to Him in everything He tells you.
Acts 3:23 Everyone who does not heed His words will be completely cut off from among the people._
Acts 3:24 Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have proclaimed these days.
Acts 3:25 And you are sons of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers, when He said to Abraham, _Through your offspring all the families of the earth will be blessed._
Acts 3:26 When God raised up His servant, He sent Him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways._
Acts 4:1 While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them,
Acts 4:2 greatly disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
Acts 4:3 They seized Peter and John, and because it was already evening, they put them in custody until the next day.
Acts 4:4 But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
Acts 4:5 The next day the rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem,
Acts 4:6 along with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and many others from the high priest_s family.
Acts 4:7 They had Peter and John brought in and began to question them: _By what power or what name did you do this?_
Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, _Rulers and elders of the people!
Acts 4:9 If we are being examined today about a kind service to a man who was lame, to determine how he was healed,
Acts 4:10 then let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.
Acts 4:11 He is _the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone._
Acts 4:12 Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved._
Acts 4:13 When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and recognized that they had been with Jesus.
Acts 4:14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing there with them, they had nothing to say in response.
Acts 4:15 So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin and then conferred together.
Acts 4:16 _What shall we do with these men?_ they asked. _It is clear to everyone living in Jerusalem that a remarkable miracle has occurred through them, and we cannot deny it.
Acts 4:17 But to keep this message from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name._
Acts 4:18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
Acts 4:19 But Peter and John replied, _Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God_s sight to listen to you rather than God.
Acts 4:20 For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard._
Acts 4:21 So the Council members threatened them further and let them go. They could not find a way to punish them, because all the people were glorifying God for what had happened.
Acts 4:22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.
Acts 4:23 On their release, Peter and John returned to their own people and reported everything that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
Acts 4:24 When the believers heard this, they lifted up their voices to God with one accord. _Sovereign Lord,_ they said, _You made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them.
Acts 4:25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of Your servant, our father David: _Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot in vain?
Acts 4:26 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One._
Acts 4:27 In fact, this is the very city where Herod and Pontius Pilate conspired with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed.
Acts 4:28 They carried out what Your hand and purpose had decided beforehand would happen.
Acts 4:29 And now, Lord, consider their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness,
Acts 4:30 as You stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus._
Acts 4:31 After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
Acts 4:32 The congregation of believers was one in heart and soul. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they owned.
Acts 4:33 With great power, the apostles continued to give their testimony about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And abundant grace was upon them all.
Acts 4:34 There were no needy ones among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property, bring the proceeds from the sales,
Acts 4:35 and lay them at the apostles_ feet for distribution to anyone as he had need.
Acts 4:36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement),
Acts 4:37 sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles_ feet.
Acts 5:1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.
Acts 5:2 With his wife_s full knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds for himself, but brought a portion and laid it at the apostles_ feet.
Acts 5:3 Then Peter said, _Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land?
Acts 5:4 Did it not belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How could you conceive such a deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God!_
Acts 5:5 On hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great fear came over all who heard what had happened.
Acts 5:6 Then the young men stepped forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
Acts 5:7 About three hours later his wife also came in, unaware of what had happened.
Acts 5:8 _Tell me,_ said Peter, _is this the price you and your husband got for the land?_ _Yes,_ she answered, _that is the price._
Acts 5:9 _How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?_ Peter replied. _Look, the feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also._
Acts 5:10 At that instant she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and found her dead. So they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
Acts 5:11 And great fear came over the whole church and all who heard about these events.
Acts 5:12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people, and with one accord the believers gathered together in Solomon_s Colonnade.
Acts 5:13 Although the people regarded them highly, no one else dared to join them.
Acts 5:14 Yet more and more believers were brought to the Lord_large numbers of both men and women.
Acts 5:15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, so that at least Peter_s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.
Acts 5:16 Crowds also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were healed.
Acts 5:17 Then the high priest and all his associates (who belonged to the party of the Sadducees) rose up with jealousy.
Acts 5:18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.
Acts 5:19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying,
Acts 5:20 _Go, stand in the temple courts and tell the people the full message of this new life._
Acts 5:21 At daybreak, the apostles entered the temple courts as they had been told and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived in the Council, they called together the full assembly of the elders of Israel, and sent to the jail for the apostles.
Acts 5:22 But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they returned with the report:
Acts 5:23 _We found the jail securely locked, with the guards posted at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside._
Acts 5:24 When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this account, they were perplexed as to what was happening.
Acts 5:25 Then someone came in and announced, _Look, the men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts, teaching the people!_
Acts 5:26 At that point, the captain went with the officers and brought the apostles_but not by force, for fear the people would stone them.
Acts 5:27 They brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, where the high priest interrogated them.
Acts 5:28 _We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,_ he said. _Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us responsible for this man_s blood._
Acts 5:29 But Peter and the other apostles replied, _We must obey God rather than men.
Acts 5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging Him on a tree.
Acts 5:31 God exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior, in order to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.
Acts 5:32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him._
Acts 5:33 When Council members heard this, they were enraged and wanted to put the apostles to death.
Acts 5:34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a short time.
Acts 5:35 _Men of Israel,_ he said, _consider carefully what you are about to do to these men.
Acts 5:36 Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.
Acts 5:37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and drew away people after him. He too perished, and all his followers were scattered.
Acts 5:38 So in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone. Let them go! For if their purpose or endeavor is of human origin, it will fail.
Acts 5:39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God._
Acts 5:40 At this, they yielded to Gamaliel. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them.
Acts 5:41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.
Acts 5:42 Every day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.
Acts 6:1 In those days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Grecian Jews began to grumble against the Hebraic Jews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
Acts 6:2 So the Twelve summoned all the disciples and said, _It is unacceptable for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables.
Acts 6:3 Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will appoint this responsibility to them
Acts 6:4 and devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the word._
Acts 6:5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, as well as Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
Acts 6:6 They presented these seven to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
Acts 6:7 So the word of God continued to spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly, and a great number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Acts 6:8 Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
Acts 6:9 But resistance arose from what was known as the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and men from the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. They began to argue with Stephen,
Acts 6:10 but they could not stand up to his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.
Acts 6:11 Then they prompted some men to say, _We heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God._
Acts 6:12 So they stirred up the people and elders and scribes. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.
Acts 6:13 They presented false witnesses who said, _This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the Law.
Acts 6:14 For we have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us._
Acts 6:15 All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Acts 7:1 Then the high priest asked Stephen, _Are these charges true?_
Acts 7:2 And Stephen declared: _Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,
Acts 7:3 and told him, _Leave your country and your kindred and go to the land I will show you._
Acts 7:4 So Abraham left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After his father died, God brought him out of that place, into this land where you are now living.
Acts 7:5 He gave him no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground. But God promised to give possession of the land to Abraham and his descendants, even though he did not yet have a child.
Acts 7:6 God told him that his descendants would be foreigners in a strange land, and they would be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.
Acts 7:7 _But I will punish the nation that enslaves them,_ God said, _and afterward they will come forth and worship Me in this place._
Acts 7:8 Then God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, and 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.
Acts 7:9 Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him
Acts 7:10 and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted Joseph favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household.
Acts 7:11 Then famine and great suffering swept across Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers could not find food.
Acts 7:12 When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers on their first visit.
Acts 7:13 On their second visit, Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers, and his family became known to Pharaoh.
Acts 7:14 Then Joseph sent for his father Jacob and all his relatives, seventy-five in all.
Acts 7:15 So Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our fathers died.
Acts 7:16 Their bones were carried back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a price he paid in silver.
Acts 7:17 As the time drew near for God to fulfill His promise to Abraham, our people in Egypt increased greatly in number.
Acts 7:18 Then another king, who knew nothing of Joseph, arose over Egypt.
Acts 7:19 He exploited our people and oppressed our fathers, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die.
Acts 7:20 At that time Moses was born, and he was beautiful in the sight of God. For three months he was nurtured in his father_s house.
Acts 7:21 When he was set outside, Pharaoh_s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son.
Acts 7:22 So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.
Acts 7:23 When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his brothers, the sons of Israel.
Acts 7:24 And when he saw one of them being wronged, Moses went to his defense and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian who was oppressing him.
Acts 7:25 He assumed his brothers would understand that God was using him to deliver them, but they did not.
Acts 7:26 The next day he came upon two Israelites who were fighting, and he tried to reconcile them, saying, _Men, you are brothers. Why are you mistreating one another?_
Acts 7:27 But the man who was abusing his neighbor pushed Moses aside and said, _Who made you ruler and judge over us?
Acts 7:28 Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?_
Acts 7:29 At this remark, Moses fled to the land of Midian, where he lived as a foreigner and had two sons.
Acts 7:30 After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai.
Acts 7:31 When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight. As he approached to look more closely, the voice of the Lord came to him:
Acts 7:32 _I am the God of your Fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob._ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look.
Acts 7:33 Then the Lord said to him, _Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.
Acts 7:34 I have indeed seen the oppression of My people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt._
Acts 7:35 This Moses, whom they had rejected with the words, _Who made you ruler and judge?_ is the one God sent to be their ruler and redeemer, through the angel who appeared to him in the bush.
Acts 7:36 He led them out and performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and for forty years in the wilderness.
Acts 7:37 This is the same Moses who told the Israelites, _God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers._
Acts 7:38 He was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. And he received living words to pass on to us.
Acts 7:39 But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.
Acts 7:40 They said to Aaron, _Make us gods who will go before us! As for this Moses who led us out of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him._
Acts 7:41 At that time they made a calf and offered a sacrifice to the idol, rejoicing in the works of their hands.
Acts 7:42 But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the heavenly bodies, as it is written in the book of the prophets: _Did you offer Me slain beasts and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
Acts 7:43 You took along the tent of Moloch and the star of your god Rephan, the idols you made to worship. Therefore I will carry you away beyond Babylon._
Acts 7:44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony with them in the wilderness. It was constructed exactly as God had directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen.
Acts 7:45 And our fathers who received it brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations God drove out before them. It remained until the time of David,
Acts 7:46 who found favor in the sight of God and asked to provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.
Acts 7:47 But it was Solomon who built the house for Him.
Acts 7:48 However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says:
Acts 7:49 _Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me, says the Lord, or what will be My place of repose?
Acts 7:50 Has not My hand made all these things?_
Acts 7:51 You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.
Acts 7:52 Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers_
Acts 7:53 you who have received the Law ordained by angels, yet have not kept it._
Acts 7:54 On hearing this, the members of the Sanhedrin were enraged, and they gnashed their teeth at him.
Acts 7:55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
Acts 7:56 _Look,_ he said, _I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God._
Acts 7:57 At this they covered their ears, cried out in a loud voice, and rushed together at him.
Acts 7:58 They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
Acts 7:59 While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, _Lord Jesus, receive my spirit._
Acts 7:60 Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, _Lord, do not hold this sin against them._ And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 8:1 And Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen_s death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
Acts 8:2 God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him.
Acts 8:3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
Acts 8:4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
Acts 8:5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them.
Acts 8:6 The crowds gave their undivided attention to Philip_s message and the signs they saw him perform.
Acts 8:7 With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, and many of the paralyzed and lame were healed.
Acts 8:8 So there was great joy in that city.
Acts 8:9 Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great,
Acts 8:10 and all the people, from the least to the greatest, heeded his words and said, _This man is the divine power called the Great Power._
Acts 8:11 They paid close attention to him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery.
Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Acts 8:13 Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. He followed Philip closely and was amazed by the great signs and miracles he observed.
Acts 8:14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.
Acts 8:15 On their arrival, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:16 For the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
Acts 8:17 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles_ hands, he offered them money.
Acts 8:19 _Give me this power as well,_ he said, _so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit._
Acts 8:20 But Peter replied, _May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!
Acts 8:21 You have no part or share in our ministry, because your heart is not right before God.
Acts 8:22 Repent, therefore, of your wickedness, and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for the intent of your heart.
Acts 8:23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and captive to iniquity._
Acts 8:24 Then Simon answered, _Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me._
Acts 8:25 After Peter and John had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many of the Samaritan villages.
Acts 8:26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, _Get up and go south to the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza._
Acts 8:27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official in charge of the entire treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship,
Acts 8:28 and on his return was sitting in his chariot, reading Isaiah the prophet.
Acts 8:29 The Spirit said to Philip, _Go over to that chariot and stay by it._
Acts 8:30 So Philip ran up and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. _Do you understand what you are reading?_ Philip asked.
Acts 8:31 _How can I,_ he said, _unless someone guides me?_ And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
Acts 8:32 The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: _He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so He did not open His mouth.
Acts 8:33 In His humiliation He was deprived of justice. Who can recount His descendants? For His life was removed from the earth._
Acts 8:34 _Tell me,_ said the eunuch, _who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?_
Acts 8:35 Then Philip began with this very Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
Acts 8:36 As they traveled along the road and came to some water, the eunuch said, _Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?_
Acts 8:37
Acts 8:38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
Acts 8:39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing.
Acts 8:40 But Philip appeared at Azotus and traveled through that region, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Acts 9:1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out threats of murder against the Lord_s disciples. He went to the high priest
Acts 9:2 to ask for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
Acts 9:3 As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
Acts 9:4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, _Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?_
Acts 9:5 _Who are You, Lord?_ Saul asked. _I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,_ He replied.
Acts 9:6 _Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do._
Acts 9:7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless. They heard the voice but did not see anyone.
Acts 9:8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could not see a thing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.
Acts 9:9 For three days he was without sight, and he did not eat or drink anything.
Acts 9:10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, _Ananias!_ _Here I am, Lord,_ he answered.
Acts 9:11 _Get up!_ the Lord told him. _Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.
Acts 9:12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight._
Acts 9:13 But Ananias answered, _Lord, many people have told me about this man and all the harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.
Acts 9:14 And now he is here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name._
Acts 9:15 _Go!_ said the Lord. _This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel.
Acts 9:16 I will show him how much he must suffer for My name._
Acts 9:17 So Ananias went to the house, and when he arrived, he placed his hands on Saul. _Brother Saul,_ he said, _the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit._
Acts 9:18 At that instant, something like scales fell from Saul_s eyes, and his sight was restored. He got up and was baptized,
Acts 9:19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. And he spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.
Acts 9:20 Saul promptly began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, declaring, _He is the Son of God._
Acts 9:21 All who heard him were amazed and asked, _Isn_t this the man who wreaked havoc in Jerusalem on those who call on this name? And hasn_t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?_
Acts 9:22 But Saul was empowered all the more, and he confounded the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
Acts 9:23 After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him,
Acts 9:24 but Saul learned of their plot. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him.
Acts 9:25 One night, however, his disciples took him and lowered him in a basket through a window in the wall.
Acts 9:26 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
Acts 9:27 Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and described how Saul had seen the Lord, who spoke to him on the road to Damascus, and how Saul had spoken boldly in that city in the name of Jesus.
Acts 9:28 So Saul stayed with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.
Acts 9:29 He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him.
Acts 9:30 When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
Acts 9:31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a time of peace. It grew in strength and numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 9:32 As Peter traveled throughout the area, he went to visit the saints in Lydda.
Acts 9:33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years.
Acts 9:34 _Aeneas,_ Peter said to him, _Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and put away your mat._ Immediately Aeneas got up,
Acts 9:35 and all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
Acts 9:36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated as Dorcas), who was always occupied with works of kindness and charity.
Acts 9:37 At that time, however, she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upper room.
Acts 9:38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to urge him, _Come to us without delay._
Acts 9:39 So Peter got up and went with them. On his arrival, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood around him, weeping and showing him the tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
Acts 9:40 Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down and prayed, and turning toward her body, he said, _Tabitha, get up!_ She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.
Acts 9:41 Peter took her by the hand and helped her up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her to them alive.
Acts 9:42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.
Acts 9:43 And Peter stayed for several days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.
Acts 10:1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was called the Italian Regiment.
Acts 10:2 He and all his household were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly.
Acts 10:3 One day at about the ninth hour, he had a clear vision of an angel of God who came to him and said, _Cornelius!_
Acts 10:4 Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, _What is it, Lord?_ The angel answered, _Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God.
Acts 10:5 Now send men to Joppa to call for a man named Simon who is called Peter.
Acts 10:6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea._
Acts 10:7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among his personal attendants.
Acts 10:8 He explained what had happened and sent them to Joppa.
Acts 10:9 The next day at about the sixth hour, as the men were approaching the city on their journey, Peter went up on the roof to pray.
Acts 10:10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.
Acts 10:11 He saw heaven open and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.
Acts 10:12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, as well as birds of the air.
Acts 10:13 Then a voice spoke to him: _Get up, Peter, kill and eat!_
Acts 10:14 _No, Lord!_ Peter answered, _I have never eaten anything impure or unclean._
Acts 10:15 The voice spoke to him a second time: _Do not call anything impure that God has made clean._
Acts 10:16 This happened three times, and all at once the sheet was taken back up into heaven.
Acts 10:17 While Peter was puzzling over the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found Simon_s house and approached the gate.
Acts 10:18 They called out to ask if Simon called Peter was staying there.
Acts 10:19 As Peter continued to reflect on the vision, the Spirit told him, _Three men are here looking for you.
Acts 10:20 Get up! Go downstairs and accompany them without hesitation, because I have sent them._
Acts 10:21 So Peter went down to the men and said, _Here am I, the one you are looking for. Why have you come?_
Acts 10:22 _Cornelius the centurion has sent us,_ they said. _He is a righteous and God-fearing man with a good reputation among the whole Jewish nation. A holy angel instructed him to request your presence in his home, so that he could hear a message from you._
Acts 10:23 So Peter invited them in as his guests. And the next day he got ready and went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.
Acts 10:24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea, where Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
Acts 10:25 As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him.
Acts 10:26 But Peter helped him up. _Stand up,_ he said, _I am only a man myself._
Acts 10:27 As Peter talked with him, he went inside and found many people gathered together.
Acts 10:28 He said to them, _You know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.
Acts 10:29 So when I was invited, I came without objection. I ask, then, why have you sent for me?_
Acts 10:30 Cornelius answered: _Four days ago, I was in my house praying at this, the ninth hour. Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me
Acts 10:31 and said, _Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been remembered before God.
Acts 10:32 Therefore send to Joppa for Simon, who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, by the sea._
Acts 10:33 So I sent for you immediately, and you were kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has instructed you to tell us._
Acts 10:34 Then Peter began to speak: _I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism,
Acts 10:35 but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.
Acts 10:36 He has sent this message to the people of Israel, proclaiming the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
Acts 10:37 You yourselves know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee with the baptism that John proclaimed:
Acts 10:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.
Acts 10:39 We are witnesses of all that He did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And although they put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree,
Acts 10:40 God raised Him up on the third day and caused Him to be seen_
Acts 10:41 not by all the people, but by the witnesses God had chosen beforehand, by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.
Acts 10:42 And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One appointed by God to judge the living and the dead.
Acts 10:43 All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name._
Acts 10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard his message.
Acts 10:45 All the circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.
Acts 10:46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God. Then Peter said,
Acts 10:47 _Can anyone withhold the water to baptize these people? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have!_
Acts 10:48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.
Acts 11:1 The apostles and brothers throughout Judea soon heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.
Acts 11:2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers took issue with him
Acts 11:3 and said, _You visited uncircumcised men and ate with them._
Acts 11:4 But Peter began and explained to them the whole sequence of events:
Acts 11:5 _I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision of something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came right down to me.
Acts 11:6 I looked at it closely and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds of the air.
Acts 11:7 Then I heard a voice saying to me, _Get up, Peter, kill and eat._
Acts 11:8 _No, Lord,_ I said, _for nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth._
Acts 11:9 But the voice spoke from heaven a second time, _Do not call anything impure that God has made clean._
Acts 11:10 This happened three times, and everything was drawn back up into heaven.
Acts 11:11 Just then, three men sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying.
Acts 11:12 The Spirit told me to accompany them without hesitation. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man_s home.
Acts 11:13 He told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house and saying, _Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter.
Acts 11:14 He will convey to you a message by which you and all your household will be saved._
Acts 11:15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as He had come upon us at the beginning.
Acts 11:16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, as He used to say, _John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit._
Acts 11:17 So if God gave them the same gift as He gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to hinder the work of God?_
Acts 11:18 When they heard this, their objections were put to rest, and they glorified God, saying, _So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life._
Acts 11:19 Meanwhile, those scattered by the persecution that began with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message only to Jews.
Acts 11:20 But some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks as well, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus.
Acts 11:21 The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
Acts 11:22 When news of this reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
Acts 11:23 When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to abide in the Lord with all their hearts.
Acts 11:24 Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.
Acts 11:25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
Acts 11:26 and when he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. So for a full year they met together with the church and taught large numbers of people. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.
Acts 11:27 In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
Acts 11:28 One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted through the Spirit that a great famine would sweep across the entire Roman world. (This happened under Claudius.)
Acts 11:29 So the disciples, each according to his ability, decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.
Acts 11:30 This they did, sending their gifts to the elders with Barnabas and Saul.
Acts 12:1 About that time, King Herod reached out to inflict harm on some who belonged to the church.
Acts 12:2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.
Acts 12:3 Seeing that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Acts 12:4 He arrested him and put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out to the people after the Passover.
Acts 12:5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him.
Acts 12:6 On the night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, with sentries standing guard at the entrance to the prison.
Acts 12:7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, _Get up quickly._ And the chains fell off his wrists.
Acts 12:8 _Get dressed and put on your sandals,_ said the angel. Peter did so, and the angel told him, _Wrap your cloak around you and follow me._
Acts 12:9 So Peter followed him out, but he was unaware that what the angel was doing was real. He only thought he was seeing a vision.
Acts 12:10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city, which opened for them by itself. When they had gone outside and walked the length of one block, the angel suddenly left him.
Acts 12:11 Then Peter came to himself and said, _Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod_s grasp and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating._
Acts 12:12 And when he had realized this, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people were gathered together praying.
Acts 12:13 He knocked at the outer gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer it.
Acts 12:14 When she recognized Peter_s voice, she was so overjoyed that she forgot to open the gate, but ran inside and announced, _Peter is standing at the gate!_
Acts 12:15 _You are out of your mind,_ they told her. But when she kept insisting it was so, they said, _It is his angel._
Acts 12:16 But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door, they saw him and were amazed.
Acts 12:17 Peter motioned with his hand for silence, and he described how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. _Send word to James and to the brothers,_ he said, and he left for another place.
Acts 12:18 At daybreak there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter.
Acts 12:19 After Herod had searched for him unsuccessfully, he examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent some time there.
Acts 12:20 Now Herod had become infuriated with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they convened before him. Having secured the support of Blastus, the king_s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their region depended on the king_s country for food.
Acts 12:21 On the appointed day, Herod donned his royal robes, sat on his throne, and addressed the people.
Acts 12:22 And they began to shout, _This is the voice of a god, not a man!_
Acts 12:23 Immediately, because Herod did not give glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.
Acts 12:24 But the word of God continued to spread and multiply.
Acts 12:25 When Barnabas and Saul had fulfilled their mission to Jerusalem, they returned, bringing with them John, also called Mark.
Acts 13:1 In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (a childhood companion of Herod the tetrarch), and Saul.
Acts 13:2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, _Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them._
Acts 13:3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
Acts 13:4 Then Barnabas and Saul, sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.
Acts 13:5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. And John was with them as their helper.
Acts 13:6 They traveled through the whole island as far as Paphos, where they found a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus,
Acts 13:7 an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, a man of intelligence, summoned Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.
Acts 13:8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.
Acts 13:9 Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked directly at Elymas
Acts 13:10 and said, _O child of the devil and enemy of all righteousness! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the straight ways of the Lord?
Acts 13:11 Now look, the hand of the Lord is against you, and for a time you will be blind and unable to see the light of the sun._ Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.
Acts 13:12 When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.
Acts 13:13 After setting sail from Paphos, Paul and his companions came to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.
Acts 13:14 And from Perga, they traveled inland to Pisidian Antioch, where they entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and sat down.
Acts 13:15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders sent word to them: _Brothers, if you have a word of encouragement for the people, please speak._
Acts 13:16 Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and began to speak: _Men of Israel and you Gentiles who fear God, listen to me!
Acts 13:17 The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers. He made them into a great people during their stay in Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out of that land.
Acts 13:18 He endured their conduct for about forty years in the wilderness.
Acts 13:19 And having vanquished seven nations in Canaan, He gave their land to His people as an inheritance.
Acts 13:20 All this took about four hundred fifty years. After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet.
Acts 13:21 Then the people asked for a king, and God gave them forty years under Saul son of Kish, from the tribe of Benjamin.
Acts 13:22 After removing Saul, He raised up David as their king and testified about him: _I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will carry out My will in its entirety._
Acts 13:23 From the descendants of this man, God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as He promised.
Acts 13:24 Before the arrival of Jesus, John preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
Acts 13:25 As John was completing his course, he said, _Who do you suppose I am? I am not that One. But He is coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie._
Acts 13:26 Brothers, children of Abraham, and you Gentiles who fear God, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.
Acts 13:27 The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning Him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath.
Acts 13:28 And though they found no ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have Him executed.
Acts 13:29 When they had carried out all that was written about Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.
Acts 13:30 But God raised Him from the dead,
Acts 13:31 and for many days He appeared to those who had accompanied Him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now His witnesses to our people.
Acts 13:32 And now we proclaim to you the good news: What God promised our fathers
Acts 13:33 He has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: _You are My Son, today I have become Your Father._
Acts 13:34 In fact, God raised Him from the dead never to see decay. As He has said: _I will give you the holy and sure blessings I promised to David._
Acts 13:35 So also, He says in another Psalm: _You will not let your Holy One see decay._
Acts 13:36 For when David had served God_s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep. His body was buried with his fathers and saw decay.
Acts 13:37 But the One whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.
Acts 13:38 Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.
Acts 13:39 Through Him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the Law of Moses.
Acts 13:40 Watch out, then, that what was spoken by the prophets does not happen to you:
Acts 13:41 _Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish; for I am doing a work in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.__
Acts 13:42 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people urged them to continue this message on the next Sabbath.
Acts 13:43 After the synagogue was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.
Acts 13:44 On the following Sabbath, nearly the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.
Acts 13:45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and they blasphemously contradicted what Paul was saying.
Acts 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: _It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.
Acts 13:47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: _I have made you a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.__
Acts 13:48 When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord, and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
Acts 13:49 And the word of the Lord spread throughout that region.
Acts 13:50 The Jews, however, incited the religious women of prominence and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their district.
Acts 13:51 So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.
Acts 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 14:1 At Iconium, Paul and Barnabas entered the Jewish synagogue as usual, and they spoke so well that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed.
Acts 14:2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.
Acts 14:3 So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who affirmed the message of His grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.
Acts 14:4 The people of the city were divided. Some sided with the Jews, and others with the apostles.
Acts 14:5 But when the Gentiles and Jews, together with their rulers, set out to mistreat and stone them,
Acts 14:6 they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe, and to the surrounding region,
Acts 14:7 where they continued to preach the gospel.
Acts 14:8 In Lystra sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked.
Acts 14:9 This man was listening to the words of Paul, who looked intently at him and saw that he had faith to be healed.
Acts 14:10 In a loud voice Paul called out, _Stand up on your feet!_ And the man jumped up and began to walk.
Acts 14:11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices in the Lycaonian language: _The gods have come down to us in human form!_
Acts 14:12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
Acts 14:13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates, hoping to offer a sacrifice along with the crowds.
Acts 14:14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul found out about this, they tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd, shouting,
Acts 14:15 _Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.
Acts 14:16 In past generations, He let all nations go their own way.
Acts 14:17 Yet He has not left Himself without testimony to His goodness: He gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness._
Acts 14:18 Even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could hardly stop the crowds from sacrificing to them.
Acts 14:19 Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, presuming he was dead.
Acts 14:20 But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. And the next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.
Acts 14:21 They preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,
Acts 14:22 strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. _We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,_ they said.
Acts 14:23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, praying and fasting as they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed.
Acts 14:24 After passing through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.
Acts 14:25 And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.
Acts 14:26 From Attalia they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had just completed.
Acts 14:27 When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
Acts 14:28 And they spent a long time there with the disciples.
Acts 15:1 Then 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._
Acts 15:2 So Paul and Barnabas engaged these men in sharp debate. The two of them were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
Acts 15:3 Sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers.
Acts 15:4 On their arrival in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and apostles and elders, to whom they reported all that God had done through them.
Acts 15:5 But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and declared, _The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the Law of Moses._
Acts 15:6 So the apostles and elders met to look into this matter.
Acts 15:7 After much discussion, Peter got up and said to them, _Brothers, you know that in the early days, God made a choice among you that the Gentiles would hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.
Acts 15:8 And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us.
Acts 15:9 He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts by faith.
Acts 15:10 Now then, why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?
Acts 15:11 On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are._
Acts 15:12 The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
Acts 15:13 When they had finished speaking, James declared, _Brothers, listen to me!
Acts 15:14 Simon has told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own.
Acts 15:15 The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:
Acts 15:16 _After this I will return and rebuild David_s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it,
Acts 15:17 so that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear My name, says the Lord who does these things
Acts 15:18 that have been known for ages._
Acts 15:19 It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not cause trouble for the Gentiles who are turning to God.
Acts 15:20 Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood.
Acts 15:21 For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath._
Acts 15:22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers,
Acts 15:23 and sent them with this letter: _The apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.
Acts 15:24 It has come to our attention that some went out from us without our authorization and unsettled your minds by what they said.
Acts 15:25 So we all agreed to choose men to send you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
Acts 15:26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 15:27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to tell you in person the same things we are writing you.
Acts 15:28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements:
Acts 15:29 You must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell._
Acts 15:30 So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they assembled the congregation and delivered the letter.
Acts 15:31 When the people read it, they rejoiced at its encouraging message.
Acts 15:32 Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers.
Acts 15:33 After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers in peace to return to those who had sent them.
Acts 15:34
Acts 15:35 But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, along with many others, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord.
Acts 15:36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, _Let us go back and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing._
Acts 15:37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark.
Acts 15:38 But Paul thought it best not to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work.
Acts 15:39 Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,
Acts 15:40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
Acts 15:41 And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Acts 16:1 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where he found a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman and a Greek father.
Acts 16:2 The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.
Acts 16:3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, so he took him and circumcised him on account of the Jews in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
Acts 16:4 As they went from town to town, they delivered the decisions handed down by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.
Acts 16:5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
Acts 16:6 After the Holy Spirit prevented them from speaking the word in the province of Asia, they traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia.
Acts 16:7 And when they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit them.
Acts 16:8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.
Acts 16:9 During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and pleading with him, _Come over to Macedonia and help us._
Acts 16:10 As soon as Paul had seen the vision, we got ready to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Acts 16:11 We sailed from Troas straight to Samothrace, and on the following day on to Neapolis.
Acts 16:12 From there, we went to the Roman colony of Philippi, the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.
Acts 16:13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river, where it was customary to find a place of prayer. After sitting down, we spoke to the women who had gathered there.
Acts 16:14 Among those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul_s message.
Acts 16:15 And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, _If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house._ And she persuaded us.
Acts 16:16 One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of clairvoyance, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling.
Acts 16:17 This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, _These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation._
Acts 16:18 She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, _In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!_ And the spirit left her at that very moment.
Acts 16:19 When the girl_s owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the marketplace.
Acts 16:20 They brought them to the magistrates and said, _These men are Jews and are throwing our city into turmoil
Acts 16:21 by promoting customs that are unlawful for us Romans to adopt or practice._
Acts 16:22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered that they be stripped and beaten with rods.
Acts 16:23 And after striking them with many blows, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to guard them securely.
Acts 16:24 On receiving this order, he placed them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
Acts 16:25 About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
Acts 16:26 Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open, and everyone_s chains came loose.
Acts 16:27 When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, presuming that the prisoners had escaped.
Acts 16:28 But Paul called out in a loud voice, _Do not harm yourself! We are all here!_
Acts 16:29 Calling for lights, the jailer rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.
Acts 16:30 Then he brought them out and asked, _Sirs, what must I do to be saved?_
Acts 16:31 They replied, _Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household._
Acts 16:32 Then Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house.
Acts 16:33 At that hour of the night, the jailer took them and washed their wounds. And without delay, he and all his household were baptized.
Acts 16:34 Then he brought them into his home and set a meal before them. So he and all his household rejoiced that they had come to believe in God.
Acts 16:35 When daylight came, the magistrates sent their officers with the order: _Release those men._
Acts 16:36 The jailer informed Paul: _The magistrates have sent orders to release you. Now you may go on your way in peace._
Acts 16:37 But Paul said to the officers, _They beat us publicly without a trial and threw us into prison, even though we are Roman citizens. And now do they want to send us away secretly? Absolutely not! Let them come themselves and escort us out!_
Acts 16:38 So the officers relayed this message to the magistrates, who were alarmed to hear that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.
Acts 16:39 They came to appease them and led them out, requesting that they leave the city.
Acts 16:40 After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia_s house to see the brothers and encourage them. Then they left the city.
Acts 17:1 When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.
Acts 17:2 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
Acts 17:3 explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. _This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,_ he declared.
Acts 17:4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few leading women.
Acts 17:5 The Jews, however, became jealous. So they brought in some troublemakers from the marketplace, formed a mob, and sent the city into an uproar. They raided Jason_s house in search of Paul and Silas, hoping to bring them out to the people.
Acts 17:6 But when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting, _These men who have turned the world upside down have now come here,
Acts 17:7 and Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all defying Caesar_s decrees, saying there is another king, named Jesus!_
Acts 17:8 On hearing this, the crowd and city officials were greatly disturbed.
Acts 17:9 And after they had collected bond from Jason and the others, they released them.
Acts 17:10 As soon as night had fallen, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went into the Jewish synagogue.
Acts 17:11 Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.
Acts 17:12 As a result, many of them believed, along with quite a few prominent Greek women and men.
Acts 17:13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that Paul was also proclaiming the word of God in Berea, they went there themselves to incite and agitate the crowds.
Acts 17:14 The brothers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy remained in Berea.
Acts 17:15 Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then returned with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.
Acts 17:16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply disturbed in his spirit to see that the city was full of idols.
Acts 17:17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace with those he met each day.
Acts 17:18 Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also began to debate with him. Some of them asked, _What is this babbler trying to say?_ while others said, _He seems to be advocating foreign gods._ They said this because Paul was proclaiming the good news of Jesus and the resurrection.
Acts 17:19 So they took Paul and brought him to the Areopagus, where they asked him, _May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?
Acts 17:20 For you are bringing some strange notions to our ears, and we want to know what they mean._
Acts 17:21 Now all the Athenians and foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing more than hearing and articulating new ideas.
Acts 17:22 Then Paul stood up before the Areopagus and said, _Men of Athens, I see that in every way you are very religious.
Acts 17:23 For as I walked around and examined your objects of worship, I even found an altar with the inscription: To an unknown God. Therefore what you worship as something unknown, I now proclaim to you.
Acts 17:24 The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands.
Acts 17:25 Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.
Acts 17:26 From one man He made every nation of men, to inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands.
Acts 17:27 God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.
Acts 17:28 _For in Him we live and move and have our being._ As some of your own poets have said, _We are His offspring._
Acts 17:29 Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man_s skill and imagination.
Acts 17:30 Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all men everywhere to repent.
Acts 17:31 For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising Him from the dead._
Acts 17:32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some began to mock him, but others said, _We want to hear you again on this topic._
Acts 17:33 At that, Paul left the Areopagus.
Acts 17:34 But some people joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others who were with them.
Acts 18:1 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
Acts 18:2 There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to visit them,
Acts 18:3 and he stayed and worked with them because they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was.
Acts 18:4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks alike.
Acts 18:5 And when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself fully to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.
Acts 18:6 But when they opposed and insulted him, he shook out his garments and told them, _Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles._
Acts 18:7 So Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God.
Acts 18:8 Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his whole household believed in the Lord. And many of the Corinthians who heard the message believed and were baptized.
Acts 18:9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: _Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent.
Acts 18:10 For I am with you and no one will lay a hand on you, because I have many people in this city._
Acts 18:11 So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching the word of God among the Corinthians.
Acts 18:12 While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews coordinated an attack on Paul and brought him before the judgment seat.
Acts 18:13 _This man is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the Law,_ they said.
Acts 18:14 But just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio told the Jews, _If this matter involved a wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to hear your complaint.
Acts 18:15 But since it is a dispute about words and names and your own law, settle it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of such things._
Acts 18:16 And he drove them away from the judgment seat.
Acts 18:17 At this, the crowd seized Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the judgment seat. But none of this was of any concern to Gallio.
Acts 18:18 Paul remained in Corinth for quite some time before saying goodbye to the brothers. He had his head shaved in Cenchrea to keep a vow he had made, and then he sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.
Acts 18:19 When they reached Ephesus, Paul parted ways with Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue there and reasoned with the Jews.
Acts 18:20 When they asked him to stay for a while longer, he declined.
Acts 18:21 But as he left, he said, _I will come back to you again if God is willing._ And he set sail from Ephesus.
Acts 18:22 When Paul had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church at Jerusalem. Then he went down to Antioch.
Acts 18:23 After Paul had spent some time in Antioch, he traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
Acts 18:24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, well versed in the Scriptures.
Acts 18:25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord and was fervent in spirit. He spoke and taught accurately about Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.
Acts 18:26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him in and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
Acts 18:27 When Apollos resolved to cross over to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On his arrival, he greatly aided those who by grace had believed.
Acts 18:28 For he powerfully refuted the Jews in public debate, proving by the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.
Acts 19:1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the interior and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples
Acts 19:2 and asked them, _Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?_ _No,_ they answered, _we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit._
Acts 19:3 _Into what, then, were you baptized?_ Paul asked. _The baptism of John,_ they replied.
Acts 19:4 Paul explained: _John_s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the One coming after him, that is, in Jesus._
Acts 19:5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Acts 19:6 And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
Acts 19:7 There were about twelve men in all.
Acts 19:8 Then Paul went into the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.
Acts 19:9 But when some of them stubbornly refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way, Paul took his disciples and left the synagogue to conduct daily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.
Acts 19:10 This continued for two years, so that everyone who lived in the province of Asia, Jews and Greeks alike, heard the word of the Lord.
Acts 19:11 God did extraordinary miracles through the hands of Paul,
Acts 19:12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and the diseases and evil spirits left them.
Acts 19:13 Now there were some itinerant Jewish exorcists who tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those with evil spirits. They would say, _I bind you by Jesus, whom Paul proclaims._
Acts 19:14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.
Acts 19:15 Eventually, one of the evil spirits answered them, _Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but you, who are you?_
Acts 19:16 Then the man with the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. The attack was so violent that they ran out of the house, naked and wounded.
Acts 19:17 This became known to all the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, and fear came over all of them. So the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.
Acts 19:18 Many who had believed now came forward, confessing and disclosing their deeds.
Acts 19:19 And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books and burned them in front of everyone. When the value of the books was calculated, it came to fifty thousand drachmas.
Acts 19:20 So the word of the Lord powerfully continued to spread and prevail.
Acts 19:21 After these things had happened, Paul purposed in spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia. _After I have been there,_ he said, _I must see Rome as well._
Acts 19:22 He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed for a time in the province of Asia.
Acts 19:23 About that time a great disturbance arose about the Way.
Acts 19:24 It began with a silversmith named Demetrius, who had brought much business to the craftsmen making silver shrines of Artemis.
Acts 19:25 Demetrius assembled the craftsmen, along with the workmen in related trades. _Men,_ he said, _you know that this business is our source of prosperity.
Acts 19:26 And as you see and hear, not only in Ephesus, but in nearly the whole province of Asia, Paul has persuaded a great number of people to turn away. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all.
Acts 19:27 There is danger not only that our business will fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited and her majesty deposed_she who is worshiped by all the province of Asia and the whole world._
Acts 19:28 When the men heard this, they were enraged and began shouting, _Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!_
Acts 19:29 Soon the whole city was in disarray. They rushed together into the theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul_s traveling companions from Macedonia.
Acts 19:30 Paul wanted to go before the assembly, but the disciples would not allow him.
Acts 19:31 Even some of Paul_s friends who were officials of the province of Asia sent word to him, begging him not to venture into the theatre.
Acts 19:32 Meanwhile the assembly was in turmoil. Some were shouting one thing and some another, and most of them did not even know why they were there.
Acts 19:33 The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander forward to explain himself, and he motioned for silence so he could make his defense to the people.
Acts 19:34 But when they realized that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: _Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!_
Acts 19:35 Finally the city clerk quieted the crowd and declared, _Men of Ephesus, doesn_t everyone know that the city of Ephesus is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven?
Acts 19:36 Since these things are undeniable, you ought to be calm and not do anything rash.
Acts 19:37 For you have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed our temple nor blasphemed our goddess.
Acts 19:38 So if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open and proconsuls are available. Let them bring charges against one another there.
Acts 19:39 But if you are seeking anything beyond this, it must be settled in a legal assembly.
Acts 19:40 For we are in jeopardy of being charged with rioting for today_s events, and we have no justification to account for this commotion._
Acts 19:41 After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.
Acts 20:1 When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples. After he had encouraged them, he said goodbye to them and left for Macedonia.
Acts 20:2 After traveling through that area and speaking many words of encouragement, he arrived in Greece,
Acts 20:3 where he stayed three months. And when the Jews formed a plot against him as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia.
Acts 20:4 Paul was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia.
Acts 20:5 These men went on ahead and waited for us in Troas.
Acts 20:6 And after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, we sailed from Philippi, and five days later we rejoined them in Troas, where we stayed seven days.
Acts 20:7 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Since Paul was ready to leave the next day, he talked to them and kept on speaking until midnight.
Acts 20:8 Now there were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered.
Acts 20:9 And a certain young man named Eutychus, seated by the window, was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell from the third story and was picked up dead.
Acts 20:10 But Paul went down, threw himself on the young man, and embraced him. _Do not be alarmed!_ he said, _He is still alive!_
Acts 20:11 Then Paul went back upstairs, broke bread, and ate. After speaking until daybreak, he departed.
Acts 20:12 And the people were greatly relieved to take the boy home alive.
Acts 20:13 We went on ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, where we were to take Paul aboard. He had arranged this because he was going there on foot.
Acts 20:14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene.
Acts 20:15 Sailing on from there, we arrived the next day opposite Chios. The day after that we arrived at Samos, and on the following day we came to Miletus.
Acts 20:16 Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, because he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.
Acts 20:17 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.
Acts 20:18 When they came to him, he said, _You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I arrived in the province of Asia.
Acts 20:19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, and in the trials I faced through the plots of the Jews.
Acts 20:20 I did not shrink back from declaring anything that was helpful to you as I taught you publicly and from house to house,
Acts 20:21 testifying to Jews and Greeks alike about repentance to God and faith in our Lord Jesus.
Acts 20:22 And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.
Acts 20:23 I only know that in town after town the Holy Spirit warns me that chains and afflictions await me.
Acts 20:24 But I consider my life of no value to myself, if only I may finish my course and complete the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus_the ministry of testifying to the good news of God_s grace.
Acts 20:25 Now I know that none of you among whom I have preached the kingdom will see my face again.
Acts 20:26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
Acts 20:27 For I did not shrink back from declaring to you the whole will of God.
Acts 20:28 Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.
Acts 20:29 I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.
Acts 20:30 Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them.
Acts 20:31 Therefore be alert and remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
Acts 20:32 And now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified.
Acts 20:33 I have not coveted anyone_s silver or gold or clothing.
Acts 20:34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have ministered to my own needs and those of my companions.
Acts 20:35 In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: _It is more blessed to give than to receive.__
Acts 20:36 When Paul had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.
Acts 20:37 They all wept openly as they embraced Paul and kissed him.
Acts 20:38 They were especially grieved by his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.
Acts 21:1 After we had torn ourselves away from them, we sailed directly to Cos, and the next day on to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.
Acts 21:2 Finding a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we boarded it and set sail.
Acts 21:3 After sighting Cyprus and passing south of it, we sailed on to Syria and landed at Tyre, where the ship was to unload its cargo.
Acts 21:4 We sought out the disciples in Tyre and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they kept telling Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
Acts 21:5 But when our time there had ended, we set out on our journey. All the disciples, with their wives and children, accompanied us out of the city and knelt down on the beach to pray with us.
Acts 21:6 After we had said our farewells, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.
Acts 21:7 When we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for a day.
Acts 21:8 Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea, and we went to stay at the home of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the Seven.
Acts 21:9 He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
Acts 21:10 After we had been there several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
Acts 21:11 Coming over to us, he took Paul_s belt, bound his own feet and hands, and said, _The Holy Spirit says: _In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and hand him over to the Gentiles.__
Acts 21:12 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
Acts 21:13 Then Paul answered, _Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus._
Acts 21:14 When he would not be dissuaded, we fell silent and said, _The Lord_s will be done._
Acts 21:15 After these days, we packed up and went on to Jerusalem.
Acts 21:16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us, and they took us to stay at the home of Mnason the Cypriot, an early disciple.
Acts 21:17 When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us joyfully.
Acts 21:18 The next day, Paul went in with us to see James, and all the elders were present.
Acts 21:19 Paul greeted them and recounted one by one the things God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
Acts 21:20 When they heard this, they glorified God. Then they said to Paul, _You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the Law.
Acts 21:21 But they are under the impression that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or observe our customs.
Acts 21:22 What then should we do? They will certainly hear that you have come.
Acts 21:23 Therefore do what we advise you. There are four men with us who have taken a vow.
Acts 21:24 Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that there is no truth to these rumors about you, but that you also live in obedience to the Law.
Acts 21:25 As for the Gentile believers, we have written them our decision that they must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality._
Acts 21:26 So the next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he entered the temple to give notice of the date their purification would be complete and the offering would be made for each of them.
Acts 21:27 When the seven days were almost over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him,
Acts 21:28 crying out, _Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against our people and against our Law and against this place. Furthermore, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place._
Acts 21:29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.
Acts 21:30 The whole city was stirred up, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut.
Acts 21:31 While they were trying to kill him, the commander of the Roman regiment received a report that all Jerusalem was in turmoil.
Acts 21:32 Immediately he took some soldiers and centurions and ran down to the crowd. When the people saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.
Acts 21:33 The commander came up and arrested Paul, ordering that he be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done.
Acts 21:34 Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, and some another. And since the commander could not determine the facts because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks.
Acts 21:35 When Paul reached the steps, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob.
Acts 21:36 For the crowd that followed him kept shouting, _Away with him!_
Acts 21:37 As they were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, _May I say something to you?_ _Do you speak Greek?_ he replied.
Acts 21:38 _Aren_t you the Egyptian who incited a rebellion some time ago and led four thousand members of the _Assassins_ into the wilderness?_
Acts 21:39 But Paul answered, _I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Now I beg you to allow me to speak to the people._
Acts 21:40 Having received permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. A great hush came over the crowd, and he addressed them in Aramaic:
Acts 22:1 _Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you._
Acts 22:2 When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became even more silent. Then Paul declared,
Acts 22:3 _I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the Law of our Fathers. I am just as zealous for God as any of you here today.
Acts 22:4 I persecuted this Way even to the death, detaining both men and women and throwing them into prison,
Acts 22:5 as the high priest and the whole Council can testify about me. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and I was on my way to apprehend these people and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished.
Acts 22:6 About noon as I was approaching Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.
Acts 22:7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, _Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?_
Acts 22:8 _Who are You, Lord?_ I asked. _I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,_ He replied.
Acts 22:9 My companions saw the light, but they could not understand the voice of the One speaking to me.
Acts 22:10 Then I asked, _What shall I do, Lord?_ _Get up and go into Damascus,_ He told me. _There you will be told all that you have been appointed to do._
Acts 22:11 Because the brilliance of the light had blinded me, my companions led me by the hand into Damascus.
Acts 22:12 There a man named Ananias, a devout observer of the Law who was highly regarded by all the Jews living there,
Acts 22:13 came and stood beside me. _Brother Saul,_ he said, _receive your sight._ And at that moment I could see him.
Acts 22:14 Then he said, _The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear His voice.
Acts 22:15 You will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.
Acts 22:16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name._
Acts 22:17 Later, when I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance,
Acts 22:18 and saw the Lord saying to me, _Hurry! Leave Jerusalem quickly, because the people here will not accept your testimony about Me._
Acts 22:19 _Lord,_ I answered, _they know very well that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in You.
Acts 22:20 And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and watching over the garments of those who killed him._
Acts 22:21 Then He said to me, _Go! I will send you far away to the Gentiles.__
Acts 22:22 The crowd listened to Paul until he made this statement. Then they lifted up their voices and shouted, _Rid the earth of him! He is not fit to live!_
Acts 22:23 As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and tossing dust into the air,
Acts 22:24 the commander ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks. He directed that Paul be flogged and interrogated to determine the reason for this outcry against him.
Acts 22:25 But as they stretched him out to strap him down, Paul said to the centurion standing there, _Is it lawful for you to flog a Roman citizen without a trial?_
Acts 22:26 On hearing this, the centurion went and reported it to the commander. _What are you going to do?_ he said. _This man is a Roman citizen._
Acts 22:27 The commander went to Paul and asked, _Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?_ _Yes,_ he answered.
Acts 22:28 _I paid a high price for my citizenship,_ said the commander. _But I was born a citizen,_ Paul replied.
Acts 22:29 Then those who were about to interrogate Paul stepped back, and the commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put a Roman citizen in chains.
Acts 22:30 The next day the commander, wanting to learn the real reason Paul was accused by the Jews, released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul down and had him stand before them.
Acts 23:1 Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, _Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day._
Acts 23:2 At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.
Acts 23:3 Then Paul said to him, _God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit here to judge me according to the Law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck._
Acts 23:4 But those standing nearby said, _How dare you insult the high priest of God!_
Acts 23:5 _Brothers,_ Paul replied, _I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: _Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.__
Acts 23:6 Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, _Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial._
Acts 23:7 As soon as he had said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
Acts 23:8 For the Sadducees say there is neither a resurrection, nor angels, nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.
Acts 23:9 A great clamor arose, and some scribes from the party of the Pharisees got up and contended sharply, _We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?_
Acts 23:10 The dispute grew so violent that the commander was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down and remove him by force and bring him into the barracks.
Acts 23:11 The following night the Lord stood by Paul and said, _Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome._
Acts 23:12 When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
Acts 23:13 More than forty of them were involved in this plot.
Acts 23:14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, _We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.
Acts 23:15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him down to you on the pretext of examining his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him on the way._
Acts 23:16 But when the son of Paul_s sister heard about the ambush, he went into the barracks and told Paul.
Acts 23:17 Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, _Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him._
Acts 23:18 So the centurion took him to the commander and said, _Paul the prisoner sent and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you._
Acts 23:19 The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside, and asked, _What do you need to tell me?_
Acts 23:20 He answered, _The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin tomorrow, on the pretext of acquiring more information about him.
Acts 23:21 Do not let them persuade you, because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; they are ready now, awaiting your consent._
Acts 23:22 So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, _Do not tell anyone that you have reported this to me._
Acts 23:23 Then he called two of his centurions and said, _Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea in the third hour of the night.
Acts 23:24 Provide mounts for Paul to take him safely to Governor Felix._
Acts 23:25 And he wrote the following letter:
Acts 23:26 _Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.
Acts 23:27 This man was seized by the Jews, and they were about to kill him when I came with my troops to rescue him. For I had learned that he is a Roman citizen,
Acts 23:28 and since I wanted to understand their charges against him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin.
Acts 23:29 I found that the accusation involved questions about their own Law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.
Acts 23:30 When I was informed that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also instructed his accusers to present their case against him before you._
Acts 23:31 So the soldiers followed their orders and brought Paul by night to Antipatris.
Acts 23:32 The next day they returned to the barracks and let the horsemen go on with him.
Acts 23:33 When the horsemen arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and presented Paul to him.
Acts 23:34 The governor read the letter and asked what province Paul was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,
Acts 23:35 he said, _I will hear your case when your accusers arrive._ Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod_s Praetorium.
Acts 24:1 Five days later, the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, who presented to the governor their case against Paul.
Acts 24:2 When Paul had been called in, Tertullus opened the prosecution: _Because of you, we have enjoyed a lasting peace, and your foresight has brought improvements to this nation.
Acts 24:3 In every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with all gratitude.
Acts 24:4 But in order not to burden you any further, I beg your indulgence to hear us briefly.
Acts 24:5 We have found this man to be a nuisance, stirring up dissension among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,
Acts 24:6 and he even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him.
Acts 24:7
Acts 24:8 By examining him yourself, you will be able to learn the truth about all our charges against him._
Acts 24:9 The Jews concurred, asserting that these charges were true.
Acts 24:10 When the governor motioned for Paul to speak, he began his response: _Knowing that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I gladly make my defense.
Acts 24:11 You can verify for yourself that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship.
Acts 24:12 Yet my accusers did not find me debating with anyone in the temple or riling up a crowd in the synagogues or in the city.
Acts 24:13 Nor can they prove to you any of their charges against me.
Acts 24:14 I do confess to you, however, that I worship the God of our fathers according to the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets,
Acts 24:15 and I have the same hope in God that they themselves cherish, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
Acts 24:16 In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man.
Acts 24:17 After several years, then, I returned to Jerusalem to bring alms to my people and to present offerings.
Acts 24:18 At the time they found me in the temple, I was ceremonially clean and was not inciting a crowd or an uproar. But there are some Jews from the province of Asia
Acts 24:19 who ought to appear before you and bring charges, if they have anything against me.
Acts 24:20 Otherwise, let these men state for themselves any crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin,
Acts 24:21 unless it was this one thing I called out as I stood in their presence: _It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.__
Acts 24:22 Then Felix, who was well informed about the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, _When Lysias the commander comes, I will decide your case._
Acts 24:23 He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard, but to allow him some freedom and permit his friends to minister to his needs.
Acts 24:24 After several days, Felix returned with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.
Acts 24:25 As Paul expounded on righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, _You may go for now. When I find the time, I will call for you._
Acts 24:26 At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe. So he sent for Paul frequently and talked with him.
Acts 24:27 After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.
Acts 25:1 Three days after his arrival in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem,
Acts 25:2 where the chief priests and Jewish leaders presented their case against Paul. They urged Festus
Acts 25:3 to grant them a concession against Paul by summoning him to Jerusalem, because they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.
Acts 25:4 But Festus replied, _Paul is being held in Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon.
Acts 25:5 So if this man has done anything wrong, let some of your leaders come down with me and accuse him there._
Acts 25:6 After spending no more than eight or ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he sat on the judgment seat and ordered that Paul be brought in.
Acts 25:7 When Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges that they could not prove.
Acts 25:8 Then Paul made his defense: _I have committed no offense against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar._
Acts 25:9 But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, _Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to stand trial before me on these charges?_
Acts 25:10 Paul replied, _I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where I ought to be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well.
Acts 25:11 If, however, I am guilty of anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is no truth to their accusations against me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!_
Acts 25:12 Then Festus conferred with his council and replied, _You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!_
Acts 25:13 After several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.
Acts 25:14 Since they were staying several days, Festus laid out Paul_s case before the king: _There is a certain man whom Felix left in prison.
Acts 25:15 While I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews presented their case and requested a judgment against him.
Acts 25:16 I told them it was not the Roman custom to hand a man over before he has an opportunity to face his accusers and defend himself against their charges.
Acts 25:17 So when they came here with me, I did not delay. The next day I sat on the judgment seat and ordered that the man be brought in.
Acts 25:18 But when his accusers rose to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected.
Acts 25:19 They only had some contentions with him regarding their own religion and a certain Jesus who had died, but whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
Acts 25:20 Since I was at a loss as to how to investigate these matters, I asked if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges.
Acts 25:21 But when Paul appealed to be held over for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar._
Acts 25:22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, _I would like to hear this man myself._ _Tomorrow you will hear him,_ Festus declared.
Acts 25:23 The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the auditorium, along with the commanders and leading men of the city. And Festus ordered that Paul be brought in.
Acts 25:24 Then Festus said, _King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man. The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him, both here and in Jerusalem, crying out that he ought not to live any longer.
Acts 25:25 But I found he had done nothing worthy of death, and since he has now appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.
Acts 25:26 I have nothing definite to write to our sovereign one about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this inquiry I may have something to write.
Acts 25:27 For it seems unreasonable to me to send on a prisoner without specifying the charges against him._
Acts 26:1 Agrippa said to Paul, _You have permission to speak for yourself._ Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense:
Acts 26:2 _King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today to defend myself against all the accusations of the Jews,
Acts 26:3 especially since you are acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. I beg you, therefore, to listen to me patiently.
Acts 26:4 Surely all the Jews know how I have lived from the earliest days of my youth, among my own people and in Jerusalem.
Acts 26:5 They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I lived as a Pharisee, adhering to the strictest sect of our religion.
Acts 26:6 And now I stand on trial because of my hope in the promise that God made to our fathers,
Acts 26:7 the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to realize as they earnestly serve God day and night. It is because of this hope, O king, that I am accused by the Jews.
Acts 26:8 Why would any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
Acts 26:9 So then, I too was convinced that I ought to do all I could to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
Acts 26:10 And that is what I did in Jerusalem. With authority from the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were condemned to death, I cast my vote against them.
Acts 26:11 I frequently had them punished in the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme. In my raging fury against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.
Acts 26:12 In this pursuit, I was on my way to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.
Acts 26:13 About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my companions.
Acts 26:14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice say to me in Aramaic, _Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads._
Acts 26:15 _Who are You, Lord?_ I asked. _I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,_ the Lord replied.
Acts 26:16 _But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen from Me and what I will show you.
Acts 26:17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them
Acts 26:18 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 an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me._
Acts 26:19 So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.
Acts 26:20 First to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, then to everyone in the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I declared that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds worthy of their repentance.
Acts 26:21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me.
Acts 26:22 But I have had God_s help to this day, and I stand here to testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen:
Acts 26:23 that Christ would suffer, and as the first to rise from the dead, He would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles._
Acts 26:24 At this stage of Paul_s defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, _You are insane, Paul! Your great learning is driving you to madness!_
Acts 26:25 But Paul answered, _I am not insane, most excellent Festus; I am speaking words of truth and sobriety.
Acts 26:26 For the king knows about these matters, and I can speak freely to him. I am confident that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner.
Acts 26:27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do._
Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, _Can you persuade me in such a short time to become a Christian?_
Acts 26:29 _Short time or long,_ Paul replied, _I wish to God that not only you but all who hear me this day may become what I am, except for these chains._
Acts 26:30 Then the king and the governor rose, along with Bernice and those seated with them.
Acts 26:31 On their way out, they said to one another, _This man has done nothing worthy of death or imprisonment._
Acts 26:32 And Agrippa said to Festus, _This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar._
Acts 27:1 When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Augustan Regiment.
Acts 27:2 We boarded an Adramyttian ship about to sail for ports along the coast of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us.
Acts 27:3 The next day we landed at Sidon, and Julius treated Paul with consideration, allowing him to visit his friends and receive their care.
Acts 27:4 After putting out from there, we sailed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us.
Acts 27:5 And when we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia.
Acts 27:6 There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy, and he put us on board.
Acts 27:7 After sailing slowly for many days, we arrived off Cnidus. When the wind impeded us, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone.
Acts 27:8 After we had moved along the coast with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.
Acts 27:9 By now much time had passed, and the voyage had already become dangerous because it was after the Fast. So Paul advised them,
Acts 27:10 _Men, I can see that our voyage will be filled with disaster and great loss, not only to ship and cargo, but to our own lives as well._
Acts 27:11 But contrary to Paul_s advice, the centurion was persuaded by the pilot and the owner of the ship.
Acts 27:12 Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided to sail on, if somehow they could reach Phoenix to winter there. Phoenix was a harbor in Crete facing both southwest and northwest.
Acts 27:13 When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had their opportunity. So they weighed anchor and sailed along, hugging the coast of Crete.
Acts 27:14 But it was not long before a cyclone called the Northeaster swept down across the island.
Acts 27:15 Unable to head into the wind, the ship was caught up. So we gave way and let ourselves be driven along.
Acts 27:16 Passing to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we barely managed to secure the lifeboat.
Acts 27:17 After hoisting it up, the crew used ropes to undergird the ship. Fearing they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and were driven along.
Acts 27:18 We were tossed so violently that the next day the men began to jettison the cargo.
Acts 27:19 On the third day, they threw the ship_s tackle overboard with their own hands.
Acts 27:20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the great storm continued to batter us, we abandoned all hope of being saved.
Acts 27:21 After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up among them and said, _Men, you should have followed my advice not to sail from Crete. Then you would have averted this disaster and loss.
Acts 27:22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because you will not experience any loss of life, but only of the ship.
Acts 27:23 Just last night an angel of God, whose I am and whom I serve, stood beside me
Acts 27:24 and said, _Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And look, God has granted you the lives of all who sail with you._
Acts 27:25 So take courage, men, for I believe God that it will happen just as He told me.
Acts 27:26 However, we must run aground on some island._
Acts 27:27 On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea. About midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land.
Acts 27:28 They took soundings and found that the water was twenty fathoms deep. Going a little farther, they took another set of soundings that read fifteen fathoms.
Acts 27:29 Fearing that we would run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daybreak.
Acts 27:30 Meanwhile, the sailors attempted to escape from the ship. Pretending to lower anchors from the bow, they let the lifeboat down into the sea.
Acts 27:31 But Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, _Unless these men remain with the ship, you cannot be saved._
Acts 27:32 So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and set it adrift.
Acts 27:33 Right up to daybreak, Paul kept urging them all to eat: _Today is your fourteenth day in constant suspense, without taking any food.
Acts 27:34 So for your own preservation, I urge you to eat something, because not a single hair of your head will be lost._
Acts 27:35 After he had said this, Paul took bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat.
Acts 27:36 They were all encouraged and took some food themselves.
Acts 27:37 Altogether there were two hundred seventy-six of us on board.
Acts 27:38 After the men had eaten their fill, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.
Acts 27:39 When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they sighted a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could.
Acts 27:40 Cutting away the anchors, they left them in the sea as they loosened the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach.
Acts 27:41 But the vessel struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was being tattered by the pounding of the waves.
Acts 27:42 The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners so none of them could swim to freedom.
Acts 27:43 But the centurion, wanting to spare Paul_s life, thwarted their plan. He commanded those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land.
Acts 27:44 The rest were to follow on planks and various parts of the ship. In this way everyone was brought safely to land.
Acts 28:1 Once we were safely ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta.
Acts 28:2 The islanders showed us extraordinary kindness. They kindled a fire and welcomed all of us because it was raining and cold.
Acts 28:3 Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and as he laid them on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself to his hand.
Acts 28:4 When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, _Surely this man is a murderer. Although he was saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live._
Acts 28:5 But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.
Acts 28:6 The islanders were expecting him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
Acts 28:7 Nearby stood an estate belonging to the Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days.
Acts 28:8 The father of Publius was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, and after praying and placing his hands on him, he healed the man.
Acts 28:9 After this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured as well.
Acts 28:10 The islanders honored us in many ways and supplied our needs when we were ready to sail.
Acts 28:11 After three months we set sail in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered in the island. It had the Twin Brothers as a figurehead.
Acts 28:12 Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there three days.
Acts 28:13 From there we weighed anchor and came to Rhegium. After one day, a south wind came up, and on the second day we arrived at Puteoli.
Acts 28:14 There we found some brothers who invited us to spend the week with them. And so we came to Rome.
Acts 28:15 The brothers there had heard about us and traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and gave thanks to God.
Acts 28:16 When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him.
Acts 28:17 After three days, he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered, he said to them, _Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, I was taken prisoner in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans.
Acts 28:18 They examined me and wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me.
Acts 28:19 But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, even though I have no charge to bring against my nation.
Acts 28:20 So for this reason I have called to see you and speak with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain._
Acts 28:21 The leaders replied, _We have not received any letters about you from Judea, nor have any of the brothers from there reported or even mentioned anything bad about you.
Acts 28:22 But we consider your views worth hearing, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect._
Acts 28:23 So they set a day to meet with Paul, and many people came to the place he was staying. He expounded to them from morning to evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and persuading them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets.
Acts 28:24 Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe.
Acts 28:25 They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: _The Holy Spirit was right when He spoke to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:
Acts 28:26 _Go to this people and say, _You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving._
Acts 28:27 For this people_s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them._
Acts 28:28 Be advised, therefore, that God_s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!_
Acts 28:29
Acts 28:30 Paul stayed there two full years in his own rented house, welcoming all who came to visit him.
Acts 28:31 Boldly and freely he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, and set apart for the gospel of God,
Romans 1:2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,
Romans 1:3 regarding His Son, who was a descendant of David according to flesh,
Romans 1:4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 1:5 Through Him and on behalf of His name, we received grace and apostleship to call all those among the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.
Romans 1:6 And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being proclaimed all over the world.
Romans 1:9 God, whom I serve with my spirit in preaching the gospel of His Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you
Romans 1:10 in my prayers at all times, asking that now at last by God_s will I may succeed in coming to you.
Romans 1:11 For I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you,
Romans 1:12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other_s faith.
Romans 1:13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, how often I planned to come to you (but have been prevented from visiting until now), in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
Romans 1:14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish.
Romans 1:15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.
Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.
Romans 1:17 For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: _The righteous will live by faith._
Romans 1:18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.
Romans 1:19 For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God_s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.
Romans 1:21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts.
Romans 1:22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools,
Romans 1:23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
Romans 1:24 Therefore God gave them up in the desires of their hearts to impurity for the dishonoring of their bodies with one another.
Romans 1:25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise! Amen.
Romans 1:26 For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.
Romans 1:27 Likewise, the men abandoned natural relations with women and burned with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
Romans 1:28 Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what should not be done.
Romans 1:29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and hatred. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips,
Romans 1:30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents.
Romans 1:31 They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless.
Romans 1:32 Although they know God_s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them.
Romans 2:1 You therefore have no excuse, you who pass judgment on another. For on whatever grounds you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.
Romans 2:2 And we know that God_s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth.
Romans 2:3 So when you, O man, pass judgment on others, yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God_s judgment?
Romans 2:4 Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God_s kindness leads you to repentance?
Romans 2:5 But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God_s righteous judgment will be revealed.
Romans 2:6 God _will repay each one according to his deeds._
Romans 2:7 To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life.
Romans 2:8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow wickedness, there will be wrath and anger.
Romans 2:9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil, first for the Jew, then for the Greek;
Romans 2:10 but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good, first for the Jew, then for the Greek.
Romans 2:11 For God does not show favoritism.
Romans 2:12 All who sin apart from the Law will also perish apart from the Law, and all who sin under the Law will be judged by the Law.
Romans 2:13 For it is not the hearers of the Law who are righteous before God, but it is the doers of the Law who will be declared righteous.
Romans 2:14 Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the Law, do by nature what the Law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the Law,
Romans 2:15 since they show that the work of the Law is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts either accusing or defending them.
Romans 2:16 This will come to pass on that day when God will judge men_s secrets through Christ Jesus, as proclaimed by my gospel.
Romans 2:17 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the Law and boast in God;
Romans 2:18 if you know His will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the Law;
Romans 2:19 if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those in darkness,
Romans 2:20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and truth_
Romans 2:21 you, then, who teach others, do you do not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?
Romans 2:22 You who forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
Romans 2:23 You who boast in the Law, do you dishonor God by breaking the Law?
Romans 2:24 As it is written: _God_s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you._
Romans 2:25 Circumcision has value if you observe the Law, but if you break the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
Romans 2:26 If a man who is not circumcised keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?
Romans 2:27 The one who is physically uncircumcised yet keeps the Law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.
Romans 2:28 A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical.
Romans 2:29 No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man_s praise does not come from men, but from God.
Romans 3:1 What, then, is the advantage of being a Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?
Romans 3:2 Much in every way. First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God.
Romans 3:3 What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God_s faithfulness?
Romans 3:4 Absolutely not! Let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written: _So that You may be justified in Your words, and prevail in Your judgments._
Romans 3:5 But if our unrighteousness highlights the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unjust to inflict His wrath on us? I am speaking in human terms.
Romans 3:6 By no means! In that case, how could God judge the world?
Romans 3:7 However, if my falsehood accentuates God_s truthfulness, to the increase of His glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?
Romans 3:8 Why not say, as some slanderously claim that we say, _Let us do evil that good may result?_ Their condemnation is deserved!
Romans 3:9 What then? Are we any better? Not at all. For we have already made the charge that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin.
Romans 3:10 As it is written: _There is no one righteous, not even one;
Romans 3:11 There is no one who understands; no one who seeks God.
Romans 3:12 All have turned away; they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.
Romans 3:13 Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit; the venom of vipers is on their lips;
Romans 3:14 their mouths are full of cursing and of bitterness;
Romans 3:15 their feet are swift to shed blood;
Romans 3:16 ruin and misery lie in their wake;
Romans 3:17 and the way of peace they have not known;
Romans 3:18 there is no fear of God before their eyes._
Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it says to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
Romans 3:20 Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the Law. For the Law merely brings awareness of sin.
Romans 3:21 But now, apart from the Law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets.
Romans 3:22 And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction,
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 3:24 and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Romans 3:25 God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.
Romans 3:26 He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
Romans 3:27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of works? No, but on that of faith.
Romans 3:28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.
Romans 3:29 Is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,
Romans 3:30 since there is One God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.
Romans 3:31 Do we, then, nullify the Law by this faith? By no means! Instead, we uphold the Law.
Romans 4:1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, has discovered?
Romans 4:2 If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God.
Romans 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? _Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness._
Romans 4:4 Now the wages of the worker are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation.
Romans 4:5 However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness,
Romans 4:6 just as David proclaims the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
Romans 4:7 _Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered;
Romans 4:8 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him._
Romans 4:9 Is this blessing only on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham_s faith was credited as righteousness.
Romans 4:10 In what context was it credited? Was it after his circumcision, or before? It was not after, but before.
Romans 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.
Romans 4:12 And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
Romans 4:13 For the promise that Abraham would be heir of the world was not made to him and his descendants through the Law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.
Romans 4:14 For if those who live by the Law are heirs, faith is useless and the promise is worthless,
Romans 4:15 because the Law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.
Romans 4:16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham_s offspring_not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.
Romans 4:17 As it is written: _I have made you a father of many nations._ He is our father in the presence of God, in whom he believed, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist.
Romans 4:18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as he had been told, _So shall your offspring be._
Romans 4:19 Without weakening in his faith, he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) and the lifelessness of Sarah_s womb.
Romans 4:20 Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
Romans 4:21 being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised.
Romans 4:22 That is why _it was credited to him as righteousness._
Romans 4:23 Now the words _it was credited to him_ were written not only for Abraham,
Romans 4:24 but also for us, to whom righteousness will be credited_for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
Romans 4:25 He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification.
Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Romans 5:2 through whom we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
Romans 5:3 Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
Romans 5:4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Romans 5:5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.
Romans 5:6 For at just the right time, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
Romans 5:7 It is rare indeed for anyone to die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.
Romans 5:8 But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:9 Therefore, since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from wrath through Him!
Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!
Romans 5:11 Not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned.
Romans 5:13 For sin was in the world before the Law was given; but sin is not taken into account when there is no law.
Romans 5:14 Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who did not sin in the way that Adam transgressed. He is a pattern of the One to come.
Romans 5:15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God_s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many!
Romans 5:16 Again, the gift is not like the result of the one man_s sin: The judgment that followed one sin brought condemnation, but the gift that followed many trespasses brought justification.
Romans 5:17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive an abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
Romans 5:18 Therefore, just as one trespass brought condemnation for all men, so also one act of righteousness brought justification and life for all men.
Romans 5:19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
Romans 5:20 The Law was given so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more,
Romans 5:21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness, to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:1 What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase?
Romans 6:2 By no means! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer?
Romans 6:3 Or aren_t you aware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
Romans 6:4 We therefore were buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.
Romans 6:5 For if we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be raised to life as He was.
Romans 6:6 We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
Romans 6:7 For anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
Romans 6:8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him.
Romans 6:9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has dominion over Him.
Romans 6:10 The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God.
Romans 6:11 So you too must count yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Romans 6:12 Therefore do not let sin control your mortal body so that you obey its desires.
Romans 6:13 Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness.
Romans 6:14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
Romans 6:15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law, but under grace? By no means!
Romans 6:16 Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness?
Romans 6:17 But thanks be to God that, though you once were slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were committed.
Romans 6:18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
Romans 6:19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to escalating wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.
Romans 6:20 For when you were slaves to sin, you were free of obligation to righteousness.
Romans 6:21 What fruit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? The outcome of those things is death.
Romans 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 7:1 Do you not know, brothers (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives?
Romans 7:2 For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage.
Romans 7:3 So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law and is not an adulteress, even if she marries another man.
Romans 7:4 Therefore, my brothers, you also died to the Law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.
Romans 7:5 For when we lived according to the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the Law were at work in our bodies, bearing fruit for death.
Romans 7:6 But now, having died to what bound us, we have been released from the Law, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.
Romans 7:7 What then shall we say? Is the Law sin? By no means! Indeed, I would not have been mindful of sin if not for the Law. For I would not have been aware of coveting if the Law had not said, _Do not covet._
Romans 7:8 But sin, seizing its opportunity through the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from the Law, sin is dead.
Romans 7:9 Once I was alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died.
Romans 7:10 So I discovered that the very commandment that was meant to bring life actually brought death.
Romans 7:11 For sin, seizing its opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through the commandment put me to death.
Romans 7:12 So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good.
Romans 7:13 Did that which is good, then, become death to me? Certainly not! But in order that sin might be exposed as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.
Romans 7:14 We know that the Law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.
Romans 7:15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do. But what I hate, I do.
Romans 7:16 And if I do what I do not desire, I admit that the Law is good.
Romans 7:17 In that case, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
Romans 7:18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
Romans 7:19 For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do.
Romans 7:20 And if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
Romans 7:21 So this is the principle I have discovered: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.
Romans 7:22 For in my inner being I delight in God_s Law.
Romans 7:23 But I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law of my mind and holding me captive to the law of sin that dwells within me.
Romans 7:24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
Romans 7:25 Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I serve the law of God, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Romans 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:2 For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:3 For what the Law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh,
Romans 8:4 so that the righteous standard of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:5 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.
Romans 8:6 The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace,
Romans 8:7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God_s Law, nor can it do so.
Romans 8:8 Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God.
Romans 8:9 You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
Romans 8:10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet the Spirit gives you life because of righteousness.
Romans 8:11 And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who dwells within you.
Romans 8:12 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation, but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it.
Romans 8:13 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.
Romans 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Romans 8:15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, _Abba! Father!_
Romans 8:16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God_s children.
Romans 8:17 And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ_if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.
Romans 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us.
Romans 8:19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God.
Romans 8:20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope
Romans 8:21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
Romans 8:22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time.
Romans 8:23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
Romans 8:24 For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see?
Romans 8:25 But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently.
Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.
Romans 8:27 And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Romans 8:28 And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:29 For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.
Romans 8:30 And those He predestined He also called, those He called He also justified, those He justified He also glorified.
Romans 8:31 What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?
Romans 8:33 Who will bring any charge against God_s elect? It is God who justifies.
Romans 8:34 Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God_and He is interceding for us.
Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
Romans 8:36 As it is written: _For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered._
Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
Romans 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
Romans 8:39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 9:1 I speak the truth in Christ; I am not lying, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit.
Romans 9:2 I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
Romans 9:3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my own flesh and blood,
Romans 9:4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory and the covenants; theirs the giving of the Law, the temple worship, and the promises.
Romans 9:5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen.
Romans 9:6 It is not as though God_s word has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.
Romans 9:7 Nor because they are Abraham_s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, _Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned._
Romans 9:8 So it is not the children of the flesh who are God_s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as offspring.
Romans 9:9 For this is what the promise specified: _At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son._
Romans 9:10 Not only that, but Rebecca_s children were conceived by one man, our father Isaac.
Romans 9:11 Yet before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad, in order that God_s plan of election might stand,
Romans 9:12 not by works but by Him who calls, she was told, _The older will serve the younger._
Romans 9:13 So it is written: _Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated._
Romans 9:14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Absolutely not!
Romans 9:15 For He says to Moses: _I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion._
Romans 9:16 So then, it does not depend on man_s desire or effort, but on God_s mercy.
Romans 9:17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: _I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth._
Romans 9:18 Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.
Romans 9:19 One of you will say to me, _Then why does God still find fault? For who can resist His will?_
Romans 9:20 But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, _Why have you made me like this?_
Romans 9:21 Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use?
Romans 9:22 What if God, intending to show His wrath and make His power known, bore with great patience the vessels of His wrath, prepared for destruction?
Romans 9:23 What if He did this to make the riches of His glory known to the vessels of His mercy, whom He prepared in advance for glory_
Romans 9:24 including us, whom He has called not only from the Jews, but also from the Gentiles?
Romans 9:25 As He says in Hosea: _I will call them My people who are not My people, and I will call her My beloved who is not My beloved,_
Romans 9:26 and, _It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, _You are not My people,_ they will be called _sons of the living God.__
Romans 9:27 Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: _Though the number of the Israelites is like the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved.
Romans 9:28 For the Lord will carry out His sentence on the earth with thoroughness and decisiveness._
Romans 9:29 It is just as Isaiah predicted: _Unless the Lord of Hosts had left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, we would have resembled Gomorrah._
Romans 9:30 What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;
Romans 9:31 but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it.
Romans 9:32 Why not? Because their pursuit was not by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,
Romans 9:33 as it is written: _See, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame._
Romans 10:1 Brothers, my heart_s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is for their salvation.
Romans 10:2 For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge.
Romans 10:3 Because they were ignorant of God_s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God_s righteousness.
Romans 10:4 Christ is the end of the Law, in order to bring righteousness to everyone who believes.
Romans 10:5 For concerning the righteousness that is by the Law, Moses writes: _The man who does these things will live by them._
Romans 10:6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: _Do not say in your heart, _Who will ascend into heaven?_ (that is, to bring Christ down)
Romans 10:7 or, _Who will descend into the abyss?_ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead)._
Romans 10:8 But what does it say? _The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart,_ that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:
Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth, _Jesus is Lord,_ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:10 For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.
Romans 10:11 It is just as the Scripture says: _Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame._
Romans 10:12 For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on Him,
Romans 10:13 for, _Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved._
Romans 10:14 How then can they call on the One they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach?
Romans 10:15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: _How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!_
Romans 10:16 But not all of them welcomed the good news. For Isaiah says, _Lord, who has believed our message?_
Romans 10:17 Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
Romans 10:18 But I ask, did they not hear? Indeed they did: _Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world._
Romans 10:19 I ask instead: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says: _I will make you jealous by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation without understanding._
Romans 10:20 And Isaiah boldly says: _I was found by those who did not seek Me; I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me._
Romans 10:21 But as for Israel he says: _All day long I have held out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people._
Romans 11:1 I ask then, did God reject His people? Certainly not! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.
Romans 11:2 God did not reject His people, whom He foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says about Elijah, how he appealed to God against Israel:
Romans 11:3 _Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well_?
Romans 11:4 And what was the divine reply to him? _I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal._
Romans 11:5 In the same way, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.
Romans 11:6 And if it is by grace, then it is no longer by works. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace.
Romans 11:7 What then? What Israel was seeking, it failed to obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened,
Romans 11:8 as it is written: _God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see, and ears that could not hear, to this very day._
Romans 11:9 And David says: _Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution to them.
Romans 11:10 Let their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever._
Romans 11:11 I ask then, did they stumble so as to lose their share? Absolutely not! However, because of their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous.
Romans 11:12 But if their trespass means riches for the world, and their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!
Romans 11:13 I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,
Romans 11:14 in the hope that I may provoke my own people to jealousy and save some of them.
Romans 11:15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
Romans 11:16 If the first part of the dough is holy, so is the whole batch; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
Romans 11:17 Now if some branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others to share in the nourishment of the olive root,
Romans 11:18 do not boast over those branches. If you do, remember this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.
Romans 11:19 You will say then, _Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in._
Romans 11:20 That is correct: They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.
Romans 11:21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you either.
Romans 11:22 Take notice, therefore, of the kindness and severity of God: severity to those who fell, but kindness to you, if you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.
Romans 11:23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
Romans 11:24 For if you were cut from a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature were grafted into one that is cultivated, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
Romans 11:25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.
Romans 11:26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: _The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove godlessness from Jacob.
Romans 11:27 And this is My covenant with them when I take away their sins._
Romans 11:28 Regarding the gospel, they are enemies on your account; but regarding election, they are loved on account of the patriarchs.
Romans 11:29 For God_s gifts and His call are irrevocable.
Romans 11:30 Just as you who formerly disobeyed God have now received mercy through their disobedience,
Romans 11:31 so they too have now disobeyed, in order that they too may now receive mercy through the mercy shown to you.
Romans 11:32 For God has consigned all men to disobedience, so that He may have mercy on them all.
Romans 11:33 O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and untraceable His ways!
Romans 11:34 _Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?_
Romans 11:35 _Who has given so much to God, that God should repay him?_
Romans 11:36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.
Romans 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God_s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you.
Romans 12:4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function,
Romans 12:5 so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another.
Romans 12:6 We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If someone_s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith;
Romans 12:7 if it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;
Romans 12:8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is giving, let him give generously; if it is leading, let him lead with diligence; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Romans 12:9 Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.
Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
Romans 12:11 Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.
Romans 12:13 Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse.
Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but enjoy the company of the lowly. Do not be conceited.
Romans 12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody.
Romans 12:18 If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.
Romans 12:19 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God_s wrath. For it is written: _Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord._
Romans 12:20 On the contrary, _If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head._
Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 13:1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.
Romans 13:2 Consequently, the one who resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
Romans 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval.
Romans 13:4 For he is God_s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God_s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer.
Romans 13:5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to authority, not only to avoid punishment, but also as a matter of conscience.
Romans 13:6 This is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God_s servants, who devote themselves to their work.
Romans 13:7 Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
Romans 13:8 Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love, for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the Law.
Romans 13:9 The commandments _Do not commit adultery,_ _Do not murder,_ _Do not steal,_ _Do not covet,_ and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: _Love your neighbor as yourself._
Romans 13:10 Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law.
Romans 13:11 And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
Romans 13:12 The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Romans 13:13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.
Romans 13:14 Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.
Romans 14:1 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on his opinions.
Romans 14:2 For one man has faith to eat all things, while another, who is weak, eats only vegetables.
Romans 14:3 The one who eats everything must not belittle the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted him.
Romans 14:4 Who are you to judge someone else_s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
Romans 14:5 One man regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
Romans 14:6 He who observes a special day does so to the Lord; he who eats does so to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.
Romans 14:7 For none of us lives to himself alone, and none of us dies to himself alone.
Romans 14:8 If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
Romans 14:9 For this reason Christ died and returned to life, so that He might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.
Romans 14:10 Why, then, do you judge your brother? Or why do you belittle your brother? For we will all stand before God_s judgment seat.
Romans 14:11 It is written: _As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God._
Romans 14:12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Romans 14:13 Therefore let us stop judging one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother_s way.
Romans 14:14 I am convinced and fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean.
Romans 14:15 If your brother is distressed by what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother, for whom Christ died.
Romans 14:16 Do not allow what you consider good, then, to be spoken of as evil.
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Romans 14:18 For whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
Romans 14:19 So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
Romans 14:20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to let his eating be a stumbling block.
Romans 14:21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble.
Romans 14:22 Keep your belief about such matters between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.
Romans 14:23 But the one who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that is not from faith is sin.
Romans 15:1 We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
Romans 15:2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
Romans 15:3 For even Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written: _The insults of those who insult You have fallen on Me._
Romans 15:4 For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.
Romans 15:5 Now may the God of endurance and encouragement grant you harmony with one another in Christ Jesus,
Romans 15:6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 15:7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring glory to God.
Romans 15:8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God_s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs,
Romans 15:9 so that the Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy. As it is written: _Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to Your name._
Romans 15:10 Again, it says: _Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people._
Romans 15:11 And again: _Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and extol Him, all you peoples._
Romans 15:12 And once more, Isaiah says: _The root of Jesse will appear, One who will arise to rule over the Gentiles; in Him the Gentiles will put their hope._
Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:14 I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, brimming with knowledge, and able to instruct one another.
Romans 15:15 However, I have written you a bold reminder on some points, because of the grace God gave me
Romans 15:16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an acceptable offering to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:17 Therefore I exult in Christ Jesus in my service to God.
Romans 15:18 I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed,
Romans 15:19 by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.
Romans 15:20 In this way, I have aspired to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else_s foundation.
Romans 15:21 Rather, as it is written: _Those who were not told about Him will see, and those who have not heard will understand._
Romans 15:22 That is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.
Romans 15:23 But now that there are no further opportunities for me in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to visit you,
Romans 15:24 I hope to see you on my way to Spain. Then after I have enjoyed your company for a while, you can equip me for my journey.
Romans 15:25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem to serve the saints there.
Romans 15:26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.
Romans 15:27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual blessings, they are obligated to minister to them with material blessings.
Romans 15:28 So after I have completed this service and safely delivered this bounty to them, I will set off to Spain by way of you.
Romans 15:29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.
Romans 15:30 Now I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.
Romans 15:31 Pray that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there,
Romans 15:32 so that by God_s will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed.
Romans 15:33 The God of peace be with all of you. Amen.
Romans 16:1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea.
Romans 16:2 Welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her with anything she may need from you. For she has been a great help to many people, including me.
Romans 16:3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,
Romans 16:4 who have risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.
Romans 16:5 Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my beloved Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.
Romans 16:6 Greet Mary, who has worked very hard for you.
Romans 16:7 Greet Andronicus and Junias, my fellow countrymen and fellow prisoners. They are distinguished among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.
Romans 16:8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.
Romans 16:9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys.
Romans 16:10 Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.
Romans 16:11 Greet Herodion, my fellow countryman. Greet those from the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.
Romans 16:12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, women who have worked hard in the Lord. Greet my beloved Persis, who has worked very hard in the Lord.
Romans 16:13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me as well.
Romans 16:14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers with them.
Romans 16:15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the saints with them.
Romans 16:16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send you greetings.
Romans 16:17 Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them.
Romans 16:18 For such as these are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
Romans 16:19 Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice over you. But I want you to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil.
Romans 16:20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Romans 16:21 Timothy, my fellow worker, sends you greetings, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my fellow countrymen.
Romans 16:22 I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.
Romans 16:23 Gaius, who has hosted me and all the church, sends you greetings. Erastus, the city treasurer, sends you greetings, as does our brother Quartus.
Romans 16:24
Romans 16:25 Now to Him who is able to strengthen you by my gospel and by the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery concealed for ages past,
Romans 16:26 but now revealed and made known through the writings of the prophets by the command of the eternal God, in order to lead all the nations to the obedience that comes from faith_
Romans 16:27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
1 Corinthians 1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
1 Corinthians 1:2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:
1 Corinthians 1:3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:4 I always thank my God for you because of the grace He has given you in Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 1:5 For in Him you have been enriched in every way, in all speech and all knowledge,
1 Corinthians 1:6 because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.
1 Corinthians 1:7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:8 He will sustain you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:9 God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
1 Corinthians 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united in mind and conviction.
1 Corinthians 1:11 My brothers, some from Chloe_s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.
1 Corinthians 1:12 What I mean is this: Individuals among you are saying, _I follow Paul,_ _I follow Apollos,_ _I follow Cephas,_ or _I follow Christ._
1 Corinthians 1:13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?
1 Corinthians 1:14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius,
1 Corinthians 1:15 so no one can say that you were baptized into my name.
1 Corinthians 1:16 Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that I do not remember baptizing anyone else.
1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with eloquent words of wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:19 For it is written: _I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate._
1 Corinthians 1:20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
1 Corinthians 1:21 For since in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
1 Corinthians 1:22 Jews demand signs and Greeks search for wisdom,
1 Corinthians 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
1 Corinthians 1:24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
1 Corinthians 1:25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man_s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man_s strength.
1 Corinthians 1:26 Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth.
1 Corinthians 1:27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
1 Corinthians 1:28 He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are,
1 Corinthians 1:29 so that no one may boast in His presence.
1 Corinthians 1:30 It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.
1 Corinthians 1:31 Therefore, as it is written: _Let him who boasts boast in the Lord._
1 Corinthians 2:1 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.
1 Corinthians 2:2 For I decided to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
1 Corinthians 2:3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.
1 Corinthians 2:4 My message and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit_s power,
1 Corinthians 2:5 so that your faith would not rest on men_s wisdom, but on God_s power.
1 Corinthians 2:6 Among the mature, however, we speak a message of wisdom_but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
1 Corinthians 2:7 No, we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God, which He destined for our glory before time began.
1 Corinthians 2:8 None of the rulers of this age understood it. For if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
1 Corinthians 2:9 Rather, as it is written: _No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him._
1 Corinthians 2:10 But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
1 Corinthians 2:11 For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
1 Corinthians 2:12 We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
1 Corinthians 2:13 And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.
1 Corinthians 2:14 The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 2:15 The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone_s judgment.
1 Corinthians 2:16 _For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?_ But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:1 Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly_as infants in Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for solid food. In fact, you are still not ready,
1 Corinthians 3:3 for you are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and dissension among you, are you not worldly? Are you not walking in the way of man?
1 Corinthians 3:4 For when one of you says, _I follow Paul,_ and another, _I follow Apollos,_ are you not mere men?
1 Corinthians 3:5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, as the Lord has assigned to each his role.
1 Corinthians 3:6 I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.
1 Corinthians 3:7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
1 Corinthians 3:8 He who plants and he who waters are one in purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.
1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are God_s fellow workers; you are God_s field, God_s building.
1 Corinthians 3:10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise master builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds.
1 Corinthians 3:11 For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw,
1 Corinthians 3:13 his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man_s work.
1 Corinthians 3:14 If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward.
1 Corinthians 3:15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as one being snatched from the fire.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you yourselves are God_s temple, and that God_s Spirit dwells in you?
1 Corinthians 3:17 If anyone destroys God_s temple, God will destroy him; for God_s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
1 Corinthians 3:18 Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise.
1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God_s sight. As it is written: _He catches the wise in their craftiness._
1 Corinthians 3:20 And again, _The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile._
1 Corinthians 3:21 Therefore stop boasting in men. All things are yours,
1 Corinthians 3:22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future. All of them belong to you,
1 Corinthians 3:23 and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
1 Corinthians 4:1 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
1 Corinthians 4:2 Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
1 Corinthians 4:3 I care very little, however, if I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.
1 Corinthians 4:4 My conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who judges me.
1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the proper time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men_s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
1 Corinthians 4:6 Brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in one man over another.
1 Corinthians 4:7 For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
1 Corinthians 4:8 Already you have all you want. Already you have become rich. Without us, you have become kings. How I wish you really were kings, so that we might be kings with you.
1 Corinthians 4:9 For it seems to me that God has displayed us apostles at the end of the procession, like prisoners appointed for death. We have become a spectacle to the whole world, to angels as well as to men.
1 Corinthians 4:10 We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored.
1 Corinthians 4:11 To this very hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clad, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.
1 Corinthians 4:12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;
1 Corinthians 4:13 when we are slandered, we answer gently. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.
1 Corinthians 4:14 I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.
1 Corinthians 4:15 Even if you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.
1 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me.
1 Corinthians 4:17 That is why I have sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which is exactly what I teach everywhere in every church.
1 Corinthians 4:18 Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you.
1 Corinthians 4:19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only what these arrogant people are saying, but what power they have.
1 Corinthians 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.
1 Corinthians 4:21 Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit?
1 Corinthians 5:1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father_s wife.
1 Corinthians 5:2 And you are proud! Shouldn_t you rather have been stricken with grief and removed from your fellowship the man who did this?
1 Corinthians 5:3 Although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present.
1 Corinthians 5:4 When you are gathered in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, along with the power of the Lord Jesus,
1 Corinthians 5:5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.
1 Corinthians 5:6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough?
1 Corinthians 5:7 Get rid of the old yeast, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
1 Corinthians 5:8 Therefore let us keep the festival, not with the old bread, leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and of truth.
1 Corinthians 5:9 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people.
1 Corinthians 5:10 I was not including the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.
1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.
1 Corinthians 5:12 What business of mine is it to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
1 Corinthians 5:13 God will judge those outside. _Expel the wicked man from among you._
1 Corinthians 6:1 If any of you has a grievance against another, how dare he go to law before the unrighteous instead of before the saints!
1 Corinthians 6:2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?
1 Corinthians 6:3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!
1 Corinthians 6:4 So if you need to settle everyday matters, do you appoint as judges those of no standing in the church?
1 Corinthians 6:5 I say this to your shame. Is there really no one among you wise enough to arbitrate between his brothers?
1 Corinthians 6:6 Instead, one brother goes to law against another, and this in front of unbelievers!
1 Corinthians 6:7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you are thoroughly defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?
1 Corinthians 6:8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, even against your own brothers!
1 Corinthians 6:9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts,
1 Corinthians 6:10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:11 And that is what some of you were. 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.
1 Corinthians 6:12 _Everything is permissible for me,_ but not everything is beneficial. _Everything is permissible for me,_ but I will not be mastered by anything.
1 Corinthians 6:13 _Food for the stomach and the stomach for food,_ but God will destroy them both. The body is not intended for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
1 Corinthians 6:14 By His power God raised the Lord from the dead, and He will raise us also.
1 Corinthians 6:15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!
1 Corinthians 6:16 Or don_t you know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, _The two will become one flesh._
1 Corinthians 6:17 But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with Him in spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a man can commit is outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.
1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
1 Corinthians 6:20 you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.
1 Corinthians 7:1 Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good to abstain from sexual relations.
1 Corinthians 7:2 But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.
1 Corinthians 7:3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.
1 Corinthians 7:4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife.
1 Corinthians 7:5 Do not deprive one another, except by mutual consent for a limited time, so you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you through your lack of self-control.
1 Corinthians 7:6 I say this as a concession, not as a command.
1 Corinthians 7:7 I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
1 Corinthians 7:8 Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am.
1 Corinthians 7:9 But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
1 Corinthians 7:10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.
1 Corinthians 7:11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
1 Corinthians 7:12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.
1 Corinthians 7:13 And if a woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.
1 Corinthians 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.
1 Corinthians 7:15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him go. The believing brother or sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you to live in peace.
1 Corinthians 7:16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
1 Corinthians 7:17 Regardless, each one should lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is what I prescribe in all the churches.
1 Corinthians 7:18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man still uncircumcised when called? He should not be circumcised.
1 Corinthians 7:19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God_s commandments is what matters.
1 Corinthians 7:20 Each one should remain in the situation he was in when he was called.
1 Corinthians 7:21 Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you, but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity.
1 Corinthians 7:22 For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord_s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ_s slave.
1 Corinthians 7:23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.
1 Corinthians 7:24 Brothers, each one should remain in the situation he was in when God called him.
1 Corinthians 7:25 Now about virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord_s mercy is trustworthy.
1 Corinthians 7:26 Because of the present crisis, I think it is good for a man to remain as he is.
1 Corinthians 7:27 Are you committed to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you free of commitment? Do not look for a wife.
1 Corinthians 7:28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.
1 Corinthians 7:29 What I am saying, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none;
1 Corinthians 7:30 those who weep, as if they did not; those who are joyful, as if they were not; those who make a purchase, as if they had nothing;
1 Corinthians 7:31 and those who use the things of this world, as if not dependent on them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
1 Corinthians 7:32 I want you to be free from concern. The unmarried man is concerned about the work of the Lord, how he can please the Lord.
1 Corinthians 7:33 But the married man is concerned about the affairs of this world, how he can please his wife,
1 Corinthians 7:34 and his interests are divided. The unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the work of the Lord, how she can be holy in both body and spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world, how she can please her husband.
1 Corinthians 7:35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but in order to promote proper decorum and undivided devotion to the Lord.
1 Corinthians 7:36 However, if someone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his betrothed, and if she is beyond her youth and they ought to marry, let him do as he wishes; he is not sinning; they should get married.
1 Corinthians 7:37 But the man who is firmly established in his heart and under no constraint, with control over his will and resolve in his heart not to marry the virgin, he will do well.
1 Corinthians 7:38 So then, he who marries the virgin does well, but he who does not marry her does even better.
1 Corinthians 7:39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord.
1 Corinthians 7:40 In my judgment, however, she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
1 Corinthians 8:1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
1 Corinthians 8:2 The one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.
1 Corinthians 8:3 But the one who loves God is known by God.
1 Corinthians 8:4 So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one.
1 Corinthians 8:5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords),
1 Corinthians 8:6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.
1 Corinthians 8:7 But not everyone has this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that they eat such food as if it were sacrificed to an idol. And since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.
1 Corinthians 8:8 But food does not bring us closer to God: We are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.
1 Corinthians 8:9 Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
1 Corinthians 8:10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you who are well informed eating in an idol_s temple, will he not be encouraged to eat food sacrificed to idols?
1 Corinthians 8:11 So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.
1 Corinthians 8:12 By sinning against your brothers in this way and wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
1 Corinthians 8:13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to stumble.
1 Corinthians 9:1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you yourselves not my workmanship in the Lord?
1 Corinthians 9:2 Even if I am not an apostle to others, surely I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 9:3 This is my defense to those who scrutinize me:
1 Corinthians 9:4 Have we no right to food and to drink?
1 Corinthians 9:5 Have we no right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the Lord_s brothers and Cephas?
1 Corinthians 9:6 Or are Barnabas and I the only apostles who must work for a living?
1 Corinthians 9:7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Who tends a flock and does not drink of its milk?
1 Corinthians 9:8 Do I say this from a human perspective? Doesn_t the Law say the same thing?
1 Corinthians 9:9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: _Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain._ Is it about oxen that God is concerned?
1 Corinthians 9:10 Isn_t He actually speaking on our behalf? Indeed, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they should also expect to share in the harvest.
1 Corinthians 9:11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much for us to reap a material harvest from you?
1 Corinthians 9:12 If others have this right to your support, shouldn_t we have it all the more But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.
1 Corinthians 9:13 Do you not know that those who work in the temple eat of its food, and those who serve at the altar partake of its offerings?
1 Corinthians 9:14 In the same way, the Lord has prescribed that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
1 Corinthians 9:15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me. Indeed, I would rather die than for anyone to nullify my boast.
1 Corinthians 9:16 Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am obligated to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
1 Corinthians 9:17 If my preaching is voluntary, I have a reward. But if it is not voluntary, I am still entrusted with a responsibility.
1 Corinthians 9:18 What then is my reward? That in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not use up my rights in preaching it.
1 Corinthians 9:19 Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
1 Corinthians 9:20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the Law I became like one under the Law (though I myself am not under the Law), to win those under the Law.
1 Corinthians 9:21 To those without the Law I became like one without the Law (though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ), to win those without the Law.
1 Corinthians 9:22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men, so that by all possible means I might save some of them.
1 Corinthians 9:23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.
1 Corinthians 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize.
1 Corinthians 9:25 Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable.
1 Corinthians 9:26 Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air.
1 Corinthians 9:27 No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
1 Corinthians 10:1 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea.
1 Corinthians 10:2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.
1 Corinthians 10:3 They all ate the same spiritual food
1 Corinthians 10:4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness.
1 Corinthians 10:6 These things took place as examples to keep us from craving evil things as they did.
1 Corinthians 10:7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written: _The people sat down to eat and to drink, and got up to revel in idolatry._
1 Corinthians 10:8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.
1 Corinthians 10:9 We should not test Christ, as some of them did, and were killed by snakes.
1 Corinthians 10:10 And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.
1 Corinthians 10:11 Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.
1 Corinthians 10:12 So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.
1 Corinthians 10:14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
1 Corinthians 10:15 I speak to reasonable people; judge for yourselves what I say.
1 Corinthians 10:16 Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
1 Corinthians 10:17 Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.
1 Corinthians 10:18 Consider the people of Israel: Are not those who eat the sacrifices fellow partakers in the altar?
1 Corinthians 10:19 Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?
1 Corinthians 10:20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons.
1 Corinthians 10:21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too.
1 Corinthians 10:22 Are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?
1 Corinthians 10:23 _Everything is permissible,_ but not everything is beneficial. _Everything is permissible,_ but not everything is edifying.
1 Corinthians 10:24 No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.
1 Corinthians 10:25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience,
1 Corinthians 10:26 for, _The earth is the Lord_s, and the fullness thereof._
1 Corinthians 10:27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat anything set before you without raising questions of conscience.
1 Corinthians 10:28 But if someone tells you, _This food was offered to idols,_ then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience_
1 Corinthians 10:29 the other one_s conscience, I mean, not your own. For why should my freedom be determined by someone else_s conscience?
1 Corinthians 10:30 If I partake in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
1 Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:32 Do not become a stumbling block, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God,
1 Corinthians 10:33 just as I try to please everyone in all I do. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, that they may be saved.
1 Corinthians 11:1 You are to imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:2 Now I commend you for remembering me in everything and for maintaining the traditions, just as I passed them on to you.
1 Corinthians 11:3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
1 Corinthians 11:4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head.
1 Corinthians 11:5 And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for it is just as if her head were shaved.
1 Corinthians 11:6 If a woman does not cover her head, let her hair be cut off. And if it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head.
1 Corinthians 11:7 A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man.
1 Corinthians 11:8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man.
1 Corinthians 11:9 Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.
1 Corinthians 11:10 For this reason a woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels.
1 Corinthians 11:11 In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.
1 Corinthians 11:12 For just as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.
1 Corinthians 11:13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?
1 Corinthians 11:14 Doesn_t nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him,
1 Corinthians 11:15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering.
1 Corinthians 11:16 If anyone is inclined to dispute this, we have no other practice, nor do the churches of God.
1 Corinthians 11:17 In the following instructions I have no praise to offer, because your gatherings do more harm than good.
1 Corinthians 11:18 First of all, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.
1 Corinthians 11:19 And indeed, there must be differences among you to show which of you are approved.
1 Corinthians 11:20 Now then, when you come together, it is not the Lord_s Supper you eat.
1 Corinthians 11:21 For as you eat, many of you proceed with your own meal to the exclusion of others. While one remains hungry, another gets drunk.
1 Corinthians 11:22 Don_t you have your own homes in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What can I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? Of course not!
1 Corinthians 11:23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: that the Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread,
1 Corinthians 11:24 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._
1 Corinthians 11:25 In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, _This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me._
1 Corinthians 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord_s death until He comes.
1 Corinthians 11:27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.
1 Corinthians 11:28 Each one must examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.
1 Corinthians 11:29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
1 Corinthians 11:30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.
1 Corinthians 11:31 Now if we judged ourselves properly, we would not come under judgment.
1 Corinthians 11:32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
1 Corinthians 11:33 So, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.
1 Corinthians 11:34 If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you come together it will not result in judgment. And when I come, I will give instructions about the remaining matters.
1 Corinthians 12:1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.
1 Corinthians 12:2 You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.
1 Corinthians 12:3 Therefore I inform you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, _Jesus be cursed,_ and no one can say, _Jesus is Lord,_ except by the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:4 There are different gifts, but the same Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:5 There are different ministries, but the same Lord.
1 Corinthians 12:6 There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all men.
1 Corinthians 12:7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
1 Corinthians 12:8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by the same Spirit,
1 Corinthians 12:9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,
1 Corinthians 12:10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
1 Corinthians 12:11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, who apportions them to each one as He determines.
1 Corinthians 12:12 The body is a unit, though it is comprised of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink.
1 Corinthians 12:14 For the body does not consist of one part, but of many.
1 Corinthians 12:15 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.
1 Corinthians 12:16 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.
1 Corinthians 12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?
1 Corinthians 12:18 But in fact, God has arranged the members of the body, every one of them, according to His design.
1 Corinthians 12:19 If they were all one part, where would the body be?
1 Corinthians 12:20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
1 Corinthians 12:21 The eye cannot say to the hand, _I do not need you._ Nor can the head say to the feet, _I do not need you._
1 Corinthians 12:22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
1 Corinthians 12:23 and the parts we consider less honorable, we treat with greater honor. And our unpresentable parts are treated with special modesty,
1 Corinthians 12:24 whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God has composed the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it,
1 Corinthians 12:25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its members should have mutual concern for one another.
1 Corinthians 12:26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it.
1 Corinthians 12:28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.
1 Corinthians 12:29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?
1 Corinthians 12:30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
1 Corinthians 12:31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you a way that is beyond comparison.
1 Corinthians 13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal.
1 Corinthians 13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:3 If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love, I gain nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
1 Corinthians 13:5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs.
1 Corinthians 13:6 Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth.
1 Corinthians 13:7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be restrained; where there is knowledge, it will be dismissed.
1 Corinthians 13:9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
1 Corinthians 13:10 but when the perfect comes, the partial passes away.
1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I set aside childish ways.
1 Corinthians 13:12 Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 14:1 Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
1 Corinthians 14:2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 14:3 But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort.
1 Corinthians 14:4 The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.
1 Corinthians 14:5 I wish that all of you could speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.
1 Corinthians 14:6 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?
1 Corinthians 14:7 Even in the case of lifeless instruments, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone recognize the tune they are playing unless the notes are distinct?
1 Corinthians 14:8 Again, if the trumpet sounds a muffled call, who will prepare for battle?
1 Corinthians 14:9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.
1 Corinthians 14:10 Assuredly, there are many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.
1 Corinthians 14:11 If, then, I do not know the meaning of someone_s language, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me.
1 Corinthians 14:12 It is the same with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, strive to excel in gifts that build up the church.
1 Corinthians 14:13 Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.
1 Corinthians 14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
1 Corinthians 14:15 What then shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.
1 Corinthians 14:16 Otherwise, if you speak a blessing in spirit, how can someone who is uninstructed say _Amen_ to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?
1 Corinthians 14:17 You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other one is not edified.
1 Corinthians 14:18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
1 Corinthians 14:19 But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
1 Corinthians 14:20 Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.
1 Corinthians 14:21 It is written in the Law: _By strange tongues and foreign lips I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to Me, says the Lord._
1 Corinthians 14:22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.
1 Corinthians 14:23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who are uninstructed or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?
1 Corinthians 14:24 But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by all,
1 Corinthians 14:25 and the secrets of his heart will be revealed. So he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, _God is truly among you!_
1 Corinthians 14:26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the church.
1 Corinthians 14:27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two, or at most three, should speak in turn, and someone must interpret.
1 Corinthians 14:28 But if there is no interpreter, he should remain silent in the church and speak only to himself and God.
1 Corinthians 14:29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.
1 Corinthians 14:30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is seated, the first speaker should hold his peace.
1 Corinthians 14:31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.
1 Corinthians 14:32 The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.
1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace. As in all the congregations of the saints,
1 Corinthians 14:34 women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says.
1 Corinthians 14:35 If they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church.
1 Corinthians 14:36 Did God_s word originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached?
1 Corinthians 14:37 If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord_s command.
1 Corinthians 14:38 But if anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored.
1 Corinthians 14:39 So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
1 Corinthians 14:40 But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner.
1 Corinthians 15:1 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, and in which you stand firm.
1 Corinthians 15:2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
1 Corinthians 15:4 that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
1 Corinthians 15:5 and that He appeared to Cephas and then to the Twelve.
1 Corinthians 15:6 After that, He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
1 Corinthians 15:7 Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles.
1 Corinthians 15:8 And last of all He appeared to me also, as to one of untimely birth.
1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles and am unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them_yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
1 Corinthians 15:11 Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.
1 Corinthians 15:12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
1 Corinthians 15:13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
1 Corinthians 15:14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is worthless, and so is your faith.
1 Corinthians 15:15 In that case, we are also exposed as false witnesses about God. For we have testified about God that He raised Christ from the dead, but He did not raise Him if in fact the dead are not raised.
1 Corinthians 15:16 For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised.
1 Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
1 Corinthians 15:18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
1 Corinthians 15:19 If our hope in Christ is for this life alone, we are to be pitied more than all men.
1 Corinthians 15:20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
1 Corinthians 15:21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.
1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
1 Corinthians 15:23 But each in his own turn: Christ the firstfruits; then at His coming, those who belong to Him.
1 Corinthians 15:24 Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power.
1 Corinthians 15:25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.
1 Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
1 Corinthians 15:27 For _God has put everything under His feet._ Now when it says that everything has been put under Him, this clearly does not include the One who put everything under Him.
1 Corinthians 15:28 And when all things have been subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will be made subject to Him who put all things under Him, so that God may be all in all.
1 Corinthians 15:29 If these things are not so, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?
1 Corinthians 15:30 And why do we endanger ourselves every hour?
1 Corinthians 15:31 I face death every day, brothers, as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for human motives, what did I gain? If the dead are not raised, _Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die._
1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: _Bad company corrupts good character._
1 Corinthians 15:34 Sober up as you ought, and stop sinning; for some of you are ignorant of God. I say this to your shame.
1 Corinthians 15:35 But someone will ask, _How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?_
1 Corinthians 15:36 You fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.
1 Corinthians 15:37 And what you sow is not the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or something else.
1 Corinthians 15:38 But God gives it a body as He has designed, and to each kind of seed He gives its own body.
1 Corinthians 15:39 Not all flesh is the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another, and fish another.
1 Corinthians 15:40 There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. But the splendor of the heavenly bodies is of one degree, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is of another.
1 Corinthians 15:41 The sun has one degree of splendor, the moon another, and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.
1 Corinthians 15:42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead: What is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable.
1 Corinthians 15:43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.
1 Corinthians 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
1 Corinthians 15:45 So it is written: _The first man Adam became a living being;_ the last Adam a life-giving spirit.
1 Corinthians 15:46 The spiritual, however, was not first, but the natural, and then the spiritual.
1 Corinthians 15:47 The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven.
1 Corinthians 15:48 As was the earthly man, so also are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven.
1 Corinthians 15:49 And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so also shall we bear the likeness of the heavenly man.
1 Corinthians 15:50 Now I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
1 Corinthians 15:51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed_
1 Corinthians 15:52 in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
1 Corinthians 15:53 For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.
1 Corinthians 15:54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: _Death has been swallowed up in victory._
1 Corinthians 15:55 _Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?_
1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law.
1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 16:1 Now about the collection for the saints, you are to do as I directed the churches of Galatia:
1 Corinthians 16:2 On the first day of every week, each of you should set aside a portion of his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will be needed.
1 Corinthians 16:3 Then, on my arrival, I will send letters with those you recommend to carry your gift to Jerusalem.
1 Corinthians 16:4 And if it is advisable for me to go also, they can travel with me.
1 Corinthians 16:5 After I go through Macedonia, however, I will come to you; for I will be going through Macedonia.
1 Corinthians 16:6 Perhaps I will stay with you awhile, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I may go.
1 Corinthians 16:7 For I do not want to see you now only in passing; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.
1 Corinthians 16:8 But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost,
1 Corinthians 16:9 because a great door for effective work has opened to me, even though many oppose me.
1 Corinthians 16:10 If Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is doing the Lord_s work, just as I am.
1 Corinthians 16:11 No one, then, should treat him with contempt. Send him on his way in peace so that he can return to me, for I am expecting him along with the brothers.
1 Corinthians 16:12 Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was not at all inclined to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.
1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.
1 Corinthians 16:14 Do everything in love.
1 Corinthians 16:15 You know that Stephanas and his household were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. Now I urge you, brothers,
1 Corinthians 16:16 to submit to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer.
1 Corinthians 16:17 I am glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you.
1 Corinthians 16:18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours as well. Show your appreciation, therefore, to such men.
1 Corinthians 16:19 The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.
1 Corinthians 16:20 All the brothers here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
1 Corinthians 16:21 This greeting is in my own hand_Paul.
1 Corinthians 16:22 If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be under a divine curse. Come, O Lord!
1 Corinthians 16:23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
1 Corinthians 16:24 My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.
2 Corinthians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:
2 Corinthians 1:2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
2 Corinthians 1:4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
2 Corinthians 1:5 For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
2 Corinthians 1:6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which accomplishes in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we experience.
2 Corinthians 1:7 And our hope for you is sure, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you will share in our comfort.
2 Corinthians 1:8 We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the hardships we encountered in the province of Asia. We were under a burden far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.
2 Corinthians 1:9 Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead.
2 Corinthians 1:10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. In Him we have placed our hope that He will yet again deliver us,
2 Corinthians 1:11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the favor shown us in answer to their prayers.
2 Corinthians 1:12 And this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God_not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God.
2 Corinthians 1:13 For we do not write you anything that is beyond your ability to read and understand. And I hope that you will understand completely,
2 Corinthians 1:14 as you have already understood us in part, so that you may boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of our Lord Jesus.
2 Corinthians 1:15 Confident of this, I planned to visit you first, so that you might receive a double blessing.
2 Corinthians 1:16 I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to return to you from Macedonia, and then to have you help me on my way to Judea.
2 Corinthians 1:17 When I planned this, did I do it carelessly? Or do I make my plans by human standards, so as to say _Yes, yes_ when I really mean _No, no_?
2 Corinthians 1:18 But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not _Yes_ and _No._
2 Corinthians 1:19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed among you by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not _Yes_ and _No,_ but in Him it has always been _Yes._
2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God are _Yes_ in Christ. And so through Him, our _Amen_ is spoken to the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 1:21 Now it is God who establishes both us and you in Christ. He anointed us,
2 Corinthians 1:22 placed His seal on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a pledge of what is to come.
2 Corinthians 1:23 I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.
2 Corinthians 1:24 Not that we lord it over your faith, but we are fellow workers with you for your joy, because it is by faith that you stand firm.
2 Corinthians 2:1 So I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you.
2 Corinthians 2:2 For if I grieve you, who is left to cheer me but those whom I have grieved?
2 Corinthians 2:3 I wrote as I did so that on my arrival I would not be saddened by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would share my joy.
2 Corinthians 2:4 For through many tears I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart, not to grieve you but to let you know how much I love you.
2 Corinthians 2:5 Now if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you_to some degree, not to overstate it.
2 Corinthians 2:6 The punishment imposed on him by the majority is sufficient for him.
2 Corinthians 2:7 So instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
2 Corinthians 2:8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.
2 Corinthians 2:9 My purpose in writing you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.
2 Corinthians 2:10 If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And if I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven it in the presence of Christ for your sake,
2 Corinthians 2:11 in order that Satan should not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
2 Corinthians 2:12 Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and a door stood open for me in the Lord,
2 Corinthians 2:13 I had no peace in my spirit, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia.
2 Corinthians 2:14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.
2 Corinthians 2:15 For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
2 Corinthians 2:16 To the one, we are an odor of death and demise; to the other, a fragrance that brings life. And who is qualified for such a task?
2 Corinthians 2:17 For we are not like so many others, who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God.
2 Corinthians 3:1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?
2 Corinthians 3:2 You yourselves are our letter, inscribed on our hearts, known and read by everyone.
2 Corinthians 3:3 It is clear that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
2 Corinthians 3:4 Such confidence before God is ours through Christ.
2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God.
2 Corinthians 3:6 And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
2 Corinthians 3:7 Now if the ministry of death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at the face of Moses because of its fleeting glory,
2 Corinthians 3:8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?
2 Corinthians 3:9 For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness!
2 Corinthians 3:10 Indeed, what was once glorious has no glory now in comparison to the glory that surpasses it.
2 Corinthians 3:11 For if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which endures!
2 Corinthians 3:12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.
2 Corinthians 3:13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at the end of what was fading away.
2 Corinthians 3:14 But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed.
2 Corinthians 3:15 And even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.
2 Corinthians 3:16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2 Corinthians 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 4:1 Therefore, since we have this ministry through the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.
2 Corinthians 4:2 Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man_s conscience in the sight of God.
2 Corinthians 4:3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
2 Corinthians 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
2 Corinthians 4:5 For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus_ sake.
2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, _Let light shine out of darkness,_ made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:7 Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.
2 Corinthians 4:8 We are pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
2 Corinthians 4:9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4:10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
2 Corinthians 4:11 For we who are alive are always consigned to death for Jesus_ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal bodies.
2 Corinthians 4:12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
2 Corinthians 4:13 And in keeping with what is written: _I believed, therefore I have spoken,_ we who have the same spirit of faith also believe and therefore speak,
2 Corinthians 4:14 knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence.
2 Corinthians 4:15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is extending to more and more people may overflow in thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day.
2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light and temporary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that far outweighs our troubles.
2 Corinthians 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 5:1 Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
2 Corinthians 5:2 For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling,
2 Corinthians 5:3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.
2 Corinthians 5:4 So while we are in this tent, we groan under our burdens, because we do not wish to be unclothed but clothed, so that our mortality may be swallowed up by life.
2 Corinthians 5:5 And God has prepared us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a pledge of what is to come.
2 Corinthians 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, although we know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:9 So we aspire to please Him, whether we are here in this body or away from it.
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:11 Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is clear to God, and I hope it is clear to your conscience as well.
2 Corinthians 5:12 We are not commending ourselves to you again. Instead, we are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you can answer those who take pride in appearances rather than in the heart.
2 Corinthians 5:13 If we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.
2 Corinthians 5:14 For Christ_s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died.
2 Corinthians 5:15 And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again.
2 Corinthians 5:16 So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!
2 Corinthians 5:18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
2 Corinthians 5:19 that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men_s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:20 Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.
2 Corinthians 5:21 God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 6:1 As God_s fellow workers, we urge you not to receive God_s grace in vain.
2 Corinthians 6:2 For He says: _In the time of favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you._ Behold, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation!
2 Corinthians 6:3 We put no obstacle in anyone_s way, so that no one can discredit our ministry.
2 Corinthians 6:4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships, and calamities;
2 Corinthians 6:5 in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in labor, sleepless nights, and hunger;
2 Corinthians 6:6 in purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;
2 Corinthians 6:7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;
2 Corinthians 6:8 through glory and dishonor, slander and praise; viewed as imposters, yet genuine;
2 Corinthians 6:9 as unknown, yet well-known; dying, and yet we live on; punished, yet not killed;
2 Corinthians 6:10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
2 Corinthians 6:11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians. Our hearts are open wide.
2 Corinthians 6:12 It is not our affection, but yours that is restrained.
2 Corinthians 6:13 As a fair exchange, I ask you as my children: Open wide your hearts also.
2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
2 Corinthians 6:15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
2 Corinthians 6:16 What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: _I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people._
2 Corinthians 6:17 _Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you._
2 Corinthians 6:18 And: _I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty._
2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2 Corinthians 7:2 Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one.
2 Corinthians 7:3 I do not say this to condemn you. I have said before that you so occupy our hearts that we live and die together with you.
2 Corinthians 7:4 Great is my confidence in you; great is my pride in you; I am filled with encouragement; in all our troubles my joy overflows.
2 Corinthians 7:5 For when we arrived in Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were pressed from every direction_conflicts on the outside, fears within.
2 Corinthians 7:6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the arrival of Titus,
2 Corinthians 7:7 and not only by his arrival, but also by the comfort he had received from you. He told us about your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced all the more.
2 Corinthians 7:8 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Although I did regret it, I now see that my letter caused you sorrow, but only for a short time.
2 Corinthians 7:9 And now I rejoice, not because you were made sorrowful, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you felt the sorrow that God had intended, and so were not harmed in any way by us.
2 Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
2 Corinthians 7:11 Consider what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what vindication! In every way you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.
2 Corinthians 7:12 So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong or the one who was harmed, but rather that your earnestness on our behalf would be made clear to you in the sight of God.
2 Corinthians 7:13 On account of this, we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were even more delighted by the joy of Titus. For his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.
2 Corinthians 7:14 Indeed, I was not embarrassed by anything I had boasted to him about you. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting to Titus has proved to be true as well.
2 Corinthians 7:15 And his affection for you is even greater when he remembers that you were all obedient as you welcomed him with fear and trembling.
2 Corinthians 7:16 I rejoice that I can have complete confidence in you.
2 Corinthians 8:1 Now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace God has given the churches of Macedonia.
2 Corinthians 8:2 In the terrible ordeal they suffered, their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity.
2 Corinthians 8:3 For I testify that they gave according to their ability and even beyond it. Of their own accord,
2 Corinthians 8:4 they pleaded earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.
2 Corinthians 8:5 And not only did they do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, because it was the will of God.
2 Corinthians 8:6 So we urged Titus to help complete your act of grace, just as he had started it.
2 Corinthians 8:7 But just as you excel in everything_in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in the love we inspired in you_see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
2 Corinthians 8:8 I am not making a demand, but I am testing the sincerity of your love in comparison to the earnestness of others.
2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:10 And this is my opinion about what is helpful for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give, but even to have such a desire.
2 Corinthians 8:11 Now finish the work, so that you may complete it just as eagerly as you began, according to your means.
2 Corinthians 8:12 For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
2 Corinthians 8:13 It is not our intention that others may be relieved while you are burdened, but that there may be equality.
2 Corinthians 8:14 At the present time, your surplus will meet their need, so that in turn their surplus will meet your need. Then there will be equality.
2 Corinthians 8:15 As it is written: _He who gathered much had no excess, and he who gathered little had no shortfall._
2 Corinthians 8:16 But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you.
2 Corinthians 8:17 For not only did he welcome our appeal, but he is eagerly coming to you of his own volition.
2 Corinthians 8:18 Along with Titus, we are sending the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in the gospel.
2 Corinthians 8:19 More than that, this brother was chosen by the churches to accompany us with the offering_the gracious gift we administer to honor the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help.
2 Corinthians 8:20 We hope to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this generous gift.
2 Corinthians 8:21 For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men.
2 Corinthians 8:22 And we are sending along with them our brother, whose earnestness has been proven many times and in many ways, and now even more so by his great confidence in you.
2 Corinthians 8:23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you. As for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches to the glory of Christ.
2 Corinthians 8:24 In full view of the churches, then, show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our boasting about you.
2 Corinthians 9:1 Now about the service to the saints, there is no need for me to write to you.
2 Corinthians 9:2 For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting to the Macedonians that since last year you in Achaia were prepared to give. And your zeal has stirred most of them to do likewise.
2 Corinthians 9:3 But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove empty, but that you will be prepared, just as I said.
2 Corinthians 9:4 Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we_to say nothing of you_would be ashamed of having been so confident.
2 Corinthians 9:5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you beforehand and make arrangements for the bountiful gift you had promised. This way, your gift will be prepared generously and not begrudgingly.
2 Corinthians 9:6 Consider this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
2 Corinthians 9:7 Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:9 As it is written: _He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever._
2 Corinthians 9:10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your store of seed and will increase the harvest of your righteousness.
2 Corinthians 9:11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous on every occasion, and your giving through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
2 Corinthians 9:12 For this ministry of service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanksgiving to God.
2 Corinthians 9:13 Because of the proof this ministry provides, the saints will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for the generosity of your contribution to them and to all the others.
2 Corinthians 9:14 And their prayers for you will express their affection for you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.
2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
2 Corinthians 10:1 Now by the mildness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you_I, Paul, who am humble when face to face with you, but bold when away.
2 Corinthians 10:2 I beg you that when I come, I may not need to be as bold as I expect toward those who presume that we live according to the flesh.
2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh.
2 Corinthians 10:4 The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
2 Corinthians 10:5 We tear down arguments, and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, as soon as your obedience is complete.
2 Corinthians 10:7 You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should remind himself that we belong to Christ just as much as he does.
2 Corinthians 10:8 For even if I boast somewhat excessively about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed.
2 Corinthians 10:9 I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you by my letters.
2 Corinthians 10:10 For some say, _His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is unimpressive, and his speaking is of no account._
2 Corinthians 10:11 Such people should consider that what we are in our letters when absent, we will be in our actions when present.
2 Corinthians 10:12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they show their ignorance.
2 Corinthians 10:13 We, however, will not boast beyond our limits, but only within the field of influence that God has assigned to us_a field that reaches even to you.
2 Corinthians 10:14 We are not overstepping our bounds, as if we had not come to you. Indeed, we were the first to reach you with the gospel of Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:15 Neither do we boast beyond our limits in the labors of others. But we hope that, as your faith increases, our area of influence among you will greatly increase as well,
2 Corinthians 10:16 so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. Then we will not be boasting in the work already done in another man_s territory.
2 Corinthians 10:17 Rather, _Let him who boasts boast in the Lord._
2 Corinthians 10:18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
2 Corinthians 11:1 I hope you will bear with a little of my foolishness, but you are already doing that.
2 Corinthians 11:2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:3 I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent_s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:4 For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it way too easily.
2 Corinthians 11:5 I consider myself in no way inferior to those _super-apostles._
2 Corinthians 11:6 Although I am not a polished speaker, I am certainly not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every way possible.
2 Corinthians 11:7 Was it a sin for me to humble myself in order to exalt you, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?
2 Corinthians 11:8 I robbed other churches by accepting their support in order to serve you.
2 Corinthians 11:9 And when I was with you and in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have refrained from being a burden to you in any way, and I will continue to do so.
2 Corinthians 11:10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia.
2 Corinthians 11:11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
2 Corinthians 11:12 But I will keep on doing what I am doing, in order to undercut those who want an opportunity to be regarded as our equals in the things they boast about.
2 Corinthians 11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
2 Corinthians 11:15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.
2 Corinthians 11:16 I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.
2 Corinthians 11:17 In this confident boasting of mine, I am not speaking as the Lord would, but as a fool.
2 Corinthians 11:18 Since many are boasting according to the flesh, I too will boast.
2 Corinthians 11:19 For you gladly tolerate fools, since you are so wise.
2 Corinthians 11:20 In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or exalts himself or strikes you in the face.
2 Corinthians 11:21 To my shame I concede that we were too weak for that! Speaking as a fool, however, I can match what anyone else dares to boast about.
2 Corinthians 11:22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.
2 Corinthians 11:23 Are they servants of Christ? I am speaking like I am out of my mind, but I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of death.
2 Corinthians 11:24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.
2 Corinthians 11:25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the open sea.
2 Corinthians 11:26 In my frequent journeys, I have been in danger from rivers and from bandits, in danger from my countrymen and from the Gentiles, in danger in the city and in the country, in danger on the sea and among false brothers,
2 Corinthians 11:27 in labor and toil and often without sleep, in hunger and thirst and often without food, in cold and exposure.
2 Corinthians 11:28 Apart from these external trials, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
2 Corinthians 11:29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not burn with grief?
2 Corinthians 11:30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
2 Corinthians 11:31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is forever worthy of praise, knows that I am not lying.
2 Corinthians 11:32 In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas secured the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me.
2 Corinthians 11:33 But I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his grasp.
2 Corinthians 12:1 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to gain, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.
2 Corinthians 12:2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows.
2 Corinthians 12:3 And I know that this man_whether in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows_
2 Corinthians 12:4 was caught up into Paradise. The things he heard were too sacred for words, things that man is not permitted to tell.
2 Corinthians 12:5 I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses.
2 Corinthians 12:6 Even if I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me,
2 Corinthians 12:7 or with these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
2 Corinthians 12:8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
2 Corinthians 12:9 But He said to me, _My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness._ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 12:10 That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:11 I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those _super-apostles,_ even though I am nothing.
2 Corinthians 12:12 The true marks of an apostle_signs, wonders, and miracles_were performed among you with great perseverance.
2 Corinthians 12:13 In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
2 Corinthians 12:14 See, I am ready to come to you a third time, and I will not be a burden, because I am not seeking your possessions, but you yourselves. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
2 Corinthians 12:15 And for the sake of your souls, I will most gladly spend my money and myself. If I love you more, will you love me less?
2 Corinthians 12:16 Be that as it may, I was not a burden to you; but crafty as I am, I caught you by trickery.
2 Corinthians 12:17 Did I overreach by anyone I sent you?
2 Corinthians 12:18 I urged Titus to visit you, and I sent our brother with him. Did Titus exploit you in any way? Did we not walk in the same spirit and follow in the same footsteps?
2 Corinthians 12:19 Have you been thinking all along that we were making a defense to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all of this, beloved, is to build you up.
2 Corinthians 12:20 For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.
2 Corinthians 12:21 I am afraid that when I come again, my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of their acts of impurity, sexual immorality, and debauchery.
2 Corinthians 13:1 This is the third time I am coming to you. _Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses._
2 Corinthians 13:2 I already warned you the second time I was with you. So now in my absence, I warn those who sinned earlier and everyone else: If I return, I will not spare anyone,
2 Corinthians 13:3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you.
2 Corinthians 13:4 For He was indeed crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God_s power. And though we are weak in Him, yet by God_s power we will live with Him to serve you.
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Can_t you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you_unless you actually fail the test?
2 Corinthians 13:6 And I hope you will realize that we have not failed the test.
2 Corinthians 13:7 Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong_not that we will appear to have stood the test, but that you will do what is right, even if we appear to have failed.
2 Corinthians 13:8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.
2 Corinthians 13:9 In fact, we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong, and our prayer is for your perfection.
2 Corinthians 13:10 This is why I write these things while absent, so that when I am present I will not need to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.
2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brothers, rejoice! Aim for perfect harmony, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
2 Corinthians 13:12 Greet one another with a holy kiss.
2 Corinthians 13:13 All the saints send you greetings.
2 Corinthians 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.
Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle_sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead_
Galatians 1:2 and all the brothers with me, To the churches of Galatia:
Galatians 1:3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
Galatians 1:4 who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
Galatians 1:5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Galatians 1:6 I am astonished how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel_
Galatians 1:7 which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ.
Galatians 1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a divine curse!
Galatians 1:9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you embraced, let him be under a divine curse!
Galatians 1:10 Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Galatians 1:11 For I certify to you, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not devised by man.
Galatians 1:12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
Galatians 1:13 For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how severely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.
Galatians 1:14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
Galatians 1:15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother_s womb and called me by His grace, was pleased
Galatians 1:16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not rush to consult with flesh and blood,
Galatians 1:17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to the apostles who came before me, but I went into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.
Galatians 1:18 Only after three years did I go up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas, and I stayed with him fifteen days.
Galatians 1:19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord_s brother.
Galatians 1:20 I assure you before God that what I am writing to you is no lie.
Galatians 1:21 Later I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
Galatians 1:22 I was personally unknown, however, to the churches of Judea that are in Christ.
Galatians 1:23 They only heard the account: _The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy._
Galatians 1:24 And they glorified God because of me.
Galatians 2:1 Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, accompanied by Barnabas. I took Titus along also.
Galatians 2:2 I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I spoke privately to those recognized as leaders, for fear that I was running or had already run in vain.
Galatians 2:3 Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.
Galatians 2:4 This issue arose because some false brothers were brought in under false pretenses to spy on our freedom in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us.
Galatians 2:5 We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.
Galatians 2:6 But as for the highly esteemed, whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism. For those leaders added nothing to my message.
Galatians 2:7 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews.
Galatians 2:8 For God, who was at work in Peter_s apostleship to the Jews, was also at work in my apostleship to the Gentiles.
Galatians 2:9 And recognizing the grace I had been given, James, Cephas, and John_those reputed to be pillars_gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the Jews.
Galatians 2:10 They only asked us to be mindful of the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
Galatians 2:11 When Cephas came to Antioch, however, I opposed him to his face, because he stood to be condemned.
Galatians 2:12 For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself, for fear of those in the circumcision group.
Galatians 2:13 The other Jews joined in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
Galatians 2:14 When I saw that they were not walking in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, _If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?
Galatians 2:15 We who are Jews by birth and not Gentile _sinners_
Galatians 2:16 know that a man is not justified by works of the Law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law, because by works of the Law no one will be justified.
Galatians 2:17 But if, while we seek to be justified in Christ, we ourselves are found to be sinners, does that make Christ a minister of sin? Absolutely not!
Galatians 2:18 If I rebuild what I have already torn down, I prove myself to be a lawbreaker.
Galatians 2:19 For through the Law I died to the Law so that I might live to God.
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Galatians 2:21 I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness comes through the Law, Christ died for nothing._
Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.
Galatians 3:2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
Galatians 3:3 Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh?
Galatians 3:4 Have you suffered so much for nothing, if it really was for nothing?
Galatians 3:5 Does God lavish His Spirit on you and work miracles among you because you practice the Law, or because you hear and believe?
Galatians 3:6 So also, _Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness._
Galatians 3:7 Understand, then, that those who have faith are the sons of Abraham.
Galatians 3:8 The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: _All nations will be blessed through you._
Galatians 3:9 So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
Galatians 3:10 All who rely on works of the Law are under a curse. For it is written: _Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law._
Galatians 3:11 And it is clear that no one is justified before God by the Law, because, _The righteous will live by faith._
Galatians 3:12 The Law, however, is not based on faith; on the contrary, _The one who does these things will live by them._
Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: _Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree._
Galatians 3:14 He redeemed us so that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
Galatians 3:15 Brothers, let me put this in human terms. Even a human covenant, once it is ratified, cannot be canceled or amended.
Galatians 3:16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, _and to seeds,_ meaning many, but _and to your seed,_ meaning One, who is Christ.
Galatians 3:17 What I mean is this: The Law that came four hundred thirty years later does not revoke the covenant previously established by God, so as to cancel the promise.
Galatians 3:18 For if the inheritance depends on the Law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.
Galatians 3:19 Why then was the Law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the seed to whom the promise referred. It was administered through angels by a mediator.
Galatians 3:20 A mediator is unnecessary, however, if there is only one party; but God is one.
Galatians 3:21 Is the Law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Not at all! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the Law.
Galatians 3:22 But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ, the promise might be given to those who believe.
Galatians 3:23 Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the Law, locked up until faith should be revealed.
Galatians 3:24 So the Law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Galatians 3:25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.
Galatians 3:26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham_s seed and heirs according to the promise.
Galatians 4:1 What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he is the owner of everything.
Galatians 4:2 He is subject to guardians and trustees until the date set by his father.
Galatians 4:3 So also, when we were children, we were enslaved under the basic principles of the world.
Galatians 4:4 But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,
Galatians 4:5 to redeem those under the Law, that we might receive our adoption as sons.
Galatians 4:6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, _Abba, Father!_
Galatians 4:7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God.
Galatians 4:8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
Galatians 4:9 But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?
Galatians 4:10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!
Galatians 4:11 I fear for you, that my efforts for you may have been in vain.
Galatians 4:12 I beg you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong.
Galatians 4:13 You know that it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you.
Galatians 4:14 And although my illness was a trial to you, you did not despise me or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.
Galatians 4:15 What then has become of your blessing? For I can testify that, if it were possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
Galatians 4:16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
Galatians 4:17 Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you will be zealous for them.
Galatians 4:18 Nevertheless, it is good to be zealous if it serves a noble purpose_at any time, and not only when I am with you.
Galatians 4:19 My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,
Galatians 4:20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you.
Galatians 4:21 Tell me, you who want to be under the Law, do you not understand what the Law says?
Galatians 4:22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.
Galatians 4:23 His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born because of the promise.
Galatians 4:24 These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery: This is Hagar.
Galatians 4:25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.
Galatians 4:26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.
Galatians 4:27 For it is written: _Rejoice, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman, than of her who has a husband._
Galatians 4:28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of the promise.
Galatians 4:29 At that time, however, the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same now.
Galatians 4:30 But what does the Scripture say? _Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman_s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman_s son._
Galatians 4:31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:2 Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.
Galatians 5:3 Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole Law.
Galatians 5:4 You who are trying to be justified by the Law have been severed from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.
Galatians 5:5 But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the hope of righteousness.
Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love.
Galatians 5:7 You were running so well. Who has obstructed you from obeying the truth?
Galatians 5:8 Such persuasion does not come from the One who calls you.
Galatians 5:9 A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough.
Galatians 5:10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is troubling you will bear the judgment, whoever he may be.
Galatians 5:11 Now, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.
Galatians 5:12 As for those who are agitating you, I wish they would proceed to emasculate themselves!
Galatians 5:13 For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.
Galatians 5:14 The entire Law is fulfilled in a single decree: _Love your neighbor as yourself._
Galatians 5:15 But if you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out, or you will be consumed by each other.
Galatians 5:16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Galatians 5:17 For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to one another, so that you do not do what you want.
Galatians 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
Galatians 5:19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery;
Galatians 5:20 idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions,
Galatians 5:21 and envy; drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Galatians 5:23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no Law.
Galatians 5:24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Galatians 5:25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit.
Galatians 5:26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another.
Galatians 6:1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
Galatians 6:2 Carry one another_s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the Law of Christ.
Galatians 6:3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Galatians 6:4 Each one should test his own work. Then he will have reason to boast in himself alone, and not in someone else.
Galatians 6:5 For each one should carry his own load.
Galatians 6:6 However, the one who receives instruction in the word must share in all good things with his instructor.
Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return.
Galatians 6:8 The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Galatians 6:9 Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.
Galatians 6:11 See what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.
Galatians 6:12 Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. They only do this to avoid persecution for the cross of Christ.
Galatians 6:13 For the circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.
Galatians 6:14 But as for me, may I never boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Galatians 6:15 For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything. What counts is a new creation.
Galatians 6:16 Peace and mercy to all who walk by this rule, even to the Israel of God.
Galatians 6:17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
Galatians 6:18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Ephesians 1:2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 1:4 For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love
Ephesians 1:5 He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will,
Ephesians 1:6 to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One.
Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace,
Ephesians 1:8 that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
Ephesians 1:9 And He has made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ
Ephesians 1:10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ.
Ephesians 1:11 In Him we were also chosen as God_s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,
Ephesians 1:12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 1:13 And in Him you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, having heard and believed the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.
Ephesians 1:14 The Spirit is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God_s possession, to the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 1:15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
Ephesians 1:16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers
Ephesians 1:17 and asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him.
Ephesians 1:18 I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints,
Ephesians 1:19 and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe. He displayed this power in the working of His mighty strength,
Ephesians 1:20 which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms,
Ephesians 1:21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come.
Ephesians 1:22 And God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church,
Ephesians 1:23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 2:1 As for you, you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
Ephesians 2:2 in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience.
Ephesians 2:3 We all lived among them at one time in the cravings of our flesh, indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.
Ephesians 2:4 But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
Ephesians 2:5 made us alive with Christ, even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!
Ephesians 2:6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
Ephesians 2:7 in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,
Ephesians 2:9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God_s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.
Ephesians 2:11 Therefore remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision (that done in the body by human hands)_
Ephesians 2:12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility
Ephesians 2:15 by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace
Ephesians 2:16 and reconciling both of them to God in one body through the cross, by which He extinguished their hostility.
Ephesians 2:17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.
Ephesians 2:18 For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Ephesians 2:19 Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens of the saints and members of God_s household,
Ephesians 2:20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.
Ephesians 2:21 In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
Ephesians 2:22 And in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit.
Ephesians 3:1 For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles...
Ephesians 3:2 Surely you have heard about the stewardship of God_s grace that was given to me for you,
Ephesians 3:3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.
Ephesians 3:4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
Ephesians 3:5 which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God_s holy apostles and prophets.
Ephesians 3:6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 3:7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God_s grace, given me through the working of His power.
Ephesians 3:8 Though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
Ephesians 3:9 and to illuminate for everyone the stewardship of this mystery, which for ages past was hidden in God, who created all things.
Ephesians 3:10 His purpose was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,
Ephesians 3:11 according to the eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Ephesians 3:12 In Him and through faith in Him we may enter God_s presence with boldness and confidence.
Ephesians 3:13 So I ask you not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
Ephesians 3:14 ... for this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
Ephesians 3:15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.
Ephesians 3:16 I pray that out of the riches of His glory, He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,
Ephesians 3:17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
Ephesians 3:18 may have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth of His love,
Ephesians 3:19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do infinitely more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,
Ephesians 3:21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 4:1 As a prisoner in the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received:
Ephesians 4:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
Ephesians 4:3 and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;
Ephesians 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
Ephesians 4:6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Ephesians 4:7 Now to each one of us grace has been given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Ephesians 4:8 This is why it says: _When He ascended on high, He led captives away, and gave gifts to men._
Ephesians 4:9 What does _He ascended_ mean, except that He also descended to the lower parts of the earth?
Ephesians 4:10 He who descended is the very one who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things.
Ephesians 4:11 And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
Ephesians 4:12 to equip the saints for works of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,
Ephesians 4:13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ.
Ephesians 4:14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming.
Ephesians 4:15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head.
Ephesians 4:16 From Him the whole body is fitted and held together by every supporting ligament. And as each individual part does its work, the body grows and builds itself up in love.
Ephesians 4:17 So I tell you this, and testify to it in the Lord: You must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
Ephesians 4:18 They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts.
Ephesians 4:19 Having lost all sense of shame, they have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity, with a craving for more.
Ephesians 4:20 But this is not the way you came to know Christ.
Ephesians 4:21 Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him in keeping with the truth that is in Jesus.
Ephesians 4:22 You were taught to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
Ephesians 4:23 to be renewed in the spirit of your minds;
Ephesians 4:24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are members of one another.
Ephesians 4:26 _Be angry, yet do not sin._ Do not let the sun set upon your anger,
Ephesians 4:27 and do not give the devil a foothold.
Ephesians 4:28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need.
Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.
Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Ephesians 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice.
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and tender-hearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 5:1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children,
Ephesians 5:2 and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.
Ephesians 5:3 But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality or impurity or greed.
Ephesians 5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving.
Ephesians 5:5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Ephesians 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God_s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience.
Ephesians 5:7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.
Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,
Ephesians 5:9 for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.
Ephesians 5:10 Test and prove what pleases the Lord.
Ephesians 5:11 Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
Ephesians 5:12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.
Ephesians 5:13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that is illuminated becomes a light itself.
Ephesians 5:14 So it is said: _Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you._
Ephesians 5:15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
Ephesians 5:16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Ephesians 5:17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord_s will is.
Ephesians 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,
Ephesians 5:20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior.
Ephesians 5:24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her
Ephesians 5:26 to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
Ephesians 5:27 and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.
Ephesians 5:28 In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
Ephesians 5:29 Indeed, no one ever hated his own body, but he nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church.
Ephesians 5:30 For we are members of His body.
Ephesians 5:31 _For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh._
Ephesians 5:32 This mystery is profound, but I am speaking about Christ and the church.
Ephesians 5:33 Nevertheless, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Ephesians 6:2 _Honor your father and mother_ (which is the first commandment with a promise),
Ephesians 6:3 _that it may go well with you and that you may be long-lived on the earth._
Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger; instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Ephesians 6:5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would show to Christ.
Ephesians 6:6 And do this not only to please them while they are watching, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.
Ephesians 6:7 Serve with good will, as to the Lord and not to men,
Ephesians 6:8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
Ephesians 6:9 And masters, do the same for your slaves. Give up your use of threats, because you know that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him.
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
Ephesians 6:11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil_s schemes.
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world_s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 6:13 Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.
Ephesians 6:14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth fastened around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed,
Ephesians 6:15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace.
Ephesians 6:16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:18 Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.
Ephesians 6:19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, divine utterance may be given me, so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel,
Ephesians 6:20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should.
Ephesians 6:21 Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know about me and what I am doing.
Ephesians 6:22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about us, and that he may encourage your hearts.
Ephesians 6:23 Peace to the brothers and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 6:24 Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:
Philippians 1:2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:3 I thank my God every time I remember you.
Philippians 1:4 In every prayer for all of you, I always pray with joy,
Philippians 1:5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
Philippians 1:6 For I am confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will continue to perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me.
Philippians 1:8 God is my witness how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and profound insight,
Philippians 1:10 so that you can discern what is best, that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
Philippians 1:11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have actually served to advance the gospel.
Philippians 1:13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.
Philippians 1:14 And most of the brothers, confident in the Lord by my chains, now dare more greatly to speak the word without fear.
Philippians 1:15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.
Philippians 1:16 The latter do so in love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.
Philippians 1:17 The former, however, preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing they can add to the distress of my chains.
Philippians 1:18 What, then, is the issue? Only that in every way, whether by false motives or true, Christ is preached. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,
Philippians 1:19 because I know that through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, my distress will turn out for my deliverance.
Philippians 1:20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness, so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:22 But if I go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. So what shall I choose? I do not know.
Philippians 1:23 I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed.
Philippians 1:24 But it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
Philippians 1:25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,
Philippians 1:26 so that through my coming to you again, your exultation in Christ Jesus will resound on account of me.
Philippians 1:27 Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending side by side for the faith of the gospel,
Philippians 1:28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a clear sign of their destruction but of your salvation, and it is from God.
Philippians 1:29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him,
Philippians 1:30 since you are encountering the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
Philippians 2:1 Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,
Philippians 2:2 then make my joy complete by being of one mind, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose.
Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.
Philippians 2:4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:
Philippians 2:6 Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to cling to,
Philippians 2:7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness.
Philippians 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death_even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:9 Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place, and gave Him the name above all names,
Philippians 2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
Philippians 2:11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
Philippians 2:13 For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good pleasure.
Philippians 2:14 Do everything without complaining or arguing,
Philippians 2:15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world
Philippians 2:16 as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
Philippians 2:17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.
Philippians 2:18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
Philippians 2:19 Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I learn how you are doing.
Philippians 2:20 I have nobody else like him who will genuinely care for your needs.
Philippians 2:21 For all the others look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 2:22 But you know Timothy_s proven worth, that as a child with his father he has served with me to advance the gospel.
Philippians 2:23 So I hope to send him as soon as I see what happens with me.
Philippians 2:24 And I trust in the Lord that I myself will come soon.
Philippians 2:25 But I thought it necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my needs.
Philippians 2:26 For he has been longing for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill.
Philippians 2:27 He was sick indeed, nearly unto death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.
Philippians 2:28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less anxious.
Philippians 2:29 Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him,
Philippians 2:30 because he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for your deficit of service to me.
Philippians 3:1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.
Philippians 3:2 Watch out for those dogs, those workers of evil, those mutilators of the flesh!
Philippians 3:3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh_
Philippians 3:4 though I myself could have such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more:
Philippians 3:5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee;
Philippians 3:6 as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness under the Law, faultless.
Philippians 3:7 But whatever was an asset to me, I count as loss for the sake of Christ.
Philippians 3:8 More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
Philippians 3:9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.
Philippians 3:10 I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death,
Philippians 3:11 so that I may somehow attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been perfected, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Philippians 3:13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have laid hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God_s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:15 All of us who are mature should embrace this point of view. And if you think differently about some issue, God will reveal this to you as well.
Philippians 3:16 Nevertheless, we must live up to what we have already attained.
Philippians 3:17 Join one another in following my example, brothers, and carefully observe those who live according to the pattern we set for you.
Philippians 3:18 For as I have often told you before, and now declare even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.
Philippians 3:19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.
Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Philippians 3:21 who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.
Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you must stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.
Philippians 4:2 I urge Euodia and Syntyche to agree in the Lord.
Philippians 4:3 Yes, and I ask you, my true yokefellow, to help these women who have labored with me for the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Philippians 4:5 Let your gentleness be obvious to everyone. The Lord is near.
Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable_if anything is excellent or praiseworthy_think on these things.
Philippians 4:9 Whatever you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, put these things into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:10 Now I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.
Philippians 4:11 I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances.
Philippians 4:12 I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation_to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:14 Nevertheless, you have done well to share in my affliction.
Philippians 4:15 And as you Philippians know, in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church but you partnered with me in the matter of giving and receiving.
Philippians 4:16 For even while I was in Thessalonica, you provided for my needs once and again.
Philippians 4:17 Not that I am seeking a gift, but I am looking for the fruit that may be credited to your account.
Philippians 4:18 I have all I need and more, now that I have received your gifts from Epaphroditus. They are a sweet smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.
Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Philippians 4:21 Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you greetings.
Philippians 4:22 All the saints send you greetings, especially those from the household of Caesar.
Philippians 4:23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Colossians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
Colossians 1:2 To the saints in Colossae, the faithful brothers in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.
Colossians 1:3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,
Colossians 1:4 because we have heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all the saints,
Colossians 1:5 springing from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel
Colossians 1:6 that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood the grace of God.
Colossians 1:7 You learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,
Colossians 1:8 and who also informed us of your love in the Spirit.
Colossians 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
Colossians 1:10 so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
Colossians 1:11 being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, and joyfully
Colossians 1:12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.
Colossians 1:13 He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son,
Colossians 1:14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 1:15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Colossians 1:16 For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him.
Colossians 1:17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
Colossians 1:18 And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence.
Colossians 1:19 For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him,
Colossians 1:20 and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross.
Colossians 1:21 Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds because of your evil deeds.
Colossians 1:22 But now He has reconciled you by Christ_s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence_
Colossians 1:23 if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
Colossians 1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ_s afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the church.
Colossians 1:25 I became its servant by the commission God gave me to fully proclaim to you the word of God,
Colossians 1:26 the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints,
Colossians 1:27 to whom God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Colossians 1:28 We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
Colossians 1:29 To this end I labor, striving with all His energy working powerfully within me.
Colossians 2:1 I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me face to face,
Colossians 2:2 that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ,
Colossians 2:3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Colossians 2:4 I say this so that no one will deceive you by smooth rhetoric.
Colossians 2:5 For although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I delight to see your orderly condition and firm faith in Christ.
Colossians 2:6 Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him,
Colossians 2:7 rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.
Colossians 2:9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form.
Colossians 2:10 And you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
Colossians 2:11 In Him you were also circumcised in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands.
Colossians 2:12 And having been buried with Him in baptism, you were raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead.
Colossians 2:13 When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses,
Colossians 2:14 having canceled the debt ascribed to us in the decrees that stood against us. He took it away, nailing it to the cross!
Colossians 2:15 And having disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Colossians 2:16 Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a festival, a New Moon, or a Sabbath.
Colossians 2:17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.
Colossians 2:18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you with speculation about what he has seen. Such a man is puffed up without basis by his unspiritual mind,
Colossians 2:19 and he loses connection to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God causes it to grow.
Colossians 2:20 If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations:
Colossians 2:21 _Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!_?
Colossians 2:22 These will all perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings.
Colossians 2:23 Such restrictions indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-prescribed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body; but they are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
Colossians 3:1 Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Colossians 3:3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Colossians 3:5 Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.
Colossians 3:6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
Colossians 3:7 When you lived among them, you also used to walk in these ways.
Colossians 3:8 But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth.
Colossians 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices,
Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
Colossians 3:11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.
Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive any complaint you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Colossians 3:14 And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity.
Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Colossians 3:18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Colossians 3:19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
Colossians 3:20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.
Colossians 3:21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become discouraged.
Colossians 3:22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord.
Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men,
Colossians 3:24 because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3:25 Whoever does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.
Colossians 4:1 Masters, supply your slaves with what is right and fair, since you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful,
Colossians 4:3 as you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
Colossians 4:4 Pray that I may declare it clearly, as I should.
Colossians 4:5 Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time.
Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Colossians 4:7 Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord.
Colossians 4:8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about us, and that he may encourage your hearts.
Colossians 4:9 With him I am sending Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.
Colossians 4:10 My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you greetings, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas. You have already received instructions about him: If he comes to you, welcome him.
Colossians 4:11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.
Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in the full will of God.
Colossians 4:13 For I testify about him that he goes to great pains for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.
Colossians 4:14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas send you greetings.
Colossians 4:15 Greet the brothers in Laodicea, as well as Nympha and the church that meets at her house.
Colossians 4:16 After this letter has been read among you, make sure that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.
Colossians 4:17 Tell Archippus: _See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord._
Colossians 4:18 This greeting is in my own hand_Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.
1 Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.
1 Thessalonians 1:2 We always thank God for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers
1 Thessalonians 1:3 and continually recalling before our God and Father your work of faith, your labor of love, and your enduring hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 1:4 Brothers who are beloved by God, we know that He has chosen you,
1 Thessalonians 1:5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with great conviction_just as you know we lived among you for your sake.
1 Thessalonians 1:6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord when you welcomed the message with the joy of the Holy Spirit, in spite of your great suffering.
1 Thessalonians 1:7 As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
1 Thessalonians 1:8 For not only did the message of the Lord ring out from you to Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone out to every place, so that we have no need to say anything further.
1 Thessalonians 1:9 For they themselves report what kind of welcome you gave us, and how you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God
1 Thessalonians 1:10 and to await His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead_Jesus our deliverer from the coming wrath.
1 Thessalonians 2:1 You yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not in vain.
1 Thessalonians 2:2 As you are aware, we had already endured suffering and shameful treatment in Philippi. But in the face of strong opposition, we were bold in our God to speak the gospel of God to you.
1 Thessalonians 2:3 For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery.
1 Thessalonians 2:4 Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts.
1 Thessalonians 2:5 As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness!
1 Thessalonians 2:6 Nor did we seek praise from you or from anyone else, although as apostles of Christ we had authority to demand it.
1 Thessalonians 2:7 On the contrary, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children.
1 Thessalonians 2:8 We cared so deeply that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our own lives as well. That is how beloved you have become to us.
1 Thessalonians 2:9 Surely you recall, brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
1 Thessalonians 2:10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless our conduct was among you who believed.
1 Thessalonians 2:11 For you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children.
1 Thessalonians 2:12 We encouraged you and comforted you as we urged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His kingdom and glory.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 And we continually thank God that in receiving the word of God from us, you did not accept it as the word of men, but as the true word of God. And this is the word which is now at work in you who believe.
1 Thessalonians 2:14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Judea that are in Christ Jesus. You suffered from your own countrymen the very things they suffered from the Jews,
1 Thessalonians 2:15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out as well. They are displeasing to God and hostile to all men,
1 Thessalonians 2:16 hindering us from telling the Gentiles how they may be saved. As a result, they continue to heap up their sins to full capacity; the utmost wrath has come upon them.
1 Thessalonians 2:17 Brothers, although we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in heart), our desire to see you face to face was even more intense.
1 Thessalonians 2:18 For we wanted to come to you_indeed I, Paul, tried again and again_but Satan obstructed us.
1 Thessalonians 2:19 After all, who is our hope, our joy, our crown of boasting, if it is not you yourselves in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?
1 Thessalonians 2:20 You are indeed our glory and our joy.
1 Thessalonians 3:1 So when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left on our own in Athens.
1 Thessalonians 3:2 We sent Timothy, our brother and God_s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,
1 Thessalonians 3:3 so that none of you would be shaken by these trials. For you know that we are destined for this.
1 Thessalonians 3:4 Indeed, when we were with you, we kept warning you that we would suffer persecution; and as you know, it has come to pass.
1 Thessalonians 3:5 For this reason, when I could stand it no more, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter had somehow tempted you and caused our labor to be in vain.
1 Thessalonians 3:6 But now Timothy has returned from his visit with the good news about your faith, your love, and the fond memories you have preserved, longing to see us just as we long to see you.
1 Thessalonians 3:7 For this reason, brothers, in all our distress and persecution, we have been reassured about you, because of your faith.
1 Thessalonians 3:8 For now we can go on living, as long as you are standing firm in the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 3:9 How can we adequately thank God for you in return for our great joy over you in His presence?
1 Thessalonians 3:10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking from your faith.
1 Thessalonians 3:11 Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you.
1 Thessalonians 3:12 And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows,
1 Thessalonians 3:13 so that He may establish your hearts in blamelessness and holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen.
1 Thessalonians 4:1 Finally, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to live in a way that is pleasing to God, as you have received from us. This is how you already live, so you should do so all the more.
1 Thessalonians 4:2 For you know the instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 4:3 For it is God_s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality;
1 Thessalonians 4:4 each of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,
1 Thessalonians 4:5 not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God;
1 Thessalonians 4:6 and no one should ever exploit or take advantage of his brother in this regard, because the Lord will avenge all such acts, as we have already told you and solemnly warned you.
1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness.
1 Thessalonians 4:8 Anyone, then, who rejects this command does not reject man but God, the very One who gives you His Holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 4:9 Now about brotherly love, you do not need anyone to write to you, because you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.
1 Thessalonians 4:10 And indeed, you are showing this love to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to excel more and more
1 Thessalonians 4:11 and to aspire to live quietly, to attend to your own matters, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you.
1 Thessalonians 4:12 Then you will behave properly toward outsiders, without being dependent on anyone.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope.
1 Thessalonians 4:14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.
1 Thessalonians 4:15 By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 5:1 Now about the times and seasons, brothers, we do not need to write to you.
1 Thessalonians 5:2 For you are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
1 Thessalonians 5:3 While people are saying, _Peace and security,_ destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
1 Thessalonians 5:4 But you, brothers, are not in the darkness so that this day should overtake you like a thief.
1 Thessalonians 5:5 For you are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
1 Thessalonians 5:6 So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober.
1 Thessalonians 5:7 For those who sleep, sleep at night; and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.
1 Thessalonians 5:8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of our hope of salvation.
1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God has not appointed us to suffer wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:12 But we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who preside over you in the Lord and give you instruction.
1 Thessalonians 5:13 In love, hold them in highest regard because of their work. Live in peace with one another.
1 Thessalonians 5:14 And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.
1 Thessalonians 5:15 Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.
1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice at all times.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God_s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:19 Do not extinguish the Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 5:20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt,
1 Thessalonians 5:21 but test all things. Hold fast to what is good.
1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from every form of evil.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:24 The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.
1 Thessalonians 5:25 Brothers, pray for us as well.
1 Thessalonians 5:26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
1 Thessalonians 5:27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.
1 Thessalonians 5:28 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
2 Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
2 Thessalonians 1:2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 1:3 We are obligated to thank God for you all the time, brothers, as is fitting, because your faith is growing more and more, and your love for one another is increasing.
2 Thessalonians 1:4 That is why we boast among God_s churches about your perseverance and faith in the face of all the persecution and affliction you are enduring.
2 Thessalonians 1:5 All this is clear evidence of God_s righteous judgment. And so you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.
2 Thessalonians 1:6 After all, it is only right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,
2 Thessalonians 1:7 and to grant relief to you who are oppressed, and to us as well, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels
2 Thessalonians 1:8 in blazing fire. He will inflict vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
2 Thessalonians 1:9 They will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might,
2 Thessalonians 1:10 on the day He comes to be glorified in His saints and regarded with wonder by all who have believed, including you who have believed our testimony.
2 Thessalonians 1:11 To this end, we always pray for you, that our God will count you worthy of His calling, and that He will powerfully fulfill your every good desire and work of faith,
2 Thessalonians 1:12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, brothers,
2 Thessalonians 2:2 not to be easily disconcerted or alarmed by any spirit or message or letter presuming to be from us and alleging that the day of the Lord has already come.
2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness (the son of destruction) is revealed.
2 Thessalonians 2:4 He will oppose and exalt himself above every so-called god or object of worship. So he will seat himself in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
2 Thessalonians 2:5 Do you not remember that I told you these things while I was still with you?
2 Thessalonians 2:6 And you know what is now restraining him, so that he will be revealed at the proper time.
2 Thessalonians 2:7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one who now restrains it will continue until he is taken out of the way.
2 Thessalonians 2:8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and abolish by the majesty of His arrival.
2 Thessalonians 2:9 The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder,
2 Thessalonians 2:10 and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them.
2 Thessalonians 2:11 For this reason, God will send them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie,
2 Thessalonians 2:12 in order that judgment will come upon all who have disbelieved the truth and delighted in wickedness.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we should always thank God for you, brothers who are loved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning to be saved by the sanctification of the Spirit and by faith in the truth.
2 Thessalonians 2:14 To this He called you through our gospel, so that you may share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2:15 Therefore, brothers, stand firm and cling to the traditions we taught you, whether by speech or by letter.
2 Thessalonians 2:16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, who by grace has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope,
2 Thessalonians 2:17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good word and deed.
2 Thessalonians 3:1 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread quickly and be held in honor, just as it was with you.
2 Thessalonians 3:2 And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men; for not everyone holds to the faith.
2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.
2 Thessalonians 3:4 And we have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.
2 Thessalonians 3:5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God_s love and Christ_s perseverance.
2 Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received from us.
2 Thessalonians 3:7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you,
2 Thessalonians 3:8 nor did we eat anyone_s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you.
2 Thessalonians 3:9 Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate.
2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: _If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat._
2 Thessalonians 3:11 Yet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies.
2 Thessalonians 3:12 We command and urge such people by our Lord Jesus Christ to begin working quietly to earn their own living.
2 Thessalonians 3:13 But as for you, brothers, do not grow weary in well-doing.
2 Thessalonians 3:14 Take note of anyone who does not obey the instructions we have given in this letter. Do not associate with him, so that he may be ashamed.
2 Thessalonians 3:15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
2 Thessalonians 3:17 This greeting is in my own hand_Paul. This is my mark in every letter; it is the way I write.
2 Thessalonians 3:18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.
1 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,
1 Timothy 1:2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 Timothy 1:3 As I urged you on my departure to Macedonia, you should stay on at Ephesus to instruct certain men not to teach false doctrines
1 Timothy 1:4 or devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculation rather than the stewardship of God_s work, which is by faith.
1 Timothy 1:5 The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.
1 Timothy 1:6 Some have strayed from these ways and turned aside to empty talk.
1 Timothy 1:7 They want to be teachers of the Law, but they do not understand what they are saying or that which they so confidently assert.
1 Timothy 1:8 Now we know that the Law is good, if one uses it legitimately.
1 Timothy 1:9 We realize that law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for killers of father or mother, for murderers,
1 Timothy 1:10 for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching
1 Timothy 1:11 that agrees with the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.
1 Timothy 1:12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, that He considered me faithful and appointed me to service.
1 Timothy 1:13 I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy.
1 Timothy 1:14 And the grace of our Lord overflowed to me, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 1:15 This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.
1 Timothy 1:16 But for this very reason I was shown mercy, so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His perfect patience, as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
1 Timothy 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 1:18 Timothy, my child, I entrust you with this command in keeping with the previous prophecies about you, so that by them you may fight the good fight,
1 Timothy 1:19 holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and thereby shipwrecked their faith.
1 Timothy 1:20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
1 Timothy 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered on behalf of all men
1 Timothy 2:2 for kings and all those in authority, so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity.
1 Timothy 2:3 This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,
1 Timothy 2:4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
1 Timothy 2:6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all_the testimony that was given at just the right time.
1 Timothy 2:7 For this reason I was appointed as a herald, an apostle, and a faithful and true teacher of the Gentiles. I am telling the truth; I am not lying about anything.
1 Timothy 2:8 Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or dissension.
1 Timothy 2:9 Likewise, I want the women to adorn themselves with respectable apparel, with modesty, and with self-control, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,
1 Timothy 2:10 but with good deeds, as is proper for women who profess to worship God.
1 Timothy 2:11 A woman must learn in quietness and full submissiveness.
1 Timothy 2:12 I do not permit a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man; she is to remain quiet.
1 Timothy 2:13 For Adam was formed first, and then Eve.
1 Timothy 2:14 And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman who was deceived and fell into transgression.
1 Timothy 2:15 Women, however, will be saved through childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.
1 Timothy 3:1 This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task.
1 Timothy 3:2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
1 Timothy 3:3 not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money.
1 Timothy 3:4 An overseer must manage his own household well and keep his children under control, with complete dignity.
1 Timothy 3:5 For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for the church of God?
1 Timothy 3:6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same condemnation as the devil.
1 Timothy 3:7 Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.
1 Timothy 3:8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued or given to much wine or greedy for money.
1 Timothy 3:9 They must hold to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
1 Timothy 3:10 Additionally, they must first be tested. Then, if they are above reproach, let them serve as deacons.
1 Timothy 3:11 In the same way, the women must be dignified, not slanderers, but temperate and faithful in all things.
1 Timothy 3:12 A deacon must be the husband of but one wife, a good manager of his children and of his own household.
1 Timothy 3:13 For those who have served well as deacons acquire for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 3:14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these things
1 Timothy 3:15 so that, if I am delayed, you will know how each one must conduct himself in God_s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
1 Timothy 3:16 By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, was taken up in glory.
1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,
1 Timothy 4:2 influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron.
1 Timothy 4:3 They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from certain foods that God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
1 Timothy 4:4 For every creation of God is good, and nothing that is received with thanksgiving should be rejected,
1 Timothy 4:5 because it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
1 Timothy 4:6 By pointing out these things to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith and sound instruction you have followed.
1 Timothy 4:7 But reject irreverent and silly myths. Instead, train yourself for godliness.
1 Timothy 4:8 For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come.
1 Timothy 4:9 This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance.
1 Timothy 4:10 To this end we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.
1 Timothy 4:11 Command and teach these things.
1 Timothy 4:12 Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
1 Timothy 4:13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, and to teaching.
1 Timothy 4:14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given you through the prophecy spoken over you at the laying on of the hands of the elders.
1 Timothy 4:15 Be diligent in these matters and absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.
1 Timothy 4:16 Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
1 Timothy 5:1 Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as to a father. Treat younger men as brothers,
1 Timothy 5:2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
1 Timothy 5:3 Support the widows who are truly in need.
1 Timothy 5:4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show godliness to their own family and repay their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.
1 Timothy 5:5 The widow who is truly in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers.
1 Timothy 5:6 But she who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still alive.
1 Timothy 5:7 Give these instructions to the believers, so that they will be above reproach.
1 Timothy 5:8 If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
1 Timothy 5:9 A widow should be enrolled if she is at least sixty years old, the wife of one man,
1 Timothy 5:10 and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work.
1 Timothy 5:11 But refuse to enroll younger widows. For when their passions draw them away from Christ, they will want to marry,
1 Timothy 5:12 and thus will incur judgment because they are setting aside their first faith.
1 Timothy 5:13 At the same time they will also learn to be idle, going from house to house and being not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, speaking of things they should not mention.
1 Timothy 5:14 So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, so they will not give the adversary an occasion for slander.
1 Timothy 5:15 For some have already turned aside to follow Satan.
1 Timothy 5:16 If any believing woman has dependent widows, she must assist them and not allow the church to be burdened, so that it can help the widows who are truly in need.
1 Timothy 5:17 Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
1 Timothy 5:18 For the Scripture says, _Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,_ and, _The worker is worthy of his wages._
1 Timothy 5:19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
1 Timothy 5:20 But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin.
1 Timothy 5:21 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to maintain these principles without bias, and to do nothing out of partiality.
1 Timothy 5:22 Do not be too quick in the laying on of hands and thereby share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
1 Timothy 5:23 Stop drinking only water and use a little wine instead, because of your stomach and your frequent ailments.
1 Timothy 5:24 The sins of some men are obvious, going ahead of them to judgment; but the sins of others do not surface until later.
1 Timothy 5:25 In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even the ones that are inconspicuous cannot remain hidden.
1 Timothy 6:1 All who are under the yoke of slavery should regard their masters as fully worthy of honor, so that God_s name and our teaching will not be discredited.
1 Timothy 6:2 Those who have believing masters should not show disrespect because they are brothers, but should serve them all the more, since those receiving their good service are beloved believers. Teach and encourage these principles.
1 Timothy 6:3 If anyone teaches another doctrine and disagrees with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with godly teaching,
1 Timothy 6:4 he is conceited and understands nothing. Instead, he has an unhealthy interest in controversies and semantics, out of which come envy, strife, abusive talk, evil suspicions,
1 Timothy 6:5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind who are devoid of the truth. These men regard godliness as a means of gain.
1 Timothy 6:6 Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Timothy 6:7 For we brought nothing into the world, and neither can we carry anything out of it.
1 Timothy 6:8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.
1 Timothy 6:9 Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.
1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
1 Timothy 6:11 But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who made the good confession in His testimony before Pontius Pilate:
1 Timothy 6:14 Keep this commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1 Timothy 6:15 which God will bring about in His own time_He who is blessed and the only Sovereign One, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
1 Timothy 6:16 He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.
1 Timothy 6:17 Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy.
1 Timothy 6:18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share,
1 Timothy 6:19 treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
1 Timothy 6:20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid irreverent chatter and the opposing arguments of so-called _knowledge,_
1 Timothy 6:21 which some have professed and thus swerved away from the faith. Grace be with you all.
2 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus,
2 Timothy 1:2 To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
2 Timothy 1:3 I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as did my forefathers, as I constantly remember you night and day in my prayers.
2 Timothy 1:4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy.
2 Timothy 1:5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced is in you as well.
2 Timothy 1:6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power, love, and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.
2 Timothy 1:9 He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not because of our own works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time eternal.
2 Timothy 1:10 And now He has revealed this grace through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the gospel,
2 Timothy 1:11 to which I was appointed a preacher, apostle, and teacher.
2 Timothy 1:12 For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day.
2 Timothy 1:13 Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching you have heard from me, with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 1:14 Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
2 Timothy 1:15 You know that everyone in the Province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
2 Timothy 1:16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he has often refreshed me and was unashamed of my chains.
2 Timothy 1:17 Indeed, when he arrived in Rome, he searched diligently until he found me.
2 Timothy 1:18 May the Lord grant Onesiphorus His mercy on that day. You know very well how much he ministered to me in Ephesus.
2 Timothy 2:1 You therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that you have heard me say among many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be qualified to teach others as well.
2 Timothy 2:3 Join me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 2:4 A soldier refrains from entangling himself in civilian affairs, in order to please the one who enlisted him.
2 Timothy 2:5 Likewise, a contender does not receive the crown unless he competes according to the rules.
2 Timothy 2:6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive his share of the crops.
2 Timothy 2:7 Consider what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all things.
2 Timothy 2:8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David, as proclaimed by my gospel,
2 Timothy 2:9 for which I suffer to the extent of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained!
2 Timothy 2:10 For this reason I endure all things for the sake of the elect, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
2 Timothy 2:11 This is a trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him;
2 Timothy 2:12 if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us;
2 Timothy 2:13 if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
2 Timothy 2:14 Remind the believers of these things, charging them before God to avoid quarreling over words; this is in no way profitable, and leads its listeners to ruin.
2 Timothy 2:15 Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:16 But avoid irreverent and empty chatter, which will only lead to more ungodliness,
2 Timothy 2:17 and the talk of such men will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
2 Timothy 2:18 who have deviated from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already occurred, and they undermine the faith of some.
2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless, God_s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: _The Lord knows those who are His,_ and, _Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity._
2 Timothy 2:20 A large house contains not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. Some indeed are for honorable use, but others are for common use.
2 Timothy 2:21 So if anyone cleanses himself of what is unfit, he will be a vessel for honor: sanctified, useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work.
2 Timothy 2:22 Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2 Timothy 2:23 But reject foolish and ignorant speculation, for you know that it breeds quarreling.
2 Timothy 2:24 And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing.
2 Timothy 2:25 He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.
2 Timothy 2:26 Then they will come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, who has taken them captive to his will.
2 Timothy 3:1 But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come.
2 Timothy 3:2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
2 Timothy 3:3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good,
2 Timothy 3:4 traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
2 Timothy 3:5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!
2 Timothy 3:6 They are the kind who worm their way into households and captivate vulnerable women who are weighed down with sins and led astray by various passions,
2 Timothy 3:7 always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.
2 Timothy 3:8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth. They are depraved in mind and disqualified from the faith.
2 Timothy 3:9 But they will not advance much further. For just like Jannes and Jambres, their folly will be plain to everyone.
2 Timothy 3:10 You, however, have observed my teaching, my conduct, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance,
2 Timothy 3:11 my persecutions, and the sufferings that came upon me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.
2 Timothy 3:12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
2 Timothy 3:13 while evil men and imposters go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
2 Timothy 3:14 But as for you, continue in the things you have learned and firmly believed, since you know from whom you learned them.
2 Timothy 3:15 From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
2 Timothy 3:17 so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 4:1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom:
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.
2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.
2 Timothy 4:4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
2 Timothy 4:5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
2 Timothy 4:6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
2 Timothy 4:8 From now on the crown of righteousness is laid up for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day_and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing.
2 Timothy 4:9 Make every effort to come to me quickly,
2 Timothy 4:10 because Demas, in his love of this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
2 Timothy 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is useful to me in the ministry.
2 Timothy 4:12 Tychicus, however, I have sent to Ephesus.
2 Timothy 4:13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.
2 Timothy 4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds.
2 Timothy 4:15 You too should beware of him, for he has vigorously opposed our message.
2 Timothy 4:16 At my first defense, no one stood with me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be charged against them.
2 Timothy 4:17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles would hear it. So I was delivered from the mouth of the lion.
2 Timothy 4:18 And the Lord will rescue me from every evil action and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
2 Timothy 4:19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, as well as the household of Onesiphorus.
2 Timothy 4:20 Erastus has remained at Corinth, and Trophimus I left sick in Miletus.
2 Timothy 4:21 Make every effort to come to me before winter. Eubulus sends you greetings, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers.
2 Timothy 4:22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.
Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ in service of the faith of God_s elect and of their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness,
Titus 1:2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.
Titus 1:3 In His own time, He has revealed His message in the proclamation entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior.
Titus 1:4 To Titus, my true child in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
Titus 1:5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you would set in order what was unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.
Titus 1:6 An elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife, having children who are believers and are not open to accusation of indiscretion or insubordination.
Titus 1:7 As God_s steward, an overseer must be above reproach_not self-absorbed, not quick tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money.
Titus 1:8 Instead, he must be hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.
Titus 1:9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it was taught, so that by sound teaching he will be able to encourage others and refute those who contradict this message.
Titus 1:10 For many are rebellious and full of empty talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision,
Titus 1:11 who must be silenced. For the sake of dishonorable gain, they undermine entire households and teach things they should not.
Titus 1:12 As one of their own prophets has said, _Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons._
Titus 1:13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sternly, so that they will be sound in the faith,
Titus 1:14 and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of men who have rejected the truth.
Titus 1:15 To the pure, all things are pure; but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure. Indeed, both their minds and their consciences are defiled.
Titus 1:16 They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their actions. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.
Titus 2:1 But as for you, speak the things that are consistent with sound doctrine.
Titus 2:2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, and sound in faith, love, and perseverance.
Titus 2:3 Older women, likewise, are to be reverent in their behavior, not slanderers or addicted to much wine, but teachers of good.
Titus 2:4 In this way they can train the young women to love their husbands and children,
Titus 2:5 to be self-controlled, pure, managers of their households, kind, and subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be discredited.
Titus 2:6 In the same way, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.
Titus 2:7 In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,
Titus 2:8 and wholesome speech that is above reproach, so that anyone who opposes us will be ashamed to have nothing bad to say about us.
Titus 2:9 Slaves are to submit to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative,
Titus 2:10 not stealing from them, but showing all good faith, so that in every respect they will adorn the teaching about God our Savior.
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men.
Titus 2:12 It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
Titus 2:13 as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Titus 2:14 He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
Titus 2:15 Speak these things as you encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.
Titus 3:1 Remind the believers to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient and ready for every good work,
Titus 3:2 to malign no one, and to be peaceable and gentle, showing full consideration to everyone.
Titus 3:3 For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
Titus 3:4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,
Titus 3:5 He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
Titus 3:6 This is the Spirit He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
Titus 3:7 so that, having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:8 This saying is trustworthy. And I want you to emphasize these things, so that those who have believed God will take care to devote themselves to good deeds. These things are excellent and profitable for the people.
Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and quarrels about the Law, because these things are pointless and worthless.
Titus 3:10 Reject a divisive man after a first and second admonition,
Titus 3:11 knowing that such a man is corrupt and sinful; he is self-condemned.
Titus 3:12 As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there.
Titus 3:13 Do your best to equip Zenas the lawyer and Apollos, so that they will have everything they need.
Titus 3:14 And our people must also learn to devote themselves to good works in order to meet the pressing needs of others, so that they will not be unfruitful.
Titus 3:15 All who are with me send you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with all of you.
Philemon 1:1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker,
Philemon 1:2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets at your house:
Philemon 1:3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philemon 1:4 I always thank my God, making mention of you in my prayers,
Philemon 1:5 because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.
Philemon 1:6 I pray that your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every good thing that is ours in Christ.
Philemon 1:7 I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
Philemon 1:8 So although in Christ I am fully confident that I could order you to do what is proper,
Philemon 1:9 I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. For I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Christ Jesus as well.
Philemon 1:10 I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I became while I was in chains.
Philemon 1:11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
Philemon 1:12 I am sending back to you him who is my very heart.
Philemon 1:13 I would have liked to keep him with me, so that on your behalf he could minister to me in my chains for the gospel.
Philemon 1:14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness will not be out of compulsion, but by your own free will.
Philemon 1:15 For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good_
Philemon 1:16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, both in person and in the Lord.
Philemon 1:17 So if you consider me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.
Philemon 1:18 But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to my account.
Philemon 1:19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I will repay it_not to mention that you owe me your very self.
Philemon 1:20 Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
Philemon 1:21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
Philemon 1:22 In the meantime, prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your prayers, I will be restored to you.
Philemon 1:23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings,
Philemon 1:24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
Philemon 1:25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Hebrews 1:1 On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets.
Hebrews 1:2 But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe.
Hebrews 1:3 The Son is the radiance of God_s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
Hebrews 1:4 So He became as far superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is excellent beyond theirs.
Hebrews 1:5 For to which of the angels did God ever say: _You are my Son; today I have become Your Father_? Or again: _I will be His Father, and He will be My Son_ ?
Hebrews 1:6 And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, He says: _Let all God_s angels worship Him._
Hebrews 1:7 Now about the angels He says: _He makes His angels winds, His servants flames of fire._
Hebrews 1:8 But about the Son He says: _Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of Your kingdom.
Hebrews 1:9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has placed You above Your companions by anointing You with the oil of joy._
Hebrews 1:10 And: _In the beginning, Lord, You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.
Hebrews 1:11 They will perish, but You remain; They will all wear out like a garment.
Hebrews 1:12 You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed; but You remain the same, and Your years will never end._
Hebrews 1:13 And to which of the angels did God ever say: _Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet_ ?
Hebrews 1:14 Are not the angels ministering spirits, sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
Hebrews 2:1 We must pay closer attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
Hebrews 2:2 For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every transgression and disobedience received its just punishment,
Hebrews 2:3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,
Hebrews 2:4 and was affirmed by God through signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.
Hebrews 2:5 For it is not to angels that He has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking.
Hebrews 2:6 But somewhere it is testified in these words: _What is man, that You are mindful of him, or the son of man, that You care for him?
Hebrews 2:7 You made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor
Hebrews 2:8 and placed everything under his feet._ When God subjected all things to him, He left nothing outside of his control. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him.
Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
Hebrews 2:10 In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting for God, for whom and through whom all things exist, to make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering.
Hebrews 2:11 For both the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are of the same family. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.
Hebrews 2:12 He says: _I will proclaim Your name to My brothers; I will sing Your praises in the congregation._
Hebrews 2:13 And again: _I will put My trust in Him._ And once again: _Here am I, and the children God has given Me._
Hebrews 2:14 Therefore, since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil,
Hebrews 2:15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
Hebrews 2:16 For surely it is not the angels He helps, but the descendants of Abraham.
Hebrews 2:17 So He had to be made like His brothers in every way, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, in order to make atonement for the sins of the people.
Hebrews 2:18 Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.
Hebrews 3:1 Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, set your minds on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.
Hebrews 3:2 He was faithful to the One who appointed Him, just as Moses was faithful in all God_s house.
Hebrews 3:3 Jesus has been counted worthy of greater glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself.
Hebrews 3:4 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.
Hebrews 3:5 Now Moses was faithful as a servant in all God_s house, testifying to what would be spoken later.
Hebrews 3:6 But Christ is faithful as the Son over God_s house. And we are His house, if we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope of which we boast.
Hebrews 3:7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: _Today if you hear His voice,
Hebrews 3:8 do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion, in the time of testing in the wilderness,
Hebrews 3:9 where your fathers tried Me by testing Me, and for forty years saw My works.
Hebrews 3:10 Therefore I was angry with that generation, and I said, _Their hearts always go astray, and they have not known My ways._
Hebrews 3:11 So I swore on oath in My anger, _They shall never enter My rest.__
Hebrews 3:12 See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God.
Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin_s deceitfulness.
Hebrews 3:14 We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly to the end the assurance we had at first.
Hebrews 3:15 As it has been said: _Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion._
Hebrews 3:16 For who were the ones who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt?
Hebrews 3:17 And with whom was God angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
Hebrews 3:18 And to whom did He swear that they would never enter His rest? Was it not to those who disobeyed?
Hebrews 3:19 So we see that it was because of their unbelief that they were unable to enter.
Hebrews 4:1 Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it.
Hebrews 4:2 For we also received the good news, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, since they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it.
Hebrews 4:3 Now we who have believed enter that rest. As for the others, it is just as God has said: _So I swore on oath in my anger, _They shall never enter My rest.__ And yet His works have been finished since the foundation of the world.
Hebrews 4:4 For somewhere He has spoken about the seventh day in this manner: _And on the seventh day God rested from all His works._
Hebrews 4:5 And again, as He says in the passage above: _They shall never enter My rest._
Hebrews 4:6 Since, then, it remains for some to enter His rest, and since those who formerly heard the good news did not enter because of their disobedience,
Hebrews 4:7 God again designated a certain day as _Today,_ when a long time later He spoke through David, as was already stated: _Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts._
Hebrews 4:8 Now if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.
Hebrews 4:9 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.
Hebrews 4:10 For whoever enters God_s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His.
Hebrews 4:11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God_s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
Hebrews 4:14 Therefore, since we have such a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess.
Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin.
Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 5:1 Every high priest is appointed from among men to represent them in matters relating to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
Hebrews 5:2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and misguided, since he himself is beset by weakness.
Hebrews 5:3 That is why he is obligated to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.
Hebrews 5:4 No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.
Hebrews 5:5 So also Christ did not take upon Himself the glory of becoming a high priest, but He was called by the One who said to Him: _You are My Son, today I have become Your Father._
Hebrews 5:6 And in another passage God says: _You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek._
Hebrews 5:7 During the days of Jesus_ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence.
Hebrews 5:8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered,
Hebrews 5:9 and having been made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him
Hebrews 5:10 and was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 5:11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing.
Hebrews 5:12 Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God_s word. You need milk, not solid food!
Hebrews 5:13 Everyone who lives on milk is still an infant, inexperienced in the message of righteousness.
Hebrews 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their sensibilities to distinguish good from evil.
Hebrews 6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith in God,
Hebrews 6:2 instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
Hebrews 6:3 And this we will do, if God permits.
Hebrews 6:4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,
Hebrews 6:5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age_
Hebrews 6:6 and then have fallen away_to be restored again to repentance, because they themselves are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to open shame.
Hebrews 6:7 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is tended receives the blessing of God.
Hebrews 6:8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless, and its curse is imminent. In the end it will be burned.
Hebrews 6:9 Even though we speak like this, beloved, we are convinced of better things in your case_of things that accompany salvation.
Hebrews 6:10 God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
Hebrews 6:11 We want each of you to show the same diligence to the very end, so that your hope may be fully assured.
Hebrews 6:12 Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
Hebrews 6:13 When God made His promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself,
Hebrews 6:14 saying, _I will surely bless you and multiply your descendants._
Hebrews 6:15 And so Abraham, after waiting patiently, obtained the promise.
Hebrews 6:16 Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and their oath serves as a confirmation to end all argument.
Hebrews 6:17 So when God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of the promise, He guaranteed it with an oath.
Hebrews 6:18 Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.
Hebrews 6:19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and steadfast. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,
Hebrews 6:20 where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 7:1 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
Hebrews 7:2 and Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything. First, his name means _king of righteousness._ Then also, _king of Salem_ means _king of peace._
Hebrews 7:3 Without father or mother or genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God, he remains a priest for all time.
Hebrews 7:4 Consider how great Melchizedek was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the spoils.
Hebrews 7:5 Now the Law commands the sons of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people (that is, their brothers), even though they are descended from Abraham.
Hebrews 7:6 But Melchizedek, who did not trace his descent from Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
Hebrews 7:7 And indisputably, the lesser is blessed by the greater.
Hebrews 7:8 In the case of the Levites, mortal men collect the tenth; but in the case of Melchizedek, it is affirmed that he lives on.
Hebrews 7:9 And so to speak, Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham.
Hebrews 7:10 For when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the loin of his ancestor.
Hebrews 7:11 Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (upon which basis the people received the Law), why was there still a need for another priest to appear_one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron?
Hebrews 7:12 For when the priesthood is changed, the Law must be changed as well.
Hebrews 7:13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.
Hebrews 7:14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, a tribe as to which Moses said nothing about priests.
Hebrews 7:15 And this point is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears,
Hebrews 7:16 one who has become a priest not by a law of succession, but by the power of an indestructible life.
Hebrews 7:17 For it is testified: _You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek._
Hebrews 7:18 So the former commandment is set aside because it was weak and useless
Hebrews 7:19 (for the Law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
Hebrews 7:20 And none of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath,
Hebrews 7:21 but Jesus became a priest with an oath by the One who said to Him: _The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, _You are a priest forever.__
Hebrews 7:22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
Hebrews 7:23 Now there have been many other priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office.
Hebrews 7:24 But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood.
Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.
Hebrews 7:26 Such a high priest truly befits us_One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
Hebrews 7:27 Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself.
Hebrews 7:28 For the Law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the Law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
Hebrews 8:1 The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,
Hebrews 8:2 and who ministers in the sanctuary and true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.
Hebrews 8:3 Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. So it was necessary for this One also to have something to offer.
Hebrews 8:4 Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are already priests to offer gifts according to the Law.
Hebrews 8:5 They serve at a copy and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary. That is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle, _See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain._
Hebrews 8:6 Now, however, Jesus has received a far superior ministry, just as the covenant He mediates is superior and is founded on better promises.
Hebrews 8:7 For if that first covenant had been without fault, no place would have been sought for a second.
Hebrews 8:8 But when God found fault with the people, He said: _Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.
Hebrews 8:9 It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they did not abide by My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord.
Hebrews 8:10 This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord. I will put My laws in their minds, and inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.
Hebrews 8:11 No longer will each one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, _Know the Lord,_ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest.
Hebrews 8:12 For I will forgive their iniquities, and remember their sins no more._
Hebrews 8:13 In speaking of a new covenant, He has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.
Hebrews 9:1 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary.
Hebrews 9:2 A tabernacle was constructed. In its first room were the lampstand, the table, and the consecrated bread. This was called the Holy Place.
Hebrews 9:3 Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,
Hebrews 9:4 containing the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. Inside the ark were the gold jar of manna, Aaron_s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.
Hebrews 9:5 Above the ark were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.
Hebrews 9:6 When everything had been prepared in this way, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to perform their sacred duties.
Hebrews 9:7 But only the high priest entered the inner room, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.
Hebrews 9:8 By this arrangement the Holy Spirit was showing that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing.
Hebrews 9:9 It is an illustration for the present time, because the gifts and sacrifices being offered were unable to cleanse the conscience of the worshiper.
Hebrews 9:10 They consist only in food and drink and special washings_external regulations imposed until the time of reform.
Hebrews 9:11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come, He entered the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands (that is, not of this creation).
Hebrews 9:12 He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.
Hebrews 9:13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean,
Hebrews 9:14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!
Hebrews 9:15 Therefore Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
Hebrews 9:16 In the case of a will, it is necessary to establish the death of the one who made it,
Hebrews 9:17 because a will does not take effect until the one who made it has died; it cannot be executed while he is still alive.
Hebrews 9:18 That is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.
Hebrews 9:19 For when Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the Law to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people,
Hebrews 9:20 saying, _This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep._
Hebrews 9:21 In the same way, he sprinkled with blood the tabernacle and all the vessels used in worship.
Hebrews 9:22 According to the Law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Hebrews 9:23 So it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
Hebrews 9:24 For Christ did not enter a man-made copy of the true sanctuary, but He entered heaven itself, now to appear on our behalf in the presence of God.
Hebrews 9:25 Nor did He enter heaven to offer Himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own.
Hebrews 9:26 Otherwise, He would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
Hebrews 9:27 Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment,
Hebrews 9:28 so also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him.
Hebrews 10:1 The Law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the realities themselves. It can never, by the same sacrifices offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.
Hebrews 10:2 If it could, would not the offerings have ceased? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all and would no longer feel the guilt of their sins.
Hebrews 10:3 Instead, those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins,
Hebrews 10:4 because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and of goats to take away sins.
Hebrews 10:5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: _Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for me.
Hebrews 10:6 In burnt offerings and sin offerings You took no delight.
Hebrews 10:7 Then I said, _Here I am, it is written about Me in the scroll: I have come to do Your will, O God.__
Hebrews 10:8 In the passage above He says, _Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not desire, nor did You delight in them_ (although they are required by the Law).
Hebrews 10:9 Then He adds, _Here I am, I have come to do Your will._ He takes away the first to establish the second.
Hebrews 10:10 And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Hebrews 10:11 Day after day every priest stands to minister and to offer again and again the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
Hebrews 10:12 But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.
Hebrews 10:13 Since that time, He waits for His enemies to be made a footstool for His feet,
Hebrews 10:14 because by a single offering He has made perfect for all time those who are sanctified.
Hebrews 10:15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First He says:
Hebrews 10:16 _This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, says the Lord. I will put My Laws in their hearts and inscribe them on their minds._
Hebrews 10:17 Then he adds: _Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more._
Hebrews 10:18 And where these have been forgiven, an offering for sin is no longer needed.
Hebrews 10:19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,
Hebrews 10:20 by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body,
Hebrews 10:21 and since we have a high priest over the house of God,
Hebrews 10:22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold resolutely to the hope we confess, for He who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds.
Hebrews 10:25 Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:26 If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains,
Hebrews 10:27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and raging fire that will consume all adversaries.
Hebrews 10:28 Anyone who rejected the Law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Hebrews 10:29 How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
Hebrews 10:30 For we know Him who said, _Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,_ and again, _The Lord will judge His people._
Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Hebrews 10:32 Remember the early days that you were in the light, when you endured a great conflict in the face of suffering.
Hebrews 10:33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to ridicule and persecution; at other times you were partners with those who were so treated.
Hebrews 10:34 You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, knowing that you yourselves had a better and permanent possession.
Hebrews 10:35 So do not throw away your confidence; it holds a great reward.
Hebrews 10:36 You need to persevere, so that after you have done God_s will, you will receive what He has promised.
Hebrews 10:37 For, _In just a very while little, He who is coming will come and will not delay.
Hebrews 10:38 But My righteous one will live by faith; and if he shrinks back, I will take no pleasure in him._
Hebrews 10:39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:2 This is why the ancients were commended.
Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed by God_s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death. He could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going.
Hebrews 11:9 By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.
Hebrews 11:10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Hebrews 11:11 By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the opportune age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.
Hebrews 11:12 And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
Hebrews 11:13 All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
Hebrews 11:14 Those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own.
Hebrews 11:15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.
Hebrews 11:16 Instead, they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac on the altar. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son,
Hebrews 11:18 even though God had said to him, _Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned._
Hebrews 11:19 Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death.
Hebrews 11:20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future.
Hebrews 11:21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph_s sons and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
Hebrews 11:22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his bones.
Hebrews 11:23 By faith Moses_ parents hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid of the king_s edict.
Hebrews 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh_s daughter.
Hebrews 11:25 He chose to suffer oppression with God_s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin.
Hebrews 11:26 He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.
Hebrews 11:27 By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king_s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.
Hebrews 11:28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch Israel_s own firstborn.
Hebrews 11:29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were drowned.
Hebrews 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.
Hebrews 11:31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.
Hebrews 11:32 And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,
Hebrews 11:33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and obtained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,