What do Jesus' believers believe? 1

And Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is, ‘Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God is one Lord, 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.’ This is the first commandment.

For with God nothing can be impossible”.

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the unthankful and the evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

But the time is coming, and now is, when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father seeks such persons to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth”.

When the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of this, they tore their clothes, and rushed in among the people, crying out and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We too are men, with the same nature as you, and we proclaim to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God who made heaven and earth and the sea, and everything that is in them. In times past he let all nations walk in their own ways. Nevertheless, he did not leave himself without testimony, for he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness”.

Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus, and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed by and looked at the objects of your worship, I found an altar with this inscription:

TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.

“Therefore, I am going to make known to you the one whom you worship without knowing. God, who made the world and everything in it, since he is the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands, nor is he served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, since he gives to everyone life, and breath, and everything else. And he has made from one blood every nation of man to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined the times set for them, and the boundaries of the regions where they live, so that they would seek the Lord, and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each of us; for in him we live, and move, and have our being. As some of your own poets also have said, we are also his offspring.

“Since then we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that God’s nature is like gold or silver or stone, a thing carved by man’s art and design. The times of such ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom he has ordained. He has given proof to all by raising him from the dead”.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known about God is evident among them, for God has showed it to them. For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes are clearly seen, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, being understood by the things that are made, so that they are without excuse.

Because, when they knew God, they did not glorify him as God, and were not thankful, but became futile in their reasonings, and their foolish heart was darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man, and birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping animals.

So concerning the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice to idols: We know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is but one God, and no other. For though there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many called gods and lords), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.

Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all encouragement,

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

which in his own time he will reveal. He is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach, whom no man has seen or can see. To him be eternal honour and power. Amen.

Nor is there any creature that is hidden from his sight. All things are naked and open to the eyes of him to whom we will give an account.

For we know him who has said, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. And again, The Lord will judge his people.

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variability, or shadow of turning.

As obedient children, do not let yourselves be conformed to the cravings you formerly had in your ignorance, but just as he who has called you is holy, so you be holy in your whole way of life. Because it is written,

And if you call on the Father, who, without partiality, judges according to everyone’s deeds, spend the time of your stay on earth in reverential fear.

This then is the message we have heard from him, and declare to you: God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

Dearly loved ones, let us love one another; for love is of God, and everyone who loves is born of God, and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was revealed toward us: God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Love is seen in this: Not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Dearly loved ones, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwells in us, and his love is made perfect in us.

And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him.

Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to God our Saviour, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

And the four living beings each had six wings. All around and on the inside of the wings they were full of eyes. And they do not rest day and night, saying,

And when those living beings give glory and honour and thanks to him who sits on the throne, who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders prostrate themselves before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb and say,

“All things have been handed over to me by my Father. And 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.

“Come to me, all you who labour and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on you, and learn from me. For I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light”.

When Jesus arrived in the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of man, am?”

And they said, “Some say that you are John the Baptist. Some say, ‘Elijah.’ And others say, ‘Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ”

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

And Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”.

And Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, also, that holy one who will be born will be called the Son of God.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. This same One was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him not one thing was made that was made.

In him was life, and that life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not comprehended it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify about the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to testify about that Light.

That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own did not receive him.

But as many as received him, to those who believed in his name, to them he gave the right to become the sons of God, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh, and lived among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John testified about him, and cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is superior to me, for he was before me.’ ”

And from his fulness we all have received, and grace upon grace. For the Law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has revealed him.

In response Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, the Son can do nothing by himself, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever he does, the Son also does the same things. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he does. And he will show him greater works than these, that you may be amazed.

“For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, just so the Son gives life to whom he will. For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, so that all men should honour the Son just as they honour the Father. He who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father who sent him.

“Truly, truly I say to you, he who hears my word and believes in him who sent me, has everlasting life and will not come into condemnation, but has passed from death to life.

“Truly, truly I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, even so he has given to the Son to have life in himself, and also has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of man.

“Do not be surprised at this, for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear his voice, and will come out. Those who have done good will come out for the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, for the resurrection of condemnation.

And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never hunger, and he who believes in me will never thirst. But I told you that you have seen me and do not believe.

“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will not at all send away.

“For I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of the Father who has sent me, that of all whom he has given me I should lose none, but should raise them up again at the last day. And this is the will of him who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him, will have everlasting life. And I will raise him up at the last day”.

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was, I am”.

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

She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who should come into the world”.

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going, and how can we know the way?”

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. And from now on you know him, and have seen him”.

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it will be sufficient for us”.

Jesus said to him, “Have I been such a long time with you, and you have not yet known me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. Then how can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’ Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own, but the Father who lives in me is doing these things. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me; or else believe me because of the deeds themselves.

Jesus spoke these words, raised his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so that your Son may also glorify you, as you have given him authority over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they might know you the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

“I have glorified you on the earth. I have finished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory which I had with you before the world was.

And after eight days his disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them. The doors were locked but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace be to you”.

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and reach your hand here and put it into my side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing”.

And Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God”.

Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”.

And indeed Jesus performed many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that, believing, you might have life through his name.

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Son Jesus whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be given to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead. Of this we are witnesses. And his name, through faith in his name, has made this man strong, this man whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which is granted through him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

be it known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead, by him this man stands here before you whole.

concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David, according to the flesh, and declared with power to be the Son of God, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

For no one can lay any other foundation than the one that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

In their case, the god of this present world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, would not shine into them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

For he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

But when the fulness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might be adopted as sons.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus,

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, for by him all things were created, things that are in heaven, and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers – all things were created by him, and for him. And he is before all things, and by him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church, and he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that in everything he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell in him, and, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things to himself; by him, I say, whether things on earth, or things in heaven.

For in him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily. And you are complete in him, who is the head of all sovereignty and power.

God, who in time past, at various times and in diverse ways spoke to the fathers by the prophets, in these last days has spoken to us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, and by whom also he made the worlds.

The Son is the brightness of God’s glory, and the exact image of his nature, and upholds all things by the word of his power. When he had by himself purged our sins he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, being made so much better than the angels, as he has inherited a more excellent name than they.

For to which of the angels did God ever say,

Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to serve those who will be heirs of salvation?

For such a high priest is fitting for us. He is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens, who does not need to offer up sacrifice daily, as those high priests, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people, for this he did once for all, when he offered up himself. For the Law ordains as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which was after the Law, ordains the Son who is consecrated forever.

My little children, I write these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us an understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

And I turned to see the voice that spoke to me. And being turned, I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the middle of the seven lampstands someone like the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the feet, and with a golden sash tied around the chest. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like a flame of fire. And his feet were like fine bronze, as if they burned in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of many waters. And he had seven stars in his right hand, and out of his mouth went a sharp double-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in its strength.

And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. And he laid his right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am he who lives. I was dead, and, look, I am alive forever and ever. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and death.

And I saw heaven opened, and there appeared a white horse and he who sat on him. He is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns. And he had a name written that no man knew except he himself. And he was dressed in a garment dipped in blood. And his name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven followed him on white horses, dressed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which he should strike the nations. And he will rule them with an iron rod. And he tramples the wine press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And on his robe and on his thigh he has a name written:

And the Word became flesh, and lived among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.

And the angel came in to her, and said, “Be joyful, you who are highly favoured, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women”.

And when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at his statement and wondered what kind of greeting this could be.

And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And, see, you will be with child, and bear a son, and shall call his name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end”.

Then said Mary to the angel, “How will this be, since I do not know a man?”

And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, also, that holy one who will be born will be called the Son of God. And now your cousin Elisabeth has also conceived a son in her old age. And this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing can be impossible”.

And Mary said, “See the maidservant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word”. And the angel departed from her.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this: After his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and unwilling to make her a public example, intended to release her from her vows, secretly.

But while he was thinking about these things, suddenly the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for what is conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit. And she will give birth to a son, and you shall call his name JESUS, for he will save his people from their sins”.

Now all this took place so there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,

Then Joseph, after he was aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and took her as his wife. But he did not know her until she had given birth to her firstborn son. And he called his name JESUS.

And it came about in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, saying that all the world should be registered. (This census was first taken when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to be registered, each one to his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the town of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and line of David, to be registered with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child.

And while they were there, it happened that the days were completed for her to give birth. And she brought forth her firstborn, a son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same area shepherds staying in the fields, keeping watch over their flock at night. And suddenly an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were very afraid.

And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for, see, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be for all people. For to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to you: You will find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger”.

And suddenly there was with the angel a great number of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

And it so happened that when the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us”.

And they hurried away, and found Mary, Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they had seen him, they made known the word they had been told concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen; it was just as it had been told to them.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, suddenly wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and have come to worship him”. When Herod the king heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. And they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea. For thus it has been written by the prophet:

Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, found out from them the exact time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search carefully for the young child. And when you have found him, bring me word again, so that I too may come and worship him”.

When they had heard the king, they went away, and now the star, which they had seen in the east, went before them until it came and stood over the place where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced, with exceedingly great joy. And when they came into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and prostrated themselves and worshipped him. And opening their treasures, they presented gifts to him: gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned by God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they went away to their own country by another way.

And when they had left, suddenly the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Get up, take the young child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word. For Herod will look for the young child to destroy him”.

When he got up, he took the young child and his mother at night and left for Egypt. And he was there until the death of Herod, so that there might be a fulfilment of what was spoken about the Lord by the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I have called my son”.

Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent men out, and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all of its environs, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had found out accurately from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying,

But when Herod was dead, suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Get up and take the young child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young child’s life are dead”.

And he got up and took the young child and his mother, and came to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And having been warned by God in a dream, he withdrew to the region of Galilee. And he came and lived in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He will be called a Nazarene.

But when the fulness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might be adopted as sons.

Since therefore the children had flesh and blood, he also himself took of the same, so that through death he might destroy the one having the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver those who through fear of death were, throughout their lifetime, under the heel of slavery.

For he certainly does not take hold of angels to help them, but he takes hold of the children of Abraham.

Therefore in all things he had to be made like his brothers, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

And Jesus went around all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and disease among the people. And his fame spread all over Syria. And they brought to him all who were in the grip of various diseases and acute pains, and those who were demon-possessed, and epileptics and paralytics. And he healed them. And great multitudes from Galilee and Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan, followed him.

And when Jesus had finished speaking these words, it happened that the people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

And Jesus went around all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the crowds, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were feeble and dejected, like sheep which have no shepherd.

And it came about when Jesus had finished commanding his twelve disciples, that he left there to teach and to preach in their cities.

Now when John in prison heard about the deeds of Christ, he sent two of his disciples. And they said to him, “Are you the one who was to come, or do we look for another?”

Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is anyone who does not stumble because of me”.

And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and his fame spread throughout the whole surrounding region. And he taught in their synagogues, being honoured by all.

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And he was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. And when he had opened the scroll, he found the place where it was written,

And he closed the book, and he gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of all those who were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing”.

And all testified about him, and wondered at the gracious words which came from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”

And he said to them, “You will surely tell me this proverb: ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard was done in Capernaum, do also here in your native place.’ ”

And he said, “Truly I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. But I tell you the truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when heaven was shut up for three years and six months, when there was a great famine throughout the whole land. But Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to Zarephath, a city of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, but none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian”.

And all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with rage, and rose up, and pulled him out of the city, and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, so that they might throw him down over the cliff. But he, walking right through the middle of them, went on his way.

Then he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on Sabbath days. And they were astonished at his teaching, for his word was with power.

And in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Let us alone! What do we have to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God”. And Jesus rebuked it, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him”. And when the demon had thrown him down among them, he came out of him, without hurting him.

And they were all amazed, and talked among themselves, saying, “What a message this is! For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out”. And his fame went out to every place in the surrounding region.

And he arose and left the synagogue, and entered Simon’s house. And Simon’s mother-in-law was sick with a high fever, and they made a request to him on her behalf. And he stood over her and rebuked the fever; and it left her, and immediately she got up and served them.

Now when the sun was setting, all those who had anyone sick with any of various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on each of them and healed them. And also demons came out of many, crying out and saying, “You are Christ the Son of God”. And he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak, for they knew that he was Christ.

And when day came, he departed and went into a desert place. And the people looked for him, and came to him, and tried to keep him from leaving them. And he said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose”. And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.

The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all, that message, you know. It was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism that John preached: How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how he went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

And indeed Jesus performed many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that, believing, you might have life through his name.

When he had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. And, suddenly, a leper came and worshipped him, saying, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean”.

And Jesus put out his hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing. Be clean”. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed away. And Jesus said to him, “See that you do not tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them”.

And when Jesus went into Capernaum, a centurion came to him, pleading with him, and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering terribly”.

And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him”.

The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy for you to come under my roof, but just speak the word and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this man, ‘Go’, and he goes; and to another, ‘Come’, and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this’, and he does it”.

When Jesus heard this, he marvelled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel. And I tell you that many will come from the east and west, and will sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth”.

And Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way, and it will be done for you just as you have believed”. And his servant was healed at that very hour.

And when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. And he touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she got up and served them.

And when he got into a boat, his disciples followed him, and, suddenly, a great tempest arose on the lake, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But he was asleep. And his disciples came to him and woke him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”

And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the lake. And there was a great calm.

But the men were amazed, saying, “What kind of a man is this that even the winds and the lake obey him!”

And when he arrived at the other side in the country of the Gergesenes, two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, met him. They were so very fierce, that no one could pass by that way. And now they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with you, Jesus, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the set time?”

And some distance away a large herd of pigs was feeding. So the demons begged him, saying, “If you drive us out, let us go into the herd of pigs”.

And he said to them, “Go”. And when they came out, they went into the herd of pigs, and now the whole herd of pigs rushed down a steep place into the lake and died in the water. And those who had been feeding them ran away and went into the city and told everything, and what had happened to those who had been demon-possessed.

And he got into a boat, and crossed over and came to his own town. And just then they brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a cot. And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, take courage! Your sins are forgiven you”.

And now some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming”.

And Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you’, or to say, ‘Get up and walk?’ But so that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins”, he then said to the paralytic, “Get up. Pick up your cot and go to your house”.

And he got up and left for his house.

While he was speaking these things to them, suddenly a certain ruler came and worshipped him, saying, “Just now my daughter has died, but come and put your hand on her, and she will live”. And Jesus got up and followed him, and so did his disciples.

And, suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years, came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. For she said to herself, “If I can just touch his cloak, I will get well”.

But Jesus turned around, and when he saw her, he said, “Daughter, take courage. Your faith has made you well”. And the woman became well from that time.

And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the people making a commotion, he said to them, “Go away, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping”. And they laughed at him. But when the people had been put out, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. And the news of this spread throughout that whole region.

And when Jesus left there, two blind men followed him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us”.

And when he went into the house, the blind men came to him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord”.

Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you”. And their eyes were opened. And Jesus gave them a strict order, saying, “See that no one finds out”. But when they left they spread the news about him throughout that whole country.

As they went out, suddenly, they brought to him a man unable to speak and demon-possessed. And when the demon had been driven out, the dumb man spoke. And the crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this was ever seen in Israel”.

And when he left there, he went into their synagogue. And now a man was there who had a withered hand. And they asked him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbaths?” so that they might accuse him.

And he said to them, “Among you what if a man has one sheep, and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath. Will he not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more important is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbaths”.

Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand”. And he stretched it out, and it was restored to normal, as sound as the other. Then the Pharisees went out, and held a meeting against him, discussing how they could destroy him.

Then one who was demon-possessed, blind, and unable to speak, was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the blind and mute both spoke and saw.

And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the time is late. Send the crowd away, so that they can go to the villages and buy themselves food”.

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

And they said to him, “We have here only five loaves, and two fish”.

He said, “Bring them here to me”. And he commanded the crowd to sit down on the grass, and he took the five loaves and the two fish, and, looking up to heaven, he blessed them, broke them, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowd. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they picked up twelve basketfuls of the pieces that were left over. And the number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

And immediately Jesus had his disciples get into a boat and go before him to the other side, while he sent the crowds away. And after sending the crowds away, he went up into a mountain by himself to pray. And when evening came, he was there alone. But the boat was now in the middle of the lake, tossed by waves, for the wind was against it.

And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the lake. And when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were alarmed, saying, “It is a spirit”. And they cried out in fear.

But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid”.

And Peter answered him and said, “Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water”.

And he said, “Come”. And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind, he was afraid. And beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me”.

And immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, and caught him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

And when they got into the boat, the wind stopped.

And, suddenly, out came a Canaanite woman from that region and cried out to him, saying, “O Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me. My daughter is terribly demon-possessed”.

But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us”.

But he answered and said, “I was not sent to anyone except the lost sheep of the house of Israel”.

Then she came and worshipped him, saying, “Lord, help me”.

But he answered and said, “It is not right to take the children’s bread, and throw it to the dogs”.

And she said, “True, Lord! Yet the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table”.

Then Jesus answered and said to her, “Woman, your faith is great! It will be to you just as you wish”. And from that hour her daughter was healed.

Then Jesus called his disciples and said, “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have stayed with me now for three days, and have nothing to eat. I am not willing to send them away without eating, for they may faint on the way”.

And his disciples said to him, “Where would we get enough bread in this wilderness to satisfy such a large crowd?”

And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven, and a few small fish”.

And he commanded the crowd to sit on the ground. And he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowd. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. And those eating were four thousand men, besides women and children.

And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him, knelt down to him and said, “Lord, have mercy on my son. For he is a lunatic, and suffers miserably. For he often falls in the fire, and often in the water. And I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him”.

Then Jesus answered and said, “Faithless and perverse generation! How long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to me”.

And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it went out of him. And the child was cured from that very time.

And as they were leaving Jericho, a great crowd followed him. And, suddenly, two blind men sitting by the wayside, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, son of David”.

And the crowd rebuked them so that they would keep quiet, but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, son of David”.

And Jesus stood still and called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?”

They said to him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened”.

So Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes, and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

Now in the morning as he returned to the city, he was hungry. And when he saw a fig tree along the way, he went to it, and found nothing on it except leaves, and said to it, “May no more fruit grow on you forever”. And immediately the fig tree withered away.

And when the disciples saw this, they were amazed and said, “How quickly the fig tree withered away!”

Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith, and do not doubt, you will do not only what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be moved, and thrown into the sea’, it will be done. And everything that you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive”.

And they went to Capernaum. And immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them like one having authority, and not like the scribes. And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, saying, “Let us alone! What do we have to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know you. You are the Holy One of God”.

And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him”.

And when the unclean spirit had thrown him into convulsions and cried out in a loud voice, he came out of him. And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new teaching is this? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him”.

And immediately his fame spread all around through the region of Galilee.

And they brought to him a person who was deaf and who had a speech impediment, and they begged him to put his hand on him. And he took him apart from the crowd, and putting his fingers into his ears, he spit and touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha”, that is, “Be opened”. And immediately his ears were opened, and the ligament of his tongue was loosened, and he spoke clearly. And he ordered them not to tell anyone, but the more firmly he ordered them, the more extensively they publicized it.

And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak”.

And he arrived at Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to him, and begged him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when he had spit on his eyes and put his hands on him, he asked him if he saw anything. And he looked up and said, “I see men looking like trees, walking”.

Then he put his hands on his eyes again, and made him look up. And he was restored, and saw everyone clearly.

Now when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down your nets for a catch”.

And Simon answering said to him, “Master, we have worked hard all night, and have caught nothing. Nevertheless at your word I will let down the net”.

And when they had done this, they netted a great number of fish, and their net broke. And they signaled to their partners, who were in the other boat, to come and help them. And they came, and filled both boats, so that they began to sink.

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord”.

And a day later this happened: He went to a city called Nain, and many of his disciples went with him, and a large crowd. Now when he was approaching the gate of the city, suddenly there was a dead man being carried out. He was the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her.

And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said to her, “Do not weep”.

And he came and touched the coffin, and those who were carrying him stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, get up”.

And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And he handed him over to his mother.

And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And, suddenly, a woman was there who had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years, and she was bent over and could not straighten up at all.

And when Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity”.

And he laid hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

And it happened when he went into the house of one of the leading Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, that they watched him closely. And there in front of him was a certain man who had dropsy. And Jesus responded and spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” And they kept quiet. And he took him, healed him, and let him go,

And as he entered a certain village, ten men who were lepers met him. They stood at a distance, and raised their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us”.

And when he saw them, he told them, “Go show yourselves to the priests”. And it came about as they went, that they were cleansed.

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

And Jesus in response to this said, “Permit even this”. And he touched his ear, and healed him.

And on the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there, and both Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding.

And when the wine was gone, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine”.

Jesus said to her, “Woman, what have I to do with you? My time has not yet come”.

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you”.

And six stone waterpots were placed there, according to the custom of Jewish purification, containing eighty or a hundred and twenty liters each.

Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water”. And they filled them up to the brim.

And he said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the master of the feast”. And they took it.

And when the master of the feast tasted the water that had been made wine, and not knowing from where it came (but the servants who drew the water knew) the master of the feast called the bridegroom, and said to him, “Everyone at first sets out the good wine, and the inferior wine after men are intoxicated. But you have kept the good wine until now”.

This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus did in Cana of Galilee and revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee, where he made the water into wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him, and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.

Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you see miraculous signs and wonders, you will not believe”.

The nobleman said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies”.

Jesus said to him, “Go your way. Your son is living”. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken to him, and he went his way.

And as he was going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son is living”. Then he asked them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, “Yesterday at one in the afternoon the fever left him”. So the father knew that it was at the same time when Jesus said to him, “Your son is living”. And he himself believed, and his whole household.

This is the second miraculous sign that Jesus did after he had come from Judea to Galilee.

And a certain man was there who had an infirmity for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had now been a long time in that condition, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?”

The helpless man answered him, “Sir, when the water is stirred I have no one to put me in the pool. While I am moving, someone else steps down before me”.

Jesus said to him, “Get up. Pick up your cot and walk”.

And immediately the man was healed, picked up his cot and walked. And that same day was the Sabbath.

And as Jesus was passing by, he saw a man who had been blind from birth.

And his disciples asked him, saying, “Teacher, who sinned, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?”

Jesus answered, “Not because either this man or his parents sinned, but that the works of God might be revealed in him. While it is day, I must do the works of him who sent me. The night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world”.

When he had said this, he spit on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which, being translated, means Sent). So he went away, washed, and came seeing.

He said these things, and afterwards he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus is asleep. But I will go to awaken him from sleep”.

Then his disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better”.

However, Jesus spoke of his death. But they thought that he spoke of resting in sleep.

Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him”.

Then Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him”. When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about three kilometers away. And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary to comfort them concerning their brother. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him, but Mary still sat in the house.

Then Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now whatever you ask of God, God will give it to you”.

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again”.

Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day”.

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

She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who should come into the world”.

And when she had said this, she went away and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, “The Teacher has come and is calling for you”.

As soon as she heard this, she quickly got up and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha had met him. Then the Jews who had been with her in the house comforting her, when they saw Mary getting up quickly and going out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there”.

Then when Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she fell prostrate at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died”.

So when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he groaned in spirit and was troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see”.

Jesus wept.

Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

And some of them said, “Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?”

Then Jesus, again groaning in himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.

Jesus said, “Take away the stone”. Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be a bad smell, for he has been dead four days”.

Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God?”

Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was lying. And Jesus raised his eyes, and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. And I know that you always hear me, but because of the people standing here I said this, that they may believe that you have sent me”.

And when he had said this, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”

And he who had died came out, bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and with his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Free him, and let him go”.

But when morning came, Jesus was standing on the shore, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

Then Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any food?” They answered him, “No”.

And he said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat and you will find some”. So they cast it there, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the large number of fish.

“You men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth was a man proved true by God to you through miracles and wonders and signs which God did through him among you, as you yourselves also know.

And while he was still speaking, suddenly Judas, one of the Twelve, came. And with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, coming from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he who betrayed him had given them a signal, saying, “The one I kiss, he is the one. Seize him”. And immediately he came up to Jesus, and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

And Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came, put their hands on Jesus, and held him. And, suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out a hand, drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back in its place. For all those who take up the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that now I cannot pray to my Father and he will immediately give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, that say it must happen like this?”

At that same time Jesus said to the crowd, “Have you come out as against a thief with swords and clubs to take me? Daily I sat with you teaching in the temple, and you did not seize me. But all this has happened, so that the Scriptures of the Prophets might be fulfilled”. Then all the disciples deserted him, and ran away.

And those who seized Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. But Peter followed him, at a distance, to the courtyard of the high priest, went in and sat with the servants, to see the outcome.

Now the chief priests, and elders, and the whole Council, were looking for false testimony against Jesus, to put him to death, but did not find any; even though many false witnesses came forward, they did not find any. Finally two false witnesses came forward, and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and build it in three days.’ ”

And the high priest got up and said to him, “Do you give no answer? What is this that they testify against you?”

But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest responded and said to him, “I put you under oath by the living God: Tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God”.

Jesus said to him, “You have said it. Moreover, I tell you that hereafter you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of authority, and coming in the clouds of heaven”.

Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What need do we have of any more witnesses? See, now you have heard his blasphemy. What do you think?” They answered and said, “He is worthy of death”.

Then they spit in his face, and beat him with fists. And others slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, Christ. Who is the one who hit you?”

When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people consulted together against Jesus to put him to death. And when they had bound him, they led him away and handed him over to Pontius Pilate the governor.

And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, saying, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And Jesus said to him, “You say it”.

And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear how many things they testify against you?”

And he did not answer him a word, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

Now at that feast the governor used to release to the people a prisoner, chosen by them. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner named Barabbas. Therefore when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas? Or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that they had handed him over out of envy.

While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent a message to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I have suffered greatly in a dream because of him”.

But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowd that they should ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. The governor responded and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!”

Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let him be crucified!”

And the governor said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let him be crucified!”

When Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this righteous person. You see to it”.

Then all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us, and on our children”.

Then he released Barabbas to them, and when he had Jesus beaten with a whip, he handed him over to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s palace, and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. And when they had woven a crown of thorns, they put it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand. And they knelt in front of him, and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they spit on him, and took the reed and beat him on the head. And after mocking him, they removed the robe from him, put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.

And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, came. And with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, coming from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. And the one who betrayed him had arranged a signal with them, saying, Whomever I kiss, he is the one. Grab him and lead him away under guard”.

And as soon as he came, he went up to him immediately and said, “Rabbi, rabbi!” and kissed him.

And they put their hands on him, and seized him. And one of those standing near by drew a sword and struck a servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

And Jesus responded and said to them, “Have you come out as against a thief, with swords and clubs to seize me? I was with you daily, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled”.

Then all his disciples deserted him and ran away.

And a certain young man wearing a linen cloth over his naked body, followed him. And the young men seized him. And he ran away from them naked, leaving the linen cloth behind.

And they led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes were assembled with him. And Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest, and he sat down with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.

And the chief priests and all the council looked for some testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but did not find any. For many gave false testimony against him, but their testimony did not agree. Then some men got up and gave false testimony against him, saying, “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made by hands, and in three days I will build another without hands”.

But not even then did their testimony agree.

And the high priest stood up among them and asked Jesus, saying, “Will you give no answer? What is it that these men testify against you?”

But he kept silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, saying to him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”

And Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven”.

Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “What need do we have of any further witnesses? You have heard this blasphemy. What do you think?” And they all condemned him declaring him to be worthy of death.

And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face and beat him with fists, and to say to him, “Prophesy”. And the officers struck him with the palms of their hands.

And in the morning the chief priests immediately held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and they bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And answering he said to him, “It is as you say”.

And the chief priests accused him of many things, but he gave no answer.

And Pilate asked him again, saying, “Will you give no answer? See how many things they testify against you”.

But Jesus still gave no answer, so that Pilate was amazed.

Now at that feast he used to release to them any one prisoner whom they requested. And there was one named Barabbas. He was imprisoned with those who had rebelled with him, and who had committed murder in the rebellion. And the crowd began to cry out and ask Pilate to do as he had always done for them.

But Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release the King of the Jews to you?” For he knew that the chief priests had handed him over out of envy.

But the chief priests stirred up the people, so that he would release Barabbas to them instead.

And Pilate answered and said again to them, “What do you want me to do to the one whom you call the King of the Jews?”

And they cried out again, “Crucify him!”

Then Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” And they cried out all the more, “Crucify him!”

And so Pilate, wanting to satisfy the people, released Barabbas to them. And after he had Jesus whipped, he handed him over to be crucified. And the soldiers led him away into the hall called the Praetorium. And they called together the whole Roman garrison. And they dressed him in a purple robe, and wove a crown out of thorns, and put it around his head, and began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they beat him on the head with a stick, and spit on him, and bowing their knees, they worshipped him.

And when they had mocked him, they removed the purple robe from him, put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.

And while he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd appeared, and the one called Judas, one of the Twelve, was coming ahead of them. And he approached Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of man with a kiss?”

When those who were surrounding Jesus saw what was about to happen, they said to him, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?”

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

And Jesus in response to this said, “Permit even this”. And he touched his ear, and healed him.

Then Jesus said to the chief priests and captains of the temple guard and the elders, who had come to him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if against a thief? When I was daily with you in the temple, you did not stretch out a hand against me. But this hour belongs to you, and the power of darkness”.

And the men who were holding Jesus mocked him, and beat him. And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, “Prophesy, who is it that struck you?”

And they spoke against him many other blasphemous things.

And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their Council, and said, “Are you the Christ? Tell us”.

And he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe it. And also if I ask you, you will not answer me, or let me go. From now on the Son of man will be sitting at the right hand of the power of God”.

Then they all said, “Then are you the Son of God?”

And he said to them, “You rightly say that I am”.

And they said, “What need do we have of any more testimony? For we ourselves have heard it from his own mouth”.

And their whole assembly got up and led him away to Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this fellow leading the nation astray and forbidding people to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ, a King”.

And Pilate asked him, saying, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him and said, “You say it”.

Then said Pilate to the chief priests and the people, “I find no fault in this man”.

And they were the more fierce, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching among all the Jews, beginning with Galilee, to this place”.

When Pilate heard “Galilee”, he asked if the man was a Galilean. And as soon as he knew that he belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also at Jerusalem at that time.

And when Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had wanted to see him for a long time, having heard many things about him; and he had been hoping to see some miracle performed by him. Then he questioned him with many words, but he gave him no answer.

And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. And Herod, together with his soldiers, treated him with contempt, mocked him, dressed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him back to Pilate.

And the same day Pilate and Herod became friends with one another. Before that there had been enmity between them. And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, said to them, “You have brought this man to me, as one who leads the people astray, and, look, having examined him in your presence, I have found no fault in this man concerning those things with which you accuse him. Neither has Herod, for I sent you to him and, as you see, nothing worthy of death has been done by him. Therefore I will punish him and release him”. For it was necessary for him to release someone to them at the Feast.

And they cried out all at once, saying, “Away with this man, and release Barabbas to us”. (He had been thrown into prison for some revolt in the city and for murder.)

Therefore Pilate, wishing to release Jesus, spoke to them again.

But they cried out, saying, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

And he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no cause deserving of death. So I will punish him, and let him go”.

And with loud voices they insistently demanded that he be crucified. And their voices and those of the chief priests prevailed. And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they demanded. And he released to them the one who had been thrown into prison for revolt and murder, for whom they had asked. But he handed Jesus over to their will.

When Jesus had spoken these words, he went away with his disciples over the Kidron valley. A garden was there, which he and his disciples entered. And Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often went there with his disciples. Judas then, taking a group of men, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches and weapons.

Therefore Jesus, knowing everything that would come upon him, went out and said to them, “For whom are you looking?”

They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth”. Jesus said to them, “I am”. And Judas, who betrayed him, also stood with them.

Then as soon as he said to them, “I am”, they drew back and fell to the ground.

Then he asked them again, “For whom are you looking?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth”.

Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these go their way”, so that these words he spoke might be fulfilled: I have lost none of those whom you gave me.

Then Simon Peter drew the sword he had, struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. Then Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword in the scabbard. Shall I not drink the cup which my Father has given me?”

Then the group of men, the commander, and the Jewish officers seized Jesus, bound him, and led him away first to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year. Now Caiaphas was the one who counselled the Jews that it would be good for one man to die for the people.

The high priest then asked Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching.

Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in the synagogue and in the temple, where the Jews always come, and I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard me what I said to them. Look, they know what I said”.

And when he said this, one of the officers who stood nearby slapped Jesus and said, “Do you answer the high priest like that?”

Jesus answered him, “If I spoke wrongly, testify about what is wrong, but if I spoke rightly, why do you strike me?”

Now Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor, and it was early morning. They themselves did not go into the palace, to keep from being defiled, so that they could eat the Passover.

Then Pilate went out to them, and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?”

They answered and said to him, “If he were not an evildoer, we would not have handed him over to you”.

Then Pilate said to them, “You take him and judge him according to your Law”. Then the Jews said to him, “We are not allowed to put anyone to death”.

So that the word of Jesus, which he spoke to indicate what death he would die, might be fulfilled. Then Pilate went back into the palace, called Jesus, and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

Jesus answered him, “Are you saying this on your own, or did others tell you about me?”

Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own people and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?”

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, so that I would not be delivered up to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not from here”.

So Pilate said to him, “Are you a king, then?” Jesus answered, “You rightly say that I am a king. For this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world, that I might testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth pays attention to my voice”.

Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went back out to the Jews and said to them, “I find no fault at all in him. But you have a custom that I should release to you one prisoner at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

Then they all cried out again, saying, “Not this man, but Barabbas”. Now Barabbas was a robber.

So then Pilate took Jesus and had him whipped. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. And they put on him a purple robe, and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and they struck him with their hands.

Then Pilate went out again, and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no fault in him”.

Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “See the man!”

So when the chief priests and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “You take him and crucify him, for I find no fault in him”.

The Jews answered him, “We have a Law, and by our Law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God”.

Therefore, when Pilate heard that statement, he was even more afraid, and went back into the palace and said to Jesus, “From where are you?” But Jesus gave him no answer.

Then Pilate said to him, “You are not speaking to me? Don’t you know that I have power to crucify you and power to release you?”

Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against me unless it were given to you from above. Therefore he who handed me over to you has the greater sin”.

And from then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you let this man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king is denying Caesar”.

Therefore, when Pilate heard that statement, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. And it was the day of The Preparation of the Passover, and about six o’clock. And he said to the Jews, “See your King!”

But they cried out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar”.

So then he handed him over to them to be crucified. And they took Jesus and led him away.

And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, named Simon, and made him carry Jesus’ cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a Skull, they gave him wine vinegar mixed with gall to drink. And when he had tasted it, he refused to drink it.

And they crucified him, and divided his garments, casting lots, so that there might be a fulfilment of what was spoken by the prophet,

And sitting down they watched him there. And they placed over his head this written accusation against him,

At that time two thieves were crucified with him, one at the right hand, and another at the left. And those who passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, and saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself. If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross”.

In the same way the chief priests also, with the scribes and elders, mocking him said, “He saved others. Himself he cannot save. If he is the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.

“He trusted in God. Let him deliver him now, if he wants him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ”

Also the thieves who were crucified with him, in the same way heaped insults on him.

Now from noon there was darkness over all the land up to three in the afternoon.

And about three Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” That is to say, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, “This man is calling for Elijah”. And immediately one of them ran, took a sponge, filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink. The rest said, “Let him alone. Let’s see whether Elijah will come to save him”.

Jesus, when he had cried out again with a loud voice, gave up his spirit.

And immediately the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks split, and the tombs opened up, and the bodies of many of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and came out of the tombs after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared to many.

Now the centurion and those who were with him guarding Jesus, seeing the earthquake and the things that happened, were very frightened and said, “This really was the Son of God”.

And many women were there, watching at a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, performing service for him. Among them was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.

And they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. He was passing by, coming from the countryside.

And they brought him to the place called Golgotha, which is, being translated, The Place of a Skull. And they gave him wine mixed with myrrh to drink, but he did not take it.

And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes, casting lots for them to determine what each one should take. And it was nine in the morning when they crucified him. And the inscription of the accusation against him was written like this:

And they crucified two thieves with him, the one at his right hand, and the other at his left. And the Scripture which says, “And he was numbered with the transgressors” was fulfilled.

And those who passed by hurled abuse at him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Aha, you who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself and come down from the cross”.

In the same way the chief priests also, together with the scribes, mocking him, said among themselves, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let Christ the King of Israel now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe”. And those who were crucified with him insulted him.

And when it was twelve noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.

And at three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” This is, being translated, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

And some of those who stood near by, hearing this, said, “Look, he is calling Elijah”. And one of them ran and filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to him to drink, saying, “Leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down”.

And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and expired.

And the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom.

And when the centurion who was standing opposite him, saw that he cried out like this, and breathed his last, he said, “This man really was the Son of God”.

There were also women watching at a distance. Among them was Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome (when he was in Galilee, they also followed him, and performed service for him), and many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.

And as they led him away, they laid hold of someone named Simon, a Cyrenian, coming in from the country, and they laid the cross on him, so that he might carry it after Jesus. And a great crowd of people followed him, including women also who mourned and lamented him.

But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, look, the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains,

And others also, two criminals, were led out with him to be put to death.

And when they had come to the place that is called Calvary, they crucified him and the criminals there, one at the right hand, and the other at the left.

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”. And they divided up his clothing, and cast lots.

And the people stood watching. And even the rulers with them scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ, the chosen of God”.

And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, and saying, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself”.

And above him there was an inscription, written in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew letters:

And one of the criminals who had been hanged reviled him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us”.

But the other in response rebuked him, saying, “Don’t you fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve, but this man has done nothing wrong”.

And he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom”.

And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise”.

And it was about noon, and darkness covered all the earth until three in the afternoon. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.

And Jesus crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”. And having said thus, he expired.

Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous man”.

And all the people who had assembled for that sight, seeing what had happened, beat their breasts, and returned. And all those who knew him, and the women who followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

And he, bearing his cross, went out to a place called The Place of a Skull, which is called Golgotha in Hebrew.

There they crucified him, and two others with him, one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

And Pilate wrote an inscription and had it put on the cross. And this is what was written:

JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Then many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.

Then the Jewish chief priests said to Pilate, “Don’t write, ‘The King of the Jews’, but, ‘He said, I am the King of the Jews.’ ”

Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written”.

Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his clothes and divided them into four parts, a part to each soldier, and also his tunic. Now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said among themselves, “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it, to determine whose it shall be”, so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, which says,

Now near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. Therefore when Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, see your son”.

Then he said to the disciple, “See your mother”. And from that time that disciple took her to his own home.

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst”.

Now a jar full of sour wine was standing there, and they soaked a sponge in the sour wine, put it on a hyssop stick, and put it to his mouth.

So when Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished”, and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Then, because it was the Preparation Day, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was an important day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.

And he who saw this has given testimony, and his testimony is true, and he knows that he speaks the truth, so that you might believe. For these things were done that this Scripture might be fulfilled:

And again another Scripture says,

When it was evening there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate, and requested the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be handed over to him. And taking the body Joseph wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and put it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out of the rock. And he rolled a large stone across the entrance to the tomb and went away. And Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

Now the next day, the one following the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together to Pilate, saying, “Sir, we remember that when he was still alive that deceiver said, “After three days I will rise again. Therefore, give an order that the tomb be made secure until the third day, or his disciples may come at night and steal him away and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead’, and the last error will be worse than the first”.

Pilate said to them, “You have a guard. Go make it as secure as you can”.

So they went and made the tomb secure, putting a seal on the stone and posting a guard.

And now when evening came, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathaea, an honoured member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, arrived and went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

And Pilate was surprised that he was already dead. And calling the centurion, he asked him if he had been dead for some time. And when he found this out from the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.

And Joseph bought fine linen, took Jesus down and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a tomb which had been cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he had been put.

Now there was a man named Joseph, a Council member. And he was a good man and a righteous one. (He had not consented to their decision and deed.) He was from Arimathea, a Jewish town, and he was waiting for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen cloth, and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, where no one had ever been placed before.

And that day was the Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was drawing near. And the women also, who came with him from Galilee, followed him, and saw the tomb and how his body was placed. And they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils, and rested on the Sabbath day according to the commandment.

And after this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus.

And Nicodemus came also (the man who at first came to Jesus by night), and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a forty-five kilograms in weight. Then they took the body of Jesus, and wrapped it in strips of linen, with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is in burying.

Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had ever been placed. So they placed Jesus there because of the Jewish Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.

After the Sabbath, as dawn was breaking on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And, suddenly, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his garment as white as snow. And from fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men.

And the angel responded and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead, and now he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him. See, I have told you”.

And they hurried away from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to take word to his disciples. And as they were going to tell his disciples, suddenly Jesus met them, saying, “Greetings”. And they came to him and clasped his feet and worshipped him.

Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brethren that they should go to Galilee, and that they will see me there”.

While the women were going, some of the guard appeared, coming into the city. And they reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. And when they had met with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, “Say that his disciples came at night, and stole him away while we were sleeping. And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him, and make your situation safe”.

So they took the money, and did as they were instructed. And this story has been spreading among the Jews to this very day.

Then the eleven disciples went away to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All power is given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you. And see, I am with you always, even to the end of the age”. Amen.

And when the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought sweet-smelling spices, so that they could come and anoint him. And very early in the morning on the first day of the week, they arrived at the tomb just as the sun was rising. And they said among themselves, “Who will roll the stone away from the door of the tomb for us?”

And when they looked, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. And going into the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a long white robe sitting on the right side, and they were frightened.

And he said to them, “Do not be afraid. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen. He is not here. See the place where they put him. But go your way. Tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he said to you”.

And they went out quickly and ran from the tomb, for they were gripped by trembling and amazement. They did not say anything to anyone, because they were afraid.

Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices that they had prepared. And some other women were with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. And they went in, but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

And as they were greatly perplexed about this, it happened that suddenly two men in shining clothing stood near them. And as they were afraid and bowed their faces toward the ground, the men said to them, “Why are you looking for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he spoke to you while he was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of man must be given into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ”

And they remembered his words, and returned from the tomb and told all these things to the Eleven, and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women who were with them, who told these things to the apostles. And their words seemed to them like idle talk, and they did not believe them.

Then Peter got up and ran to the tomb, and, stooping down, he saw the linen clothes placed by themselves, and left, wondering to himself at what had happened.

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, which was about twelve kilometers from Jerusalem. And they were talking together about everything that had taken place. And it happened that as they talked and discussed this, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

And he said to them, “What kind of discussion is this you are having as you sadly walk along?”

And one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said to him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem? And don’t you know the things that have been happening there in these days?”

And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the presence of God and all the people, And how the chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we hoped that he was the one who would redeem Israel. And besides all this, today is the third day since these things were done. Yes, and also some women of our group astonished us. Early they were at the tomb, and when they did not find his body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. And some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said. But they did not see him”.

Then he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. Was not the Christ bound to suffer these things, and to enter his glory?”

And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he explained to them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures. And they drew near to the village where they were going, and he made as if he was going further. But they pressed him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening, and the day is far spent”. And he went in to stay with them.

And when he had sat down at the table with them, it came about that he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they knew him; and he vanished from their sight.

And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way and while he opened the Scriptures to us?”

And they got up the same hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the Eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon”.

And they told what had occurred on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. And as they said this, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be to you”.

But they were startled and frightened, thinking that they were seeing a spirit.

And he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see me have”.

And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still did not believe for joy, and wondered, he said to them, “Do you have here any food?”

And they gave him a piece of broiled fish, and a piece of honeycomb. And he took them, and ate in front of them.

And he said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you: that all things concerning me which were written in the law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled”.

Then he opened their understanding, so that they could understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day; also that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things.

“And, look, I am going to send the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high”.

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord away from the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him”.

Therefore Peter and that other disciple set out, going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and arrived at the tomb first. And stooping down and looking in, he saw the strips of linen lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter, following him, arrived and went into the tomb, and saw the strips of linen lying there. And he saw the cloth that had been around his head, not lying with the strips of linen, but rolled together in a place by itself. Then that other disciple, who had first reached the tomb, also went in, and he saw and believed.

For they still did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.

But Mary stood outside at the tomb, weeping. And as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the tomb, and saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and the other at the foot.

And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they have put him”.

And when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.

Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?” She, thinking he was the gardener, said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him off, tell me where you have put him, and I will take him away”.

Jesus said to her, “Mary”. She turned around and said to him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).

Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brethren and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God”.

Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had said these things to her.

Then on the evening of the same day, it being the first day of the week, while the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you”.

And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad, when they saw the Lord.

Then Jesus said to them again, “Peace be to you. As my Father has sent me, even so I send you”.

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. The sins of everyone you forgive are forgiven them; the sins of anyone you do not forgive are held unforgiven”.

But Thomas called Didymos, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord”. But he said to them, “Unless I see the print of the nails in his hands, and put my finger into the nail prints, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe”.

And after eight days his disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them. The doors were locked but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace be to you”.

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and reach your hand here and put it into my side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing”.

And Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God”.

Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”.

And indeed Jesus performed many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that, believing, you might have life through his name.

After these things Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the lake of Tiberias. and he revealed himself in this way: Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples of Jesus were together.

Simon Peter said to them, “I’m going fishing”. They said to him, “We will also go with you”. They went out and immediately got into a boat. And that night they caught nothing. But when morning came, Jesus was standing on the shore, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

Then Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any food?” They answered him, “No”.

And he said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat and you will find some”. So they cast it there, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the large number of fish.

Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord”. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had removed it), and threw himself into the lake. And the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about a hundred meters), dragging the net with fish.

As soon as they reached land, they saw a charcoal fire there, and fish laid on it, and bread.

Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught”.

Simon Peter went up to the boat, and dragged the net full of large fish to land. They totaled a hundred and fifty-three, but though there were so many, the net was not broken.

Jesus said to them, “Come and eat”. And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” knowing that it was the Lord.

Jesus then came, took the bread and gave it to them, and also the fish.

This was now the third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples, after he had risen from the dead.

To them also he showed himself alive after his suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

And, having met with them, he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise from the Father, “which, he said, “you have heard from me. For John indeed baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now”.

So when they met together they questioned him, saying, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

And he said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or the dates which the Father has put under his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be witnesses for me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and to the uttermost part of the earth”.

God raised him up, setting him free from the anguish of death, because it was not possible that he would be held by it. For David speaks concerning him,

“Men, brethren, let me speak freely to you about the patriarch David. He is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of his descendants according to the flesh, he would raise Christ up to sit on his throne, he, seeing this in advance, spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in the realm of the dead, nor did his flesh see corruption.

“This Jesus God has raised up, and we are all witnesses of this.

and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead. Of this we are witnesses.

be it known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead, by him this man stands here before you whole.

And with great power the apostles gave testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.

“And we are witnesses of everything he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree. God raised him up on the third day, and showed him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, that is, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that he is the one who was ordained by God to be the Judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that through his name whoever believes in him will receive the forgiveness of sins”.

And when they had fulfilled all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead. And he was seen for many days by those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are his witnesses to the people.

“And we declare to you the glad tidings that the promise which was made to the fathers, God has fulfilled for us their children by raising up Jesus. As it is also written in the second psalm,

And concerning the fact that he raised him from the dead, never to return to corruption, he spoke like this:

Therefore he said also in another psalm,

“For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried near his fathers, and saw corruption. But he whom God raised up, saw no corruption.

“Therefore, be it known to you, men and brethren, that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins, and in him all who believe are justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

And Paul, as his habit was, went in to them and for three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I preach to you, is the Christ”.

The times of such ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom he has ordained. He has given proof to all by raising him from the dead”.

and declared with power to be the Son of God, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

but also for us, to whose account it shall be put, if we believe in him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered up for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.

For I passed on to you first of all that which I also received: That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that, he was seen by more than five hundred brethren at once, of whom the majority remain to this present day, but some have fallen asleep. After that, he was seen by James; then by all the apostles. And last of all he was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

Now if Christ is preached that he rose from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not risen. And if Christ has not risen, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is also in vain. Yes, and we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ up, whom he did not raise up, if so be that the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is in vain, you are still in your sins. Then, also, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied. But now Christ has risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of those who slept.

For since by man came death, by man also came the resurrection of the dead.

I am he who lives. I was dead, and, look, I am alive forever and ever. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and death.

And he led them out as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands and blessed them. And while he was blessing them it came about that he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven.

And when he had spoken these things, while they were looking, he was taken up and a cloud received him from their sight.

And while they looked steadily toward heaven as he went up, suddenly two men stood by them in white clothing. And they said, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same manner as you have seen him go into heaven”.

“This Jesus God has raised up, and we are all witnesses of this. Therefore, being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, he has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself said,

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made that same Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ”.

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him to his right hand as Prince and Saviour to give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.

Who is he who condemns? Christ is the one who died, and beyond that, who was raised again and who is at the right hand of God, who also is interceding for us.

which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all sovereignty, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come, and put all things under his feet, and gave him as the head over everything to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him who fills all in all.

The Son is the brightness of God’s glory, and the exact image of his nature, and upholds all things by the word of his power. When he had by himself purged our sins he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, being made so much better than the angels, as he has inherited a more excellent name than they.

For to which of the angels did God ever say,

Seeing then that we have a great high priest who has passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our weaknesses, but one who was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin.

Therefore let us come boldly to the throne of grace, so that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Therefore he is able also to save to the utmost those who come to God through him, because he always lives to make intercession for them.

For such a high priest is fitting for us. He is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens,

But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. From now on he waits expectantly until his enemies are made his footstool.

For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified.

who has gone into heaven, and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.

Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,

And it took place in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And coming up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him. And a voice came from heaven, saying, “You are my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased”.

“Truly I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may impiously utter, but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation”.

He said this because they said, “He has an unclean spirit”.

And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, also, that holy one who will be born will be called the Son of God.

John responded, saying to them all, “I indeed baptize you with water, but one more powerful than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say”.

And John testified, saying, “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and remain on him. And I did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I saw, and testify that this is the Son of God”.

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly I say to you, unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be surprised that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but cannot tell from where it comes and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit”.

In the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If any man is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his innermost being streams of living water will flow”. (But he spoke this about the Spirit, whom those who believe in him would receive; for the Holy Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.)

If you love me, keep my commandments.

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Comforter, that he may stay with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see him, and does not know him. But you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you.

But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will cause you to remember everything I have said to you.

“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes out from the Father, he will testify about me.

Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. For if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you. But if I go away, I will send him to you.

“And when he has come, he will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment; of sin, because they do not believe in me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father and you see me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak on his own, but will speak only what he hears. And he will show you things to come. He will glorify me, for he will take from what is mine and show it to you. All things that the Father has are mine. Therefore I say that he will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

Then on the evening of the same day, it being the first day of the week, while the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you”.

And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad, when they saw the Lord.

Then Jesus said to them again, “Peace be to you. As my Father has sent me, even so I send you”.

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. The sins of everyone you forgive are forgiven them; the sins of anyone you do not forgive are held unforgiven”.

And, having met with them, he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise from the Father, “which, he said, “you have heard from me. For John indeed baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now”.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be witnesses for me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and to the uttermost part of the earth”.

And when the day of Pentecost had fully come they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven like a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them divided tongues like fire, and sat on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them ability to speak.

And there were living at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. Now when this sound was heard, a crowd came together, and was bewildered because everyone heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled and said to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? Then how does each of us hear in our own language in which we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, Egypt, and the parts of Libya near Cyrene, and strangers from Rome, Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabians, we hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God”. And they were all amazed and perplexed, and said to one another, “What does this mean?”

Others, mocking, said, “These men are full of new wine”.

But Peter, standing up with the Eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “You men of Judea, and all you who are staying in Jerusalem, let this be known to you: listen to my words, for these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only nine in the morning. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel:

Then Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are far off, to as many as the Lord our God will call”.

And when they had prayed, the place where they had met together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the money for the land? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was the money not in your control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God”.

And Ananias, hearing these words, fell down, and breathed his last. And great fear came on all those who heard these things.

Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who, when they arrived, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (for as yet he had not come down on any of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all those who heard the Word. And all those believers who came with Peter, who were circumcised, were astonished, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak in tongues and praise God.

Then Peter responded, “Can anyone forbid water to prevent baptism to these who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they begged him to stay for some days.

As they were engaged in ministry for the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work I have called them to do”. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

So being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went to Seleucia, and from there sailed to Cyprus.

For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things:

after they had come to Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them to do so. And they, passing by Mysia, came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: A man of Macedonia standing and asking him, “Come over to Macedonia, and help us”.

And after he had seen the vision, immediately we tried to go to Macedonia, concluding that the God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having traveled through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples, he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit”.

And he said to them, “Then into what were you baptized?”

And they said, “Into John’s baptism”.

Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people that they should believe on him who was to come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus”. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Altogether there were about twelve men.

and hope brings no disappointment, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who is given to us.

But now we have been delivered from the Law, having died to what held us, so that we might serve in newness of spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.

But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies by his Spirit who lives in you.

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die. But if through the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are sons of God. For you did not receive again the spirit of bondage to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we call out, “Abba, Father”. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit, that we are the children of God;

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses; for we do not know how to pray as we should. But the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans which cannot be expressed in words. And he who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

But as it is written,

But God has revealed them to us by his Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man, except the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is of God, so that we might know the things that are freely given to us by God. These things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually evaluated. But he who is spiritual properly evaluates all these things, yet he himself is not properly evaluated by any man.

For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God lives in you?

And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

What? Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God, and you are not your own?

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant. You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to dumb idols, being led somehow. Therefore I give you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and that no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

Now there are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are various kinds of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are various kinds of working, but it is the same God who works all in all.

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the benefit of all. For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another various kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all of these, distributing to each one individually as he wills.

For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For with one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether slave or free, and have all been given to drink into one Spirit.

Now he who establishes us together with you in Christ, and has anointed us, is God, who has also sealed us, and given the Spirit as a pledge in our hearts.

Now he who has made us for this very thing is God, who has also given us the Spirit as a pledge.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

This one thing I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now going to be made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain? If indeed it is in vain. The One who grants the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does he do it by your works according to the Law, or by your hearing with faith?

And because you are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, calling out, “Abba, Father”.

So I say, walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfil the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. These are opposed to one another, so that you cannot do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patient endurance, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

You also trusted in him, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and upon believing you received a seal in him, the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the pledge guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of his glory.

I ask that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him,

that according to the riches of his glory, he would grant you to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner person,

striving to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, just as you are called in one hope of your calling,

And do not grieve the holy Spirit of God, by whom you are sealed until the day of redemption.

And do not get drunk with wine, in which is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking among yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying always in the Spirit with all kinds of prayers and requests, and being alert for this with all perseverance and requests for all saints.

For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance. You know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. And you became followers of us and of the Lord. You received the word in much suffering, but with the Holy Spirit’s joy.

Do not quench the Spirit.

But always we are bound to give thanks to God for you, brethren loved by the Lord, because God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth.

he saved us, not by righteous deeds that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour,

God also gave witness with them, both with signs and wonders, and with many kinds of miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will.

how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling by the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you, and peace, be multiplied.

trying to find out what the Spirit of Christ who was in them indicated, or what time it would take place, as he predicted the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that would follow.

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For prophecy did not come in olden times by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.

And he who keeps his commands remains in him, and he in him. And by this we know that he remains in us, by the Spirit which he has given to us.

By this we know that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is truth.

For there are three who testify in heaven: The Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one.

And there are three that testify on earth: The Spirit, and the water, and the blood, and these three agree as one.

And he answered and said to them, “Have you not read that he who made them at the beginning made them male and female,

All things were made through him, and without him not one thing was made that was made.

and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We too are men, with the same nature as you, and we proclaim to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God who made heaven and earth and the sea, and everything that is in them.

God, who made the world and everything in it, since he is the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands, nor is he served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, since he gives to everyone life, and breath, and everything else. And he has made from one blood every nation of man to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined the times set for them, and the boundaries of the regions where they live,

yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, for by him all things were created, things that are in heaven, and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers – all things were created by him, and for him.

in these last days has spoken to us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, and by whom also he made the worlds.

Through faith we understand that the worlds were created by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or for your body, what you will put on. Is not the life more than food, and the body more than clothing? See the birds of the air. For they do not sow, they do not reap or gather into barns. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit to his height?

“And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They do not work, they do not spin. And yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not adorned like one of these. Therefore, if God clothes the grass of the field like this, which today is here, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘What will we wear?’ (For the Gentiles go after all these things.) For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Its own trouble is enough for the day.

Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.

and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We too are men, with the same nature as you, and we proclaim to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God who made heaven and earth and the sea, and everything that is in them. In times past he let all nations walk in their own ways. Nevertheless, he did not leave himself without testimony, for he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness”.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose.

And he is before all things, and by him all things hold together.

The Son is the brightness of God’s glory, and the exact image of his nature, and upholds all things by the word of his power. When he had by himself purged our sins he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into a certain city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and make a profit”. The fact is you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live, and do this, or that”. But now you boast in your arrogant presumption. All such boasting is evil.

So when they kept on asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her”. And again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

And those who heard that, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one after the other, beginning with the oldest and on to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the center.

What then? Are we better than they? No, not at all. For we have previously made the accusation that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin. As it is written,

Now we know that whatever the Law says, it says to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the Law no flesh will be justified in his sight, for by the Law is the knowledge of sin.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,

Therefore, as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and so death came on all men, because all sinned –

But the Scripture has included everyone under sin, so that the promise which comes through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his Word is not in us.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known about God is evident among them, for God has showed it to them. For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes are clearly seen, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, being understood by the things that are made, so that they are without excuse.

Because, when they knew God, they did not glorify him as God, and were not thankful, but became futile in their reasonings, and their foolish heart was darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man, and birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping animals.

Therefore God gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts to dishonour their bodies between themselves. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. Even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men committing shameful acts with other men, and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

And since they did not regard it as worthwhile to keep God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a depraved mind to do improper things. They are filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, greed, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, depravity. They are slanderers, backbiters, haters of God, insolent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful. Knowing the judgment of God, that those who commit such things are worthy of death, they not only do them, but take pleasure in those who do them.

For those who are 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. The mind occupied with the flesh is death, but the mind occupied with the Spirit is life and peace. Because the mind occupied with the flesh is hostile to God, for it is not subject to the Law of God, nor indeed can it be. So then those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are these: adultery, fornication, impurity, lewdness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousies, rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. Concerning these I tell you in advance, just as I have told you in time past, that those who go on doing such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

And you he has made alive, you who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience. Among them we also, all of us, had our life in time past in the cravings of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

But as for sexual immorality, and all uncleanness or greed, let there be not even a mention of these among you, as is proper for saints; nor let there be filthiness, or foolish talk, or coarse jesting, which are improper, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know: no sexually immoral person, no impure person, no covetous person (he is an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Therefore put to death your members which are upon the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, bad passion, evil cravings, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. Once you also spent your life in these things, when you lived in them. But now you must also put off all these: anger, rage, malice, blasphemy, filthy language from your mouth. Do not lie to each other, since you have put off the old man with his deeds and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator,

Therefore to him who knows to do good, and does not do it, to him it is sin.

For the time of life already past is enough for us to have performed the will of the Gentiles, going about in lustfulness, evil desires, excessive drinking, carousing, drunken parties, and abominable idolatries.

Whoever commits sin also breaks the Law, for sin is the breaking of the Law. And you know that he was revealed to take away our sins, and in him is no sin.

And do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Instead be afraid of him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

The Son of man will send forth his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom everything that causes stumbling, and those who do evil, and will throw them into a furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

He who believes in him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation: Light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come to the light, so that his deeds will not be exposed.

Whoever believes in the Son has everlasting life, and whoever refuses to believe the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him”.

The times of such ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom he has ordained. He has given proof to all by raising him from the dead”.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known about God is evident among them, for God has showed it to them.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Do not be deceived; God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that is what he will reap. For he who sows to his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but he who sows to the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap life everlasting.

Therefore put to death your members which are upon the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, bad passion, evil cravings, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.

and give rest to you who are being troubled, along with us, when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God and who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. They will be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power,

And as it is appointed to men to die once, but after this the judgment,

For if we willfully go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and fiery indignation which will consume the adversaries. He who despised Moses’ law died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought deserving who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who has said, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. And again, The Lord will judge his people.

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

And if you call on the Father, who, without partiality, judges according to everyone’s deeds, spend the time of your stay on earth in reverential fear.

For the time of life already past is enough for us to have performed the will of the Gentiles, going about in lustfulness, evil desires, excessive drinking, carousing, drunken parties, and abominable idolatries. Now they think it strange that you do not rush with them into the same excessive reveling, and speak evil of you. But they will give an account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Just as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them, which in the same way gave themselves up to sexual immorality and went after unnatural flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

And I saw a great white throne and him who was sitting on it. From his face earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by the things written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and each one of them was judged according to his deeds. And death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whoever was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

But God demonstrates his love toward us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all, testimony about this given in due time.

The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some men count slowness, but is patient toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

In this the love of God was revealed toward us: God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Love is seen in this: Not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

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”.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

He was delivered up for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.

But God demonstrates his love toward us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

For I passed on to you first of all that which I also received: That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,

namely, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us. We beg people on Christ’s behalf to be reconciled to God. For he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all, testimony about this given in due time.

so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many. And to those who look for him he will appear the second time for salvation, without bearing sin.

For you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, such as silver and gold, from your empty way of life received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He was indeed foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for you.

He himself bore our sins in his own body on the tree, so that we, being dead to sins, should live for righteousness. By his wounds you were healed. For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous one for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the body, but made alive by the Spirit.

and he is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

And when he had taken the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each of them having a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

And they sang a new song, saying,

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat. This is my body”.

And he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins. But I say to you, from now on I will not drink of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom”.

Him God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance God passed over the sins done in the past.

Much more then, now having been justified by his blood, we will be saved from God’s wrath through him. For if when we were his enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, having been reconciled, we will be saved by his life.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace

But Christ has come as a high priest of good things to come. Going through a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, and not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, he entered in once for all into the Most Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the ceremonially unclean, sanctifies to the extent of outward bodily purification, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.

And I said to him, “Sir, you know”. And he said to me, “These are those who have come out of the great tribulation, and who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple. And he who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They will hunger no more and thirst no more; nor will the sun beat down on them, or any excessive heat. For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them, and will lead them to springs of living waters, and God will wipe away all tears from their eyes”.

God exalted him to his right hand as Prince and Saviour to give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.

All the prophets testify about him that through his name whoever believes in him will receive the forgiveness of sins”.

to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace

and be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God, for Christ’s sake, forgave you.

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son, in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.

And when you were dead in your sins and the lack of circumcision in your flesh, he made you alive together with him, forgiving you all trespasses, and blotting out the handwriting of decrees that was against us, which was opposed to us, and took it away, nailing it to his cross.

Now where these have forgiveness, there is no more offering for sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his Word is not in us.

“Therefore, be it known to you, men and brethren, that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins, and in him all who believe are justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. As it is written,

“The righteous will live by faith”.

But now the righteousness of God apart from Law is revealed, being testified by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, which is through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all those who believe. For there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Him God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance God passed over the sins done in the past. To demonstrate, I say, at this time his righteousness, so that he might be just, and the justifier of him who believes in Jesus.

Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Therefore, just as through the offense of one man judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, so also through the righteous act of one the free gift which results in justification of life came to all men. For just as through one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one many will be made righteous.

know that a man is not justified by the works of the Law, but by faith in Jesus Christ, and we too have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law. For by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.

Even as Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. Understand, therefore, that those who believe, they are the ones who are the children of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles through faith, announced the gospel in advance to Abraham, saying, “In you all nations will be blessed”. So those who have faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

so that having been justified by his grace, we would become heirs in accordance with the expectation of eternal life.

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no man can do these miraculous signs that you are doing, unless God is with him”.

Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly I say to you, unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”.

Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?”

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly I say to you, unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be surprised that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but cannot tell from where it comes and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit”.

Nicodemus answered and said to him, “How can these things be?”

Jesus answered and said to him, “You are a teacher of Israel, and do you not know these things? Truly, truly I say to you, we speak what we know, and testify to what we have seen. And you do not receive our testimony. I have told you earthly things, and if you do not believe them, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? And no man has gone up to heaven except he who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of man who is in heaven.

“And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up, so that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

In response Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, the Son can do nothing by himself, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever he does, the Son also does the same things. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he does. And he will show him greater works than these, that you may be amazed.

“For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, just so the Son gives life to whom he will. For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, so that all men should honour the Son just as they honour the Father. He who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father who sent him.

“Truly, truly I say to you, he who hears my word and believes in him who sent me, has everlasting life and will not come into condemnation, but has passed from death to life.

“Truly, truly I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, even so he has given to the Son to have life in himself, and also has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of man.

“Do not be surprised at this, for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear his voice, and will come out. Those who have done good will come out for the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, for the resurrection of condemnation.

The thief does not come except to steal, to kill and to destroy. I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it in great abundance.

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

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me.

as you have given him authority over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they might know you the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

But these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that, believing, you might have life through his name.

so that as sin reigned in death, even so might grace reign through righteousness resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

For if we have been united in the likeness of his death, we will be united also in the likeness of his resurrection. We know that our old human nature was crucified with him, so that the body of sin might be deprived of force, that from now on we should not serve sin. For he who has died with Christ has been freed from sin.

Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him, knowing that Christ being raised from the dead will not die again. Death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died, he died to sin once for all, but the life he lives, he lives for God.

Likewise you also must count yourselves as dead indeed to sin, but alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey its cravings. And do not present your body’s members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God, as those who are alive from the dead, and your members to God as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under the Law, but under grace.

And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies by his Spirit who lives in you.

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die. But if through the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are sons of God. For you did not receive again the spirit of bondage to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we call out, “Abba, Father”. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit, that we are the children of God; and if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him, so that we may also be glorified together.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, that person is a new creation. Old things have passed away. See, all things have become new!

I have been crucified with Christ. Nevertheless I live – yet not I, but Christ lives in me. And the life I now live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

And you he has made alive, you who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience. Among them we also, all of us, had our life in time past in the cravings of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and seated us together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

And when you were dead in your sins and the lack of circumcision in your flesh, he made you alive together with him, forgiving you all trespasses,

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things of the earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

but is now revealed by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who has abolished death, and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, he saved us, not by righteous deeds that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that having been justified by his grace, we would become heirs in accordance with the expectation of eternal life.

being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides for ever.

And this is the record: God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

I have written these things to you who believe on the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God.

But as many as received him, to those who believed in his name, to them he gave the right to become the sons of God, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are sons of God. For you did not receive again the spirit of bondage to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we call out, “Abba, Father”. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit, that we are the children of God; and if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him, so that we may also be glorified together.

And because you are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, calling out, “Abba, Father”. Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to children,

If you are patiently enduring discipline, God is dealing with you as with sons. For is there a son whom the father does not discipline? But if you are not undergoing discipline, in which all sons have a share, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Moreover, we have had human fathers who disciplined us, and we showed them respect. Much more then should we not be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live? For they indeed disciplined us for a few days, as they thought best, but he disciplines us for our good, so that we might share in his holiness. Now no discipline seems joyful at the time, but painful. However, afterwards it produces the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who are exercised by it.

See what kind of love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the sons of God. Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know him. Dearly loved ones, we are now the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we will be, but we know that when he appears, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.

From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”.

And they went out and preached that men should repent.

At that same time some were present who told him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.

And Jesus in answer said to them, “Do you think that those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered this way? I tell you, No. But unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower in Siloam fell on them, do you think they were worse sinners than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? I tell you, No. But unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did”.

Then all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners, and eats with them”.

And he spoke this parable to them, saying, “What man among you who has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the pasture and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he finds it, he puts it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls his friends and neighbours together and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.’

“I tell you that in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who have no need of repentance.

“Or what woman who has ten pieces of silver and loses one piece, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbours together, and says, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece that I lost.’

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

And he said, “A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share in the estate coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.

“And not many days later the younger son gathered everything together, and went off to a far country. There he wasted his resources in wild living. And when he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in need. And he went and attached himself to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he longed to fill his stomach with the husks that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

“And when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread and I am dying from hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and against you, and am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired men.’

“And he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him, was moved with compassion and ran and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

“And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and against you, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him. And put a ring on his hand, and sandals on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it. And let us eat and celebrate, for this son of mine was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

“Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and drew near the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’

“And he was angry and would not go in. So his father came out, and begged him. And in answer he said to his father: ‘Look, all these years I have slaved for you, and never disobeyed an order of yours. And yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours comes, who has consumed your possessions with prostitutes, for him you killed the fattened calf!’

“And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.

Then he opened their understanding, so that they could understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day; also that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles, “Men, brethren, what shall we do?”

Then Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are far off, to as many as the Lord our God will call”.

And with many other words he testified and exhorted, saying, “Save yourselves from this perverse generation”.

Repent, therefore, and be converted, so that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing might come from the presence of the Lord, and that he might send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you previously.

“Since then we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that God’s nature is like gold or silver or stone, a thing carved by man’s art and design. The times of such ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom he has ordained. He has given proof to all by raising him from the dead”.

solemnly declaring both to the Jews and to the Greeks the need of repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus, and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the area of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and do deeds appropriate to repentance.

For though I made you sad with my letter, I do not regret it, though I did regret it, seeing that the same letter made you sad, but only for a little while. Now I rejoice, not that you were made sad, but because your sorrow resulted in repentance. For you were made sad in a godly way, that you might not be injured by us in anything. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation about which there will be no regrets. But the sorrow of the world produces death. For observe this very thing: You grieved in a godly way. What earnestness it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what demands for justice! In everything you have shown yourselves to be clear in this matter.

The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some men count slowness, but is patient toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

And the rest of mankind which was not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands, so that they would no longer worship demons, and idols of gold and silver and brass and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, or of their sorceries, or of their sexual immorality, or of their thefts.

But as many as received him, to those who believed in his name, to them he gave the right to become the sons of God,

so that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. He who believes in him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Whoever believes in the Son has everlasting life, and whoever refuses to believe the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him”.

“Truly, truly I say to you, he who believes in me has everlasting life.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me.

But these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that, believing, you might have life through his name.

And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household”.

Therefore by the deeds of the Law no flesh will be justified in his sight, for by the Law is the knowledge of sin.

But now the righteousness of God apart from Law is revealed, being testified by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, which is through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all those who believe. For there is no difference:

That if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart man believes for obtaining righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made for salvation.

know that a man is not justified by the works of the Law, but by faith in Jesus Christ, and we too have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law. For by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.

For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, so that no one should boast.

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterwards he was hungry. And when the tempter came to him, he said, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread”.

“Do not think that I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I have come, not to destroy, but to fulfil them. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle will pass away from the Law until all is fulfilled. Therefore whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men to do so, he will be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever practices and teaches them, he will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will absolutely not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus answered and said to them, “You blunder, not knowing the Scriptures, or the power of God.

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, “If you continue in my word, then you are my disciples indeed, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free”.

But these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that, believing, you might have life through his name.

“And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

For whatever things were written previously were written for our instruction, so that we, through patient endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, might have hope.

but is now revealed, and through the writings of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith,

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the God.

For this reason also we constantly thank God: because when you heard the Word of God from us and received it, you embraced it, not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God. Also it is effectively working in you who believe.

Until I come, apply yourself to reading, to exhortation, to instruction.

But you must continue in the things you have learned and have been assured, knowing from whom you learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures that are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfectly prepared and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any double edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit into a sincere love for the brethren, fervently love one another with a pure heart, being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides for ever. For,

We have also a more sure word of prophecy. And you do well to take heed to it, as to a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the day star arises in your hearts. Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For prophecy did not come in olden times by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

Whoever transgresses, and does not remain in the teachings of Christ, does not have God. He who remains in the teachings of Christ has both the Father and the Son.

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house, and do not greet him.

Blessed is he who reads the words of this prophecy, and those who hear it and keep those things which are written in it, for the time is at hand.

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All power is given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you. And see, I am with you always, even to the end of the age”. Amen.

After these things Jesus and his disciples came to the land of Judea, and there he spent time with them, and baptized.

Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John (though Jesus himself was not the one who baptized, but his disciples),

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles, “Men, brethren, what shall we do?”

Then Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are far off, to as many as the Lord our God will call”.

And with many other words he testified and exhorted, saying, “Save yourselves from this perverse generation”. Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. And the same day there were added to them about three thousand souls.

And they persevered in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

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

And as they went down the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What prevents me from being baptized?” And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may”. And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God”. And he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and he baptized him.

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all those who heard the Word. And all those believers who came with Peter, who were circumcised, were astonished, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak in tongues and praise God.

Then Peter responded, “Can anyone forbid water to prevent baptism to these who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they begged him to stay for some days.

And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshipper of God, heard us. The Lord opened her heart so that she seized on what was spoken by Paul. And when she and her household were baptized, she made a request to us, saying, “If you consider me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house, and stay there”. And she persuaded us.

And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household”. And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately was baptized, he and all his family.

And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having traveled through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples, he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit”.

And he said to them, “Then into what were you baptized?”

And they said, “Into John’s baptism”.

Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people that they should believe on him who was to come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus”. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Altogether there were about twelve men.

“And a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the Law, having a good testimony among all the Jews who lived there, came to me, and stood there, and said to me, Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And that same moment I saw him.

“And he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you, that you might know his will, and see that Just One, and hear the voice of his mouth. For you will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may abound? Absolutely not! How shall we who died to sin, live any longer in it? Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him through baptism into death so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also might walk in newness of life.

For you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

and have been buried with him in baptism, in which you have also been raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

who in time past were disobedient, when once the patience of God waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls were saved through the water. The exact representation of this water now saves us, baptism, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven, and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.

“Again, I tell you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I among them”.

Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. And the same day there were added to them about three thousand souls.

And they persevered in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came on every soul. And many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. And all who believed were together, and had everything in common. And they sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to everyone, as each one had need.

And they continued daily with one accord in the temple, and broke bread from house to house, and ate their food with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the Church daily those who were being saved.

For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and each one a member belonging to every other. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, if the gift is prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or if it is serving, let him be active in serving; or he who teaches, let him be active in teaching; or he who exhorts, let him exhort; he who gives, let him do it generously; he who leads, let him do it with diligence; he who shows mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

and put all things under his feet, and gave him as the head over everything to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him who fills all in all.

And he gave some to be apostles, and some to be prophets, and some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all come into the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a complete person, to the measure of the mature state of the fulness of Christ, so that we will not be children, tossed this way and that and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery and cunning craftiness of men in their deceitful plotting, but speaking the truth in love, in everything may grow up in him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body joined and knit together by what every ligament supplies, with the effectual working of every part in due measure, causes the body to grow and edify itself in love.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, for you were called to this in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the God. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Until I come, apply yourself to reading, to exhortation, to instruction.

And let us consider how to stir each other up to love and good works, not forsaking our meetings together, as the way of some is, but encouraging each other, and so much the more as you see the day approaching.

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat. This is my body”.

And he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins. But I say to you, from now on I will not drink of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom”.

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

And while they ate, Jesus took bread and blessed it. Then he broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take, eat. This is my body”.

And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.

And he said to them, “This is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. Truly I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God”.

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles sat with him.

And he said to them, “With great longing I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God”.

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God comes”.

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

After supper, he did the same with the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for you.

Therefore, my dearly loved ones, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men. Judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing for which we give thanks, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For though we are many we are one bread, one body, for we all partake of that one bread.

Look at Israel according to the flesh. Do not those who eat of the sacrifices partake of the altar? What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered in sacrifice to idols is anything? No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. You cannot drink both the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons. You cannot take part in the Lord’s table, and in the table of demons. Are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

In what I have to tell you now I do not praise you: your meeting together does not produce the better, but the worse. First of all, I hear that when you meet together as a church, that there are divisions among you; and in part I believe it. For there must also be dissensions among you, so that those who are approved by God may be revealed among you.

Therefore, when you meet together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s supper, for in eating, everyone begins his own supper ahead of others, and someone is hungry, and another is drunk. What? Do you not have houses in which to eat, and drink? Or do you despise the church of God, and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? I will not praise you.

For I have received from the Lord that which I also passed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “Take, eat. This is my body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me”. In the same manner also he took the cup after he had eaten, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me”. For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death, until he comes.

Therefore whoever eats this bread and drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. But a man should examine himself, and then eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner, not discerning the Lord’s body, eats and drinks judgment on himself. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many have fallen asleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord, so that we will not be condemned with the world.

Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. And if anyone is hungry let him eat at home, so that your meetings together do not lead to judgment. And when I come I will set the remaining matters in order.

If you love me, keep my commandments.

“He who has my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will reveal myself to him”.

Jesus answered and said to him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not keep my teachings. And the word that you are hearing is not mine, but the Father’s who sent me.

If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. “These things I have said to you that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my command, that you love one another, as I have loved you. No man has love greater than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you. From now on, I will not call you servants, because the servant does not know what his lord is doing. But I have called you friends, for everything that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

“You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, that you love one another.

Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another. For he who loves others has fulfilled the Law. For the commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet, and any other commandment there may be, are summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself”. Love does no harm to a neighbour, so love is the fulfilling of the Law.

As obedient children, do not let yourselves be conformed to the cravings you formerly had in your ignorance, but just as he who has called you is holy, so you be holy in your whole way of life. Because it is written,

And by this we know that we know him: If we keep his commandments. He who says, “I know him, and does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps his word, in him indeed the love of God is perfected. By this we know that we are in him.

He who says he remains in him ought to walk just as he walked.

Brethren, I am not writing any new command to you, but an old command, which you have had from the beginning. The old command is the word which you have heard from the beginning.

Again, I am writing a new command to you, a thing that is true in him and in you, because the darkness is past, and the true light is now shining.

And whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commands, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

And this is his command, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he commanded us. And he who keeps his commands remains in him, and he in him. And by this we know that he remains in us, by the Spirit which he has given to us.

And now I urge you, lady (not as though I wrote a new command to you, but that which we have had from the beginning), that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk according to his commands. This is the command: just as you have heard from the beginning you should walk in love.

But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. Then one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him, saying, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”

Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it, You shall love your neighbour as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments”.

And one of the scribes came, and hearing them debating and seeing that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, “Which is the first commandment of all?”

And Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is, ‘Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God is one Lord, 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.’ This is the first commandment. And the second is like it, namely this, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these”.

And the scribe said to him, “Excellent! Teacher, you have spoken the truth. There is one God, and there is no one else besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the soul and with all the strength one has, and to love one’s neighbour as oneself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices”.

And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God”. And after that no one dared to ask him any question.

And suddenly a certain lawyer stood up and tested him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”

And he answered and said, “You shall 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 your neighbour as yourself”.

And he said to him, “You have answered rightly. Do this, and you will live”.

But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?”

And Jesus answered and said, “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among robbers, who stripped him of his clothes, wounded him, and went away, leaving him half dead. And by chance a certain priest came down that way. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And so too a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked at him and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine, and set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day when he was leaving, he took out two silver coins, gave them to the innkeeper and said to him, ‘Take care of him. Whatever you spend extra, I will repay you when I come again.’

“Now which of these three, do you think, was a neighbour to him who fell among the robbers?”

And he said, “The one who showed mercy to him”. Then Jesus said to him, “Go, and do the same”.

“He who has my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will reveal myself to him”.

For this is love for God, that we keep his commands. And his commands are not grievous.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour, and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies. Bless those who curse you. Do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who abuse you and persecute you, so that you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even tax collectors do so? Therefore be perfect, just as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.

A new commandment I give to you, That you love one another. As I have loved you, you must also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another”.

This is my command, that you love one another, as I have loved you. No man has love greater than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you. From now on, I will not call you servants, because the servant does not know what his lord is doing. But I have called you friends, for everything that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

“You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, that you love one another.

Let love be without hypocrisy. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love, in the matter of honour put others above yourself.

Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another. For he who loves others has fulfilled the Law. For the commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet, and any other commandment there may be, are summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself”. Love does no harm to a neighbour, so love is the fulfilling of the Law.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I have become sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profits me nothing.

All you do should be done with love.

For, brethren, you have been called to liberty. But do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh. Instead, with love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself”. But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by each other.

But concerning brotherly love you have no need of my writing to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. And indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all of Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel in this more and more,

Him you have not seen, but love. Though now you do not see him, yet believing in him, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

And above all things have fervent love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.

He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness even until now. He who loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no cause of stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because that darkness has blinded his eyes.

For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, and not be like Cain, who was of that wicked one, and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.

Do not be surprised, my brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother remains in death. Whoever goes on hating his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life dwelling in him.

By this we know the love of God: because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s good things, and sees his brother in need and shuts up his heart toward him, how can the love of God be in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

Dearly loved ones, let us love one another; for love is of God, and everyone who loves is born of God, and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was revealed toward us: God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Love is seen in this: Not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Dearly loved ones, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwells in us, and his love is made perfect in us.

By this we know that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him, and he in God.

And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him. Our love is made perfect in this: That we can have boldness in the day of judgment, because in this world we are just as he is. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear is linked with torment. He who fears is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us.

If a man says, “I love God”, and hates his brother, he is a liar. For he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And we have this command from him: He who loves God must love his brother also.

A new commandment I give to you, That you love one another. As I have loved you, you must also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another”.

“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 heart be troubled, do not let it be afraid.

Let love be without hypocrisy. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love, in the matter of honour put others above yourself. Do not be backward in zeal, but be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, persevering in prayer, distributing to the needs of the saints, eager to show hospitality.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patient endurance, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not desire empty glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Therefore, as the chosen of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with tender mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness and patience. Bear with one another, and forgive one another, if anyone has a quarrel against another. Just as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. And above all these things clothe yourselves with love, which is the perfect bond.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, for you were called to this in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the God. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners, so that they will be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and shutting your door, pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. But when you pray, do not use empty repetitions, as the pagans do. For they think that they will be heard because of their many words. So do not be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him.

“Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

“Or which one of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him?

“Again, I tell you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I among them”.

Therefore I say to you, whatever you ask for when you pray, believe that you will receive it, and you will have it.

“And when you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive, so that your Father who is in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.

And it happened that as he was praying in a certain place, when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples”.

And he said to them, “When you pray, say,

And he said to them, “Which of you will have a friend, and will go to him at midnight, and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine on his journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?’ And from inside he will answer and say, ‘Don’t trouble me. The door is now locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you bread.’ I say to you, Though he will not get up and give him the loaves, because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as many as he needs.

“And I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; and he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks it will be opened.

“If a son of any father among you asks for bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

And he spoke a parable to them to showthat men should always pray, and not lose heart, saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. And there was a widow in that city, and she came to him, saying, ‘Get me justice against my enemy.’ And he would not for a while. But afterwards he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God, or respect man, yet because this widow is troubling me, I will get her justice, or she will wear me out by her continual coming.’ ”

And the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. And will not God obtain justice for his chosen ones, who cry out day and night to him, also bearing patiently with them? I tell you that he will bring about justice for them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Therefore watch, and pray always, so that you may be counted worthy to escape all those things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man”.

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father will be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you will ask what you want, and it will be done for you.

“And in that day you will ask me nothing. Truly, truly I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. I have said these things to you in figurative language. But the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language but will tell you clearly about the Father. At that time you will ask in my name, and I do not tell you that I will ask the Father for you,

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses; for we do not know how to pray as we should. But the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans which cannot be expressed in words. And he who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, persevering in prayer,

For through him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

praying always in the Spirit with all kinds of prayers and requests, and being alert for this with all perseverance and requests for all saints.

Be anxious about nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving make your requests known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Persevere in prayer, and be alert in it with thanksgiving,

Pray without ceasing.

I exhort, therefore, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men, for kings, and for all those in authority, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

So I want men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger and doubting.

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be refused, if received with thanksgiving, for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Therefore let us come boldly to the throne of grace, so that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Therefore, brothers, we have boldness to enter into the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way that he has consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and we have a high priest over the house of God. So let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask it from God, who gives to everyone liberally and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, without wavering at all. For he who wavers is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man think that he will receive any thing from the Lord. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.

You desire and do not have; you kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain what you want; you fight and struggle, yet you do not have, because you do not ask God. You ask, and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, that you may use it up on your desires.

Is anyone among you in trouble? He should pray. Is any happy? He should sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they should pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.

Confess your faults to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. A righteous man’s prayer at work is very powerful.

Elijah was a man with a nature like we have, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth its fruit.

But the end of all things is at hand. Therefore be sober minded, and watch so you can pray.

Dearly loved ones, if our heart does not condemn us, then we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commands, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

And this is the confidence that we have in him: If we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have made to him.

At that time Jesus responded and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for it was good in your sight.

And after sending the crowds away, he went up into a mountain by himself to pray. And when evening came, he was there alone.

Then little children were brought to him, so that he would put his hands on them and pray. And the disciples rebuked them.

But Jesus said, “Permit little children to come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these”.

And he laid his hands on them, and went away from there.

And in the morning, a great while before daylight, he got up, went outside and left for a solitary place. And there he prayed.

And he withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.

And it happened in those days that he went out on a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

But I have prayed for you, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back again, strengthen your brethren”.

And coming out, he went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives and his disciples also followed him. And when he reached the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not get into temptation”.

And he withdrew from them about a stones throw away, and knelt down, and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done”.

And an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him.

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

And when he got up from prayer, and came to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, and said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray so that you will not get into temptation”.

Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was lying. And Jesus raised his eyes, and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. And I know that you always hear me, but because of the people standing here I said this, that they may believe that you have sent me”.

Jesus spoke these words, raised his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so that your Son may also glorify you, as you have given him authority over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they might know you the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

“I have glorified you on the earth. I have finished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory which I had with you before the world was.

“I have revealed your name to the men whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me. And they have kept your word. Now they have come to know that all things which you have given me are from you. For I have given to them the words which you gave me, and they have received them and have known with certainty that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me.

“I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. And all mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep through your own name those whom you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name. I have kept those whom you gave me, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

“And now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world, so that they might have my joy in them to the full. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them, because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.

“I am not praying that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them through your truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, even so I have also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

“I am praying not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their words, so that they all may be one; as you, Father, are in me and I am in you, that they also may be one in us, so that the world may believe that you sent me. \fp \fp .

“And the glory which you gave me I have given them, so that they may be one, just as we are one; I in them and you in me, so that they may be made perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me, and have loved them just as you have loved me.

“Father, I desire that those whom you have given me, also be with me where I am, so that they may see my glory which you gave me. For you loved me before the foundation of the world.

“Righteous Father, the world has not known you, but I have known you, and these have come to know that you sent me. And I have made our name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them”.

And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord and said, “Lord, you are God who has made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all that is in them, who through the mouth of your servant David has said,

“For truly against your holy son Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, gathered together, to do whatever your hand and your purpose determined beforehand should be done. And now, Lord, see their threatenings, and grant to your servants that with all boldness they may speak your word, by stretching forth your hand to heal, and giving power that miraculous signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy son Jesus”.

And when they had prayed, the place where they had met together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God, and the prisoners heard them.

And when he had said this, he knelt down and prayed with them all.

And when we had completed those days, we departed and went on our way. And they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, until we were out of the city. And we knelt down on the shore and prayed.

For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, asking that by some means at last by the will of God I might have a good opportunity to come to you.

Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved. For I testify concerning them that they have a zeal for God. But it is not according to knowledge.

Now I plead with you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, so that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be accepted by the saints, that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.

Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

And so that I would not be highly lifted up with pride because of the greatness of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to beat me, so that I would not become highly lifted up with pride. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it might depart from me. And he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness”. Therefore I will boast more gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, mentioning you in my prayers. I ask that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, in accordance with the working of his mighty power which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory, he would grant you to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner person, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is its breadth and length and depth and height, and to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to him be glory in the church through Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

And pray for me that it may be given to me to speak, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that in doing so I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

I thank my God at every remembrance of you. in every prayer of mine for all of you I pray with joy, because of your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,

And I pray that your love may overflow still more and more, in knowledge and in complete discernment, that you may approve things that are excellent, and that you may be sincere and without offense until the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, for the glory and praise of God.

For this reason we too, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you and to desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of his will in complete wisdom and spiritual understanding, so that you might behave in a manner worthy of the Lord and please Him in everything, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all might according to his glorious power, so that you may have complete endurance and patience together with joy, and go on giving thanks to the Father, who has made us fit to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

and be praying for us also, that God would open to us a door for the Word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains, that I may make it clear, speaking as I should.

For what thanks can we offer to God again for you, for all the joy we experience for your sakes in the presence of our God, night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and fill up that which is lacking in your faith?

Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love toward each other, and toward all men, just as we do toward you, to the end that he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness in the presence of our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

Therefore we always pray also for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and keep you from evil. And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command you. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patient waiting for Christ.

Jesus, during the days of his earthly life in the body, when he had offered up prayers and requests with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death, was heard because of his reverence.

Therefore he is able also to save to the utmost those who come to God through him, because he always lives to make intercession for them.

And as he was going to Jerusalem, it came about that he travelled between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a certain village, ten men who were lepers met him. They stood at a distance, and raised their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us”.

And when he saw them, he told them, “Go show yourselves to the priests”. And it came about as they went, that they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet and gave him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.

And in response Jesus said, “Were not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? No one is found returning to give glory to God, except this foreigner”. And he said to him, “Get up. Go on your way. Your faith has made you well”.

And Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them along with the fish to the disciples, and the disciples to those who were sitting down, as much as they wanted.

Because, when they knew God, they did not glorify him as God, and were not thankful, but became futile in their reasonings, and their foolish heart was darkened.

giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious about nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving make your requests known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

rooted and being built up in him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, overflowing in it with thanksgiving.

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

Persevere in prayer, and be alert in it with thanksgiving,

In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

I exhort, therefore, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men,

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be refused, if received with thanksgiving, for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

“Watch out that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

“Therefore when you do charitable deeds, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, so that they may get glory from men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your charitable deeds will be in secret. And your Father himself, who sees in secret, will reward you openly.

Therefore, in everything, whatever you want people to do to you, do the same to them. For this is the Law and the Prophets.

“When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory, and all nations will be gathered in his presence. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats. And he will put the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left.

“Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in. I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and fed you? Or thirsty, and gave you something to drink? When did we see you as a stranger, and took you in? Or naked, and clothed you? Or when did we see you sick, or in prison, and came to you?’

“And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, anything you did for one of the least of these my brethren, you did for me.’

“And then he will say to those at the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry, and you did not give me food. I was thirsty, and you did not give me anything to drink. I was a stranger, and you did not take me in. I was naked, and you did not clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit me.’

“Then they too will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not serve you?’

“Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly I say to you, since you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

“And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal”.

And the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?”

He answered and said to them, “He who has two coats should give to him who has none, and he who has food should do the same”.

“Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, men will pour into your lap. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you”.

And in those days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them, named Agabus, stood up and indicated by the Spirit that there would be a great famine throughout the whole world. This came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, each one according to his ability, decided to send relief to the brethren who lived in Judea. This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

No one should seek his own benefit, but each one the benefit of others.

Now, brethren, we inform you of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia, so that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the riches of their generosity. For I bear them witness that according to their ability, indeed, even beyond their ability, on their own they were willing to give, pleading with us earnestly that we would accept their gift and participation in the ministry to the saints. And this they did, not as we expected, but first gave themselves to the Lord, and to us by the will of God. So we urged Titus, that since he had already made a beginning, so he should also bring to completion this same act of grace among you. Therefore, just as you have an abundance in everything, in faith, and speaking, and knowledge, and in complete diligence, and in your love for us, see that you have an abundance of this grace also. I am speaking, not by way of commandment, but because of the earnestness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.

And in this regard I give my advice. This is best for you: You were the first to prepare to do this service and also to have the desire, and this was a year ago; now, therefore, carry out the doing of it, so that as there was a readiness to desire, so there may be a completion also, out of what you have. For if there is first a willing mind, the gift is acceptable according to what a man has, and not according to what he does not have.

For I do not mean that others should be relieved and you burdened, but that there might be an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply what they need, so that some day their abundance may also supply what you need, that there may be equality. As it is written, He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.

For concerning this service to the saints, it is unnecessary for me to write to you. For I know your readiness of mind, about which I speak with pride concerning you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago. And your zeal has inspired most of them. Yet I have sent the brethren, so that our speaking proudly about you would not be in vain in this regard, but that, as I said, you may be ready, thinking that if the Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to say, you) would be ashamed about this confident boasting. Therefore I thought it necessary to urge the brethren to go in advance to you, and prepare your generous gift, which you previously promised, that it might be ready, as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging duty.

But this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows abundantly will also reap abundantly. Everyone should give as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly, or from compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace flow to you in abundance, so that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written,

Now may he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, multiply the seed you have sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are richly furnished in everything for complete generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us.

For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also overflows in much thanksgiving to God, while, because of what this service proves, they glorify God for your obedience which accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generous sharing with them, and with everyone. And in their prayers for you, they will feel strong affection for you because of the overflowing grace of God in you.

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.

And let us not be weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up. Therefore as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

However, you have done well, in that you shared in my trouble. Now you Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel there, when I was leaving Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you. For even to Thessalonica you sent again and again for my need. Not that I am seeking a gift. I seek to have fruit going abundantly into your account. But I have everything in abundance. I am full, having received by Epaphroditus the things from you. They are a sweet-smelling aroma, a sacrifice acceptable and well-pleasing to God. And my God will supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

And let us consider how to stir each other up to love and good works,

Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some have unknowingly entertained angels. Remember those who are in bonds, as though bound with them, and those who are ill-treated, as being yourselves also in the body.

And do not forget to do good and to share what you have, for God is very pleased with such sacrifices.

Pure and faultless religion before God the Father is this: To look after the fatherless and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

If a brother or sister is without clothing, and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled”, but you do not give them those things which are needful to the body, what is the use?

By this we know the love of God: because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s good things, and sees his brother in need and shuts up his heart toward him, how can the love of God be in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be filled.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will obtain mercy.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men revile you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you, falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For in this way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

And Jesus called a little child to him, and set him among them, and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted, and become as little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself like this little child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me.

And he told a parable to those who had been invited, when he observed how they chose the places of honour, saying to them,

And he spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed with himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men: robbers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all I get.’

“And the tax collector, standing at a distance, would not even raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God be merciful to me a sinner.’

“I tell you, this man went down to his house justified instead of the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted”.

with complete humility and meekness, with patience bearing with one another in love,

Let nothing be done through selfish motives or self-esteem, but in humbleness of mind let everyone consider others better than themselves. No one should look only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus,

Therefore, as the chosen of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with tender mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness and patience. Bear with one another, and forgive one another, if anyone has a quarrel against another. Just as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

Do you think that the Scripture says in vain, The spirit that dwells in us desires jealously? But he gives more grace. Therefore he says,

Therefore submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Likewise you young people, be submissive to older ones. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon him, for he cares for you.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy, and where thieves do not break in or steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or for your body, what you will put on. Is not the life more than food, and the body more than clothing? See the birds of the air. For they do not sow, they do not reap or gather into barns. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit to his height?

“And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They do not work, they do not spin. And yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not adorned like one of these. Therefore, if God clothes the grass of the field like this, which today is here, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘What will we wear?’ (For the Gentiles go after all these things.) For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Its own trouble is enough for the day.

And one in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me”.

And he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?”

And he said to them, “Watch out, and beware of greed, for a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things which he possesses”.

And he spoke a parable to them, saying, “The ground of a certain rich man was very productive. And he thought to himself, saying, ‘What will I do, because I have no room to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones, and there store all my crops and goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool, this very night your soul will be demanded from you. Then who will have those things which you have provided?’

“This is what he is like who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God”.

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have, and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves which do not get old, an unfailing treasure in the heavens, where no thief comes near, no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

I showed you in every way how that by labouring like this you ought to support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. So having food and clothing let us be content with that. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful desires which drown men in destruction and ruin. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. Some while coveting it have gone astray from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Command those who are rich in this world not to be arrogant, and not to trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Command them to do good, and to be rich in good deeds, ready to give, willing to share, and so storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Your manner of life must be without the love of money. So be content with what you have, for he has said,

So that we may boldly say,

My brethren, having faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, do not show favoritism. For if a man with a gold ring and fine clothes comes to your meeting, and a poor man in dirty clothes also comes, and you show respect to the one who wears the fine clothes, and say to him, “You sit here in a good place”, and say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit here by my footstool”, are you not showing partiality among yourselves, and becoming judges with evil thoughts?

Listen, my dear brethren, has not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to those who love him? But you have treated the poor with contempt. Do not rich men oppress you, and drag you to court? Do they not blaspheme that worthy name by which you are called?

If you fulfil the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself”, you do well. But if you show favoritism, you commit sin and are convicted by the Law as transgressors.

Come now, you rich men, weep and howl because of your miseries that will come on you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you, and will eat your flesh as if it were fire. You have heaped together wealth for the last days. See, the wages of the labourers who have harvested your fields, which you have fraudulently kept, cry out, and the cries of those who have done the harvesting have entered into the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived in pleasure and luxury on the earth. You have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and killed the righteous, when he was not resisting you.

“Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way to court with him, so that this adversary will not at any time hand you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Truly I say to you, you will by no means get out of there, until you have paid the last copper coin.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you that you should not resist evil, but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go a mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

“Moreover, if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, alone, between you and him. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not listen, take with you one or two more, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses to listen to the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be harmonious in your thoughts toward one another. Do not think highly of yourself, but associate with men in low positions. Do not think you are a wise one.

Do not pay back to anyone evil for evil. Take thought for what is excellent in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with everyone. Dear friends, do not take revenge, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord”. Therefore,

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

When anyone of you has something against someone else, dare he go for judgment to the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And since the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more things that pertain to this life! If then you have matters requiring judgment about things pertaining to this life, appoint as judges even those who are least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame. Can it be that there is not a wise man among you? Not even one who would be able to judge a dispute between his brethren? But instead, brother goes to law against brother, and that in front of unbelievers!

Now, therefore, there is utter failure for you, because you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? Instead, you do wrong, and cheat, and do this to your brethren!

Then the Pharisees went away and plotted how they could trap him in his talk. And they sent to him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God in truth. And you do not show favoritism to anyone, for you do not regard a man’s appearance. So tell us what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test me, you hypocrites? Show me the tax money”. And they brought a silver coin to him. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?”

They said to him, “Caesar’s”. Then he said to them, “Therefore give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s”.

When they heard these words, they were amazed and left him and went away.

And when they had brought them, they placed them before the council, and the high priest asked them, saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And, look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood on us”.

Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, “We ought to obey God rather than men.

Every person should be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God; the authorities that exist have been determined by God. Therefore, whoever resists the authority is resisting what God has arranged, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Do you want to be without fear of the authority? Do what is good, and you will receive praise from him. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who does evil. Therefore you need to be subject to the authorities, not only because of wrath, but also because of conscience.

For this reason you also pay taxes; for they are God’s ministers, attending continually to this very thing. Therefore, give to all their due; tax to whom tax is due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour.

I exhort, therefore, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men, for kings, and for all those in authority, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Remind them to be subject to rulers and those in authority, to be obedient and ready for any good work,

Submit yourselves, for the Lord’s sake, to every institution for governing men, whether it is to the king, as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him to punish evildoers and to praise those who do well. For such is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. Be as free men, not using your liberty as a cloak for evil, but as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan. For it is written,

Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus, and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed by and looked at the objects of your worship, I found an altar with this inscription:

TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.

“Therefore, I am going to make known to you the one whom you worship without knowing. God, who made the world and everything in it, since he is the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands, nor is he served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, since he gives to everyone life, and breath, and everything else. And he has made from one blood every nation of man to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined the times set for them, and the boundaries of the regions where they live, so that they would seek the Lord, and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each of us; for in him we live, and move, and have our being. As some of your own poets also have said, we are also his offspring.

“Since then we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that God’s nature is like gold or silver or stone, a thing carved by man’s art and design. The times of such ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom he has ordained. He has given proof to all by raising him from the dead”.

But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who is called a brother if he is sexually immoral or greedy or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, and not to eat with such a person.

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor men who practice sodomy, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. And if anyone thinks he knows something, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know it. But if anyone loves God, that one is known by God.

So concerning the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice to idols: We know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is but one God, and no other. For though there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many called gods and lords), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.

However everyone does not have this understanding. For some, being conscious of the idol, to this hour eat such food as something offered to an idol, and because their conscience is weak it is defiled. But food does not commend us to God. For if we eat, we are not the better, or if we do not eat we are not the worse.

But watch out that somehow this liberty of yours does not become a stumbling block to those who are weak. For if anyone sees you who have understanding sit at food in the temple of an idol, will not his weak conscience encourage him to eat those things which are offered to idols? And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother, for whom Christ died, be ruined? But when you sin against the brethren like this, and wound their weak conscience, you are sinning against Christ. Therefore, if such food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, lest I cause my brother to stumble.

And, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not pleased; their bodies were scattered in the desert.

\xt*). If we permit them to remain in our hearts we will find that eventually they will bite like poisonous snakes.Now these things happened as\add* examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things, as they craved them.\add* And do not become idolaters, as some of them were\add*. As it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. And let us not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell dead.\add*

And let us not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. And do not complain, as some of them complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

Now all these things happened to them as examples. And they are written as a warning to us, on whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands watch out that he does not fall.

No temptation has taken hold of you but such as is common to man. But God is faithful. He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to bear, but with the temptation will also make a way to escape, so that you may be able to bear it.

Therefore, my dearly loved ones, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men. Judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing for which we give thanks, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For though we are many we are one bread, one body, for we all partake of that one bread.

Look at Israel according to the flesh. Do not those who eat of the sacrifices partake of the altar? What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered in sacrifice to idols is anything? No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. You cannot drink both the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons. You cannot take part in the Lord’s table, and in the table of demons. Are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has the one who believes with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said,

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are these: adultery, fornication, impurity, lewdness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousies, rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. Concerning these I tell you in advance, just as I have told you in time past, that those who go on doing such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

For they themselves declare concerning us what kind of entry we had among you and how you turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus, who has delivered us from the wrath to come.

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

But the cowardly, and the unbelieving, and the vile, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars will have their part in the lake which burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death”.

For outside are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whoever loves or practices a lie.

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

And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the soul and with all the strength one has, and to love one’s neighbour as oneself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices”.

Therefore, brethren, because of the mercies of God, I plead with you to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

Now when these things had been prepared like this, the priests went at any time into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the service of God. But into the second part only the high priest went just once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the people’s sins of ignorance. In this way the Holy Spirit was showing that the way into the Most Holy Place was not yet revealed, while the first tabernacle was still standing. The tabernacle was a symbol for the present time. Both the gifts and sacrifices offered in it could not make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience, but had to do only with foods and drinks, and various washings, and regulations about the body, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

But Christ has come as a high priest of good things to come. Going through a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, and not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, he entered in once for all into the Most Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the ceremonially unclean, sanctifies to the extent of outward bodily purification, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

And for this reason he is the mediator of the new covenant, so that as a result of his death as a ransom for sins committed under the first covenant, those who are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Now where there is a testament, of necessity there must also be the death of the one who made it. For a testament is in force only after men are dead. It has no power at all while the one who made it is living.

For this reason even the first covenant was not dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every commandment to all the people, according to the Law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book and all the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you”.

Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels used in its service. And according to the Law almost everything is cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. It was therefore necessary that the copies of things in the heavens should be purified by these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves by better sacrifices than these.

For Christ has not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are only copies of the true, but into heaven itself, to appear now in the presence of God for us. And it is not that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with the blood of other sacrifices. For then he would have had to suffer often since the beginning of the world. But now once for all, at the end of the ages, he has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

And as it is appointed to men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many. And to those who look for him he will appear the second time for salvation, without bearing sin.

For the Law was a shadow of good things to come, not the very substance of the things. So with those sacrifices which they offer continually year after year it can never make perfect those who approach it. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? Because the worshippers once cleansed would no longer have a consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices sins are remembered again every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

Therefore when he comes into the world, he says,

Above when he said, “Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you did not desire, and have had no pleasure in them” (which are offered by the Law), and then said, “See, I come to do your will, O God”. He takes away the first things so that he may establish the second.

By this will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

And every priest stands daily ministering and offering over and over the same sacrifices which can never take away sins. But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. From now on he waits expectantly until his enemies are made his footstool.

For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified.

Concerning this the Holy Spirit also is a witness to us. For after he first said,

Now where these have forgiveness, there is no more offering for sin.

“You have heard that it was said to those of olden times, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. And if your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you, for it is better for you that one of your parts is lost than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you. For it is better for you that one of your parts is lost than that your whole body be thrown into hell.

And early in the morning he returned to the temple. And all the people came to him, and he sat down, and taught them.

And the scribes and Pharisees brought to him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had made her stand in the center, they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the Law commanded us to stone such women, but what do you say?”

They said this, testing him, that they might have some reason to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with his finger, as though he did not hear them.

So when they kept on asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her”. And again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

And those who heard that, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one after the other, beginning with the oldest and on to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the center. When Jesus straightened up and saw no one except the woman, he said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”

She said, “No one, Lord”. And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and sin no more”.

Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another. For he who loves others has fulfilled the Law. For the commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet, and any other commandment there may be, are summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself”. Love does no harm to a neighbour, so love is the fulfilling of the Law.

I wrote to you in a letter not to associate with sexually immoral people, but not at all meaning with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the greedy, or extortioners, or with idolaters. For in that case you would have to leave the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who is called a brother if he is sexually immoral or greedy or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, and not to eat with such a person.

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor men who practice sodomy, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of anything. Foods for the belly, and the belly for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God has both raised up the Lord, and will raise us up by his own power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of a prostitute? Absolutely not! What? Do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute is one body with her? For two, he says, “will be one flesh”. But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit. Flee from sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who is sexually immoral sins against his own body.

What? Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are these: adultery, fornication, impurity, lewdness,

But as for sexual immorality, and all uncleanness or greed, let there be not even a mention of these among you, as is proper for saints;

Therefore put to death your members which are upon the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, bad passion, evil cravings, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.

Finally then we urge you, brethren, and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have learned from us how you ought to behave and please God, so you would excel in this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

For this is the will of God, your sanctification, that you should abstain from sexual immorality, that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in holiness and honour, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God, that no man transgress and take advantage of his brother in this matter; because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also warned you before and solemnly affirmed. For God has not called us to uncleanness, but to holiness. So he who rejects this teaching is rejecting not man but God, who has given to us his Holy Spirit.

Marriage is honourable among all, and the marriage bed is undefiled, but God will judge the sexually immoral, and adulterers.

Just as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them, which in the same way gave themselves up to sexual immorality and went after unnatural flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Let us walk decently, as in the daylight, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and unbridled lust, not in strife and envy.

But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who is called a brother if he is sexually immoral or greedy or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, and not to eat with such a person.

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor men who practice sodomy, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are these: adultery, fornication, impurity, lewdness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousies, rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. Concerning these I tell you in advance, just as I have told you in time past, that those who go on doing such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

And do not get drunk with wine, in which is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

This is a true saying: If a man desires the position of overseer in the church, he desires a good work. An overseer must be blameless, the husband of only one wife, temperate, sound in thinking, of good behaviour, hospitable, able to teach, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for sordid gain, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money,

For an overseer in the church, as God’s steward, must be blameless, not self-pleasing, not soon angry, not given to wine, not quarrelsome, not greedy for sordid gain,

For the time of life already past is enough for us to have performed the will of the Gentiles, going about in lustfulness, evil desires, excessive drinking, carousing, drunken parties, and abominable idolatries. Now they think it strange that you do not rush with them into the same excessive reveling, and speak evil of you. But they will give an account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

When Jesus arrived in the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of man, am?”

And they said, “Some say that you are John the Baptist. Some say, ‘Elijah.’ And others say, ‘Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ”

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

And Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”.

And Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And also I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it. And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven”.

Then he ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was Jesus the Christ.

Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. And the same day there were added to them about three thousand souls.

And they persevered in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and each one a member belonging to every other. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, if the gift is prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or if it is serving, let him be active in serving; or he who teaches, let him be active in teaching; or he who exhorts, let him exhort; he who gives, let him do it generously; he who leads, let him do it with diligence; he who shows mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For with one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether slave or free, and have all been given to drink into one Spirit.

For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not the hand, I do not belong to the body”, does it therefore not belong to the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not the eye, I do not belong to the body”, does it therefore not belong to the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be? But now God has set each member in the body as it pleased him. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now they are many members, yet but one body.

And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; again, the head cannot say to the feet, “I have no need of you”. Not at all. Those members of the body which seem to be weaker are much more necessary, And those members of the body which we think are less honourable, to them we give more honour, and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty. For our presentable parts have no need of it. But God has joined the body together, giving the greater honour to that part which lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another, and if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it, or if one member is honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

Now you are the body of Christ, individual members of it. And God has placed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

and put all things under his feet, and gave him as the head over everything to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him who fills all in all.

Now therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but are fellow citizens with the saints, and belong to the household of God, and are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God through the Spirit.

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, appeal to you to walk worthy of the calling which you received, with complete humility and meekness, with patience bearing with one another in love, striving to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, just as you are called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

But to each one of us grace has been given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Therefore he says,

(Now that “he ascended”, what is it but that first he also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also who ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some to be apostles, and some to be prophets, and some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all come into the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a complete person, to the measure of the mature state of the fulness of Christ, so that we will not be children, tossed this way and that and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery and cunning craftiness of men in their deceitful plotting, but speaking the truth in love, in everything may grow up in him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body joined and knit together by what every ligament supplies, with the effectual working of every part in due measure, causes the body to grow and edify itself in love.

And he is the head of the body, the church, and he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that in everything he might have the preeminence.

And let us consider how to stir each other up to love and good works, not forsaking our meetings together, as the way of some is, but encouraging each other, and so much the more as you see the day approaching.

Coming to him, as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. And so it is contained in the Scripture,

Therefore to you who believe he is precious, but to those who are disobedient, the stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, so that you may declare the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvellous light, you who in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God, you who had not obtained mercy, but have now obtained mercy.

And a voice came from the throne, saying,

And I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, and like the sound of many waters, and like the sound of mighty thunderings, saying,

And he said to me, “Write: Blessed are those who are called to the wedding supper of the Lamb”. He also said to me, “These are the true words of God”.

And I prostrated myself at his feet to worship him. And he said to me, “Look, do not do that! I am a servant together with you and with your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy”.

And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a complaint among the Grecian Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Then the twelve called the whole group of the disciples together, and said, “It is not reasonable that we leave the word of God, and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, look among yourselves for seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word”.

And these words pleased the whole group, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas a convert from Antioch. These they set before the apostles. And when the apostles had prayed, they laid hands on them.

And when they had ordained elders for them in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they believed.

This is a true saying: If a man desires the position of overseer in the church, he desires a good work. An overseer must be blameless, the husband of only one wife, temperate, sound in thinking, of good behaviour, hospitable, able to teach, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for sordid gain, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money, one who rules his own home well, keeping his children obedient with full respect (for if a man does not know how to rule his own home, how will he take care of the church of God?), not a new convert, or he may get puffed up with pride and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must have a good testimony among outsiders, or he may fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Likewise, the deacons must be honorable, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for sordid gain, but holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these men also first be tested, and when found blameless, let them serve as deacons.

Also their wives must be honorable, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.

Let the deacons each be the husband of only one wife, ruling their children and their own homes well. For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order what was lacking, and ordain elders in every city, as I had instructed you, if there is anyone who is blameless, the husband of only one wife, having faithful children not accused of wildness or unruliness. For an overseer in the church, as God’s steward, must be blameless, not self-pleasing, not soon angry, not given to wine, not quarrelsome, not greedy for sordid gain, but a lover of hospitality, a lover of what is good, able to think soundly, uprightholy, temperate, holding firmly the faithful word as he has been taught, so that by sound doctrine he will be able both to exhort and to convince opponents.

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All power is given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you. And see, I am with you always, even to the end of the age”. Amen.

And a quarrel started among them as to which of them should be considered the greatest.

And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But you must not be like that. Instead, the greatest among you must be like the youngest, and the leader like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is seated at the table, or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is seated at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

And from Miletus he sent word to Ephesus and called the elders of the church. And when they had come to him, he said to them, “You know the manner of my life the whole time I was with you from the first day I came to Asia, how I served the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears and trials which came to me because of the plotting of the Jews, and how I kept back nothing that was helpful to you, but made it known to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, solemnly declaring both to the Jews and to the Greeks the need of repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

“And, see, now I go bound in the Spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and sufferings await me. But none of these things moves me, nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

“And now, look, I know that all of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. Therefore I call you as witnesses this day, that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not hesitated to declare to you the whole counsel of God. Therefore take care about yourselves, and about all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will arise and speak distorted things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

“And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or clothing. Yes, you yourselves know that these hands provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. I showed you in every way how that by labouring like this you ought to support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

For, brethren, you yourselves know that our coming to you was not in vain. But even after we had suffered previously and been spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak the gospel of God to you, in the midst of much conflict. For our exhortation did not arise from error, or from impurity, or from deceitfulness, but since we were approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not to please men, but God, who tests our hearts. For we did not at any time use flattering words, as you know, or a cloak to cover greed. God is our witness. And we did not seek glory from men, either from you, or from others. As the apostles of Christ, we could rightly have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother lovingly takes care of her children. We yearned over you with such affection that we were willing to give to you, not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you were dear to us. For you remember, brethren, our labour and toil. For labouring night and day because we would not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

You are witnesses, and God also, how holy, righteous and blameless our behaviour was among you who believe. Also you know how we encouraged and comforted and instructed every one of you, as a father does his children, that you should behave in a way worthy of God, who has called you to his kingdom and glory.

Now the Spirit clearly states that in later times some will depart from the faith, giving attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared as with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be refused, if received with thanksgiving, for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

If you remind the brethren of these things, you will be a good servant of Jesus Christ, nourished by the words of faith and good doctrine that you have followed. But reject godless stories and old wives’ tales, and, instead, train yourself in godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, holding promise for the present life and for that which is to come.

This is a trustworthy saying and worthy of full acceptance. For this reason we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of those who believe.

Command and teach these things. Let no man look down on your youthfulness, but be an example to the believers in speech, in behaviour, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Until I come, apply yourself to reading, to exhortation, to instruction. Do not neglect the gift that is in you that was given to you by prophecy, with the elders laying hands on you.

Meditate on these things, and give yourself wholly to them, that your progress might be evident to everyone. Watch yourself and your doctrine. Continue in it, for in doing this you will save both yourself, and those who hear you.

You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard from me with many witnesses present, those same things entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You, therefore, endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that goes to war entangles himself in the affairs of civilian life, that he may please the one who has chosen him to be a soldier. Also if a person competes in athletic contests, he does not gain the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer must be the first to get a share of the crop. Consider what I say. May the Lord give you understanding in all things.

Remember that Jesus Christ, among the descendants of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble, as if I were a criminal, even to the point of chains. But the word of God is not chained. So I endure everything for the sake of God’s chosen ones, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

This is a faithful saying:

Remind them of these things, and solemnly declare in the presence of the Lord that they must not quarrel about words, which is useless and ruins those who hear it. Make every effort to show yourself approved to God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, using the word of truth rightly. But avoid profane, empty babblings, for they will result in more ungodliness. And their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among these are Hymenaeus and Philetus. They have veered away from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place. And they upset the faith of some. Nevertheless the foundation of God stands firm, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his”; and, “Let everyone who utters the name of Christ keep away from wickedness”.

But in a large house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some valuable and some of no value. So if a person cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a valuable vessel, sanctified, and useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work.

Also flee from youthful cravings, but follow righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But avoid foolish and ignorant debates, knowing that they engender quarrels. And the servant of the Lord must not quarrel, but be kind to everyone, able to teach, and patient. He should humbly instruct those who oppose him, hoping that perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them into a knowledge of the truth, and that they may wake up and escape from the snare of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

But you have fully known my teaching, manner of life, purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions and hardships which came to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra. What persecutions I endured! But the Lord delivered me out of them all. Yes, and all who want to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and hypocrites will go on getting worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things you have learned and have been assured, knowing from whom you learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures that are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfectly prepared and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Therefore I give you this charge in the presence of God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom: Preach the Word. Be ready in season, out of season. Refute errors, rebuke, exhort with complete patience and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but following their own desires they will heap up teachers for themselves because they will have itching ears. And they will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn them to empty stories. But you be watchful in everything. Endure hardships. Do the work of an evangelist. Make full proof of your ministry.

In all things make yourself an example in good works. In doctrine show integrity, seriousness, sincerity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that your opponents may be ashamed, having nothing bad to say about you.

I urge the elders who are among you, I who also am an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a sharer in the glory that will be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion, but willingly; not for sordid gain, but with a ready mind; not like lords over God’s inheritance, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of glory that will not fade away.

Even so the Lord has ordained that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

Let the one who is being taught the Word share all good things with the one who is doing the teaching.

And we urge you, brethren, to pay attention to those who labour among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to regard them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

Let the elders who manage the church well be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in the word and teaching. For the Scripture says, You shall not muzzle the ox that treads out the grain. And, The labourer is worthy of his wages.

Do not receive an accusation against an elder, except in the presence of two or three witnesses. Those who sin rebuke in the presence of everyone, so that others also may be afraid.

I charge you in the presence of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that you observe these things without showing favoritism, doing nothing from partiality.

Lay hands suddenly on no man, and do not share in other men’s sins. Keep yourself pure.

Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you, and follow their faith, considering the final result of their manner of life.

Obey your leaders and be submissive, for they watch over your souls, as those who must give an account. See that they are able to do so with joy, and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

And he answered and said to them, “Have you not read that he who made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause a man will leave father and mother, and be united to his wife, and the two will be one flesh? So they are no more two, but one flesh. Therefore let not man separate what God has joined together”.

Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid sexual immorality, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband give to the wife the affection due to her, and likewise also the wife to the husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body; the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, unless it is with mutual consent for a time in order to give yourselves to fasting and prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan does not tempt you because of a lack of self-control. But I say this as a concession and not as a command. For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that.

Therefore, I say to the unmarried and widows: It is good for them if they remain just as I am. But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

And to the married I give this command, yet not I, but the Lord: The wife must not separate from her husband; but if she separates, she must remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. And the husband must not divorce his wife.

But to the rest I say this (I; the Lord did not): If any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And the woman who has a husband who is an unbeliever, if he is willing to live with her, she must not leave him. For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through the wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through the husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

But if the unbeliever leaves, let him leave. In such cases a brother or a sister is not bound. But God has called us to peace. For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O man, whether you will save your wife?

Submit yourselves to one another in the fear of God.

Wives, be submissive to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the church and the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is to be in submission to Christ, so the wives should be to their own husbands in everything.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish. So men ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two of them will be one flesh. This is a great mystery. But I am speaking about Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you also love his wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she shows reverence to her husband.

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

Husbands, love your wives, and do not be bitter toward them.

Teach the older women also to be reverent in behaviour, not slanderers, not addicted to much wine, but teachers of good things, so that they can teach the young women to think soundly, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, pure, homemakers, good, and obedient to their husbands, so that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

Marriage is honourable among all, and the marriage bed is undefiled, but God will judge the sexually immoral, and adulterers.

Likewise you wives be in subjection to your own husbands, so that, if any do not obey the Word, they also, without the Word, may be won by the behaviour of the wives, seeing your chaste behaviour joined with reverential fear. Do not let your adornment be that outward adornment of braiding the hair, and of wearing gold, or of merely putting on outer garments, but let it be the hidden person of the heart, in what is not perishable, that is the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is of great value in the sight of God. For in this way in times of old the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands, even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You are her daughters, as long as you do well, and are not afraid with any terror.

Likewise, you husbands, live with them with understanding, giving honour to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

But he answered and said to them, “And why do you break the commandment of God by following your tradition? For God commanded, saying, ‘Honour your father and mother’, and, ‘He who curses father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or his mother, “Whatever of mine might have been useful to you is an offering to God”, and does not honour his father or his mother, it is all right.’ In this way, by your tradition, you have made the commandment of God to be no longer in effect.

And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was in subjection to them, but his mother treasured all these things in her heart.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honour your father and mother”. This is the first commandment with a promise: “That it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth”.

Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord well.

But if any widow has children or nephews, let them first learn to practice piety at home, and to repay their parents, for that is good and acceptable before God.

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his own household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.

If you are patiently enduring discipline, God is dealing with you as with sons. For is there a son whom the father does not discipline? But if you are not undergoing discipline, in which all sons have a share, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Moreover, we have had human fathers who disciplined us, and we showed them respect. Much more then should we not be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live? For they indeed disciplined us for a few days, as they thought best, but he disciplines us for our good, so that we might share in his holiness. Now no discipline seems joyful at the time, but painful. However, afterwards it produces the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who are exercised by it.

And you fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Fathers, do not provoke your children, so that they will not be discouraged.

one who rules his own home well, keeping his children obedient with full respect (for if a man does not know how to rule his own home, how will he take care of the church of God?),

And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a complaint among the Grecian Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.

For the woman who has a husband is bound to her husband, by the Law, as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is freed from the law regarding the husband. So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still living, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband is dead, she is freed from that law, so that even though she gets married to another man, she is not an adulteress.

The wife is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband has died, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will, but only in the Lord. But she is happier if she remains as she is, in my judgment. And I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

Honour widows who are widows indeed. But if any widow has children or nephews, let them first learn to practice piety at home, and to repay their parents, for that is good and acceptable before God. Now she who is a widow indeed, and alone, trusts in God, and continues in requests and prayers night and day. But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. And command these things, so that they may be blameless. But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his own household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.

Do not let a widow less than sixty years old be taken into the number. She must have been the wife of one man, and be well spoken of in the matter of good works, if she has raised children, if she has shown hospitality, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has helped those in trouble, if she has carefully sought to do every sort of good work.

But refuse the younger widows, for when they are overcome with desires against Christ, they will want to marry, being condemned, because they disregard their first assurance. And besides they learn to be idle, going about from house to house, and not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, speaking things which they should not. So I want the younger women to marry, bear children, manage the house, and give no occasion to the enemy to speak reproachfully. For some have already turned aside after Satan.

If any man or woman who believes has widows, let them assist them, and do not let the church be burdened, so it can assist those who are truly widows.

Pure and faultless religion before God the Father is this: To look after the fatherless and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

“It has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.

The Pharisees also came to him, testing him, and saying to him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for every cause?”

And he answered and said to them, “Have you not read that he who made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause a man will leave father and mother, and be united to his wife, and the two will be one flesh? So they are no more two, but one flesh. Therefore let not man separate what God has joined together”.

They said to him, “Then why did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce and send her away?”

He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives. But from the beginning it was not so. And I tell you, Whoever divorces his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, and marries another, is committing adultery. And whoever marries her who is divorced is committing adultery”.

“Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.

For the woman who has a husband is bound to her husband, by the Law, as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is freed from the law regarding the husband. So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still living, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband is dead, she is freed from that law, so that even though she gets married to another man, she is not an adulteress.

And to the married I give this command, yet not I, but the Lord: The wife must not separate from her husband; but if she separates, she must remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. And the husband must not divorce his wife.

But to the rest I say this (I; the Lord did not): If any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And the woman who has a husband who is an unbeliever, if he is willing to live with her, she must not leave him. For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through the wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through the husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

But if the unbeliever leaves, let him leave. In such cases a brother or a sister is not bound. But God has called us to peace. For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O man, whether you will save your wife?

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation is waiting for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope, because the creation itself shall also be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers birth pangs together until now. And not only creation, but we ourselves who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we also groan in ourselves, waiting for the adoption, that is, the redemption of our body. For we are saved in this hope. But hope that is seen is not hope, for why does a man still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, then we wait patiently for it.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose.

who encourages us in all our trouble, that we may be able to encourage those who are in any trouble, with the encouragement we ourselves have from God.

For this reason we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is wasting away, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that far exceeds it, while we look, not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the trying of your faith produces patient endurance. But let patient endurance have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

In this you greatly rejoice. Though now for a while, if need be, you are distressed by various trials. These have come so that the proving of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found to result in praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. Him you have not seen, but love. Though now you do not see him, yet believing in him, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, and receive the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

For this is praiseworthy, if a man suffers wrongfully and endures grief because of his conscience toward God. For what glory is it, if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do well and suffer for it, if you take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For you have been called to this, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps.

Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that these same sufferings are being imposed on your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who has called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, make you perfect, make you stable, strengthen, and establish you.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men revile you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you, falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For in this way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

“But be on your guard, for they will hand you over to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. And you will be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, as a testimony to them.

“And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations.

“But when they lead you away and hand you over, do not be anxious beforehand about what you will say, or meditate about it. But whatever is given you at that time, speak that, for it will not be you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

“And brother will betray brother to death, and father his son. And children will revolt against parents, and will cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all men for my name’s sake. But whoever endures to the end, he will be saved.

“And I say to you, my friends, Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after he has killed, has power to throw into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

“Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten in God’s presence. But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid, for you are worth more than many sparrows.

“Also I say to you, whoever confesses me in the presence of men, the Son of man will also confess him in the presence of the angels of God, but he who denies me in the presence of men will be denied in the presence of the angels of God.

If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own. But you do not belong to the world. I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

“Remember the word I spoke to you, ‘The servant is not greater than his lord.’ If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they have kept my word, they will keep yours also. But they will do all these things to you for my name’s sake, because they do not know him who sent me.

“I have said these things to you so that you will not stumble. They will put you out of the synagogues. Yes, the time is coming when whoever kills you will think that he is doing God a service. And they will do these things to you because they have not known the Father or me. But I have told you these things so that when the time comes, you can remember that I told you about them. And I did not tell you these things at the beginning, because I was with you.

And they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written,

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, persevering in prayer, distributing to the needs of the saints, eager to show hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Do not pay back to anyone evil for evil. Take thought for what is excellent in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with everyone. Dear friends, do not take revenge, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord”. Therefore,

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Even to this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are poorly clothed, and are beaten, and homeless. And we labour, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we bear it; being slandered, we plead. To this day, we have become like the filth of the world, and like the scum of all things.

We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. We are always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also might be revealed in our body. For we who live are always being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also might be revealed in our mortal body.

Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong.

and not at all afraid of your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but to you of your salvation, and that of God. For it has been given to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake,

so that we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God, for your patient endurance and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you bear.

This is clear evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer, seeing it is a righteous thing for God to repay tribulation to those who trouble you, and give rest to you who are being troubled, along with us, when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God and who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and keep you from evil. And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command you.

But you have fully known my teaching, manner of life, purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions and hardships which came to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra. What persecutions I endured! But the Lord delivered me out of them all. Yes, and all who want to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and hypocrites will go on getting worse, deceiving and being deceived.

But recall the former days, when, after you were enlightened, you patiently endured a great struggle with sufferings. On the one hand, you were made a spectacle by both insults and oppression, and on the other hand, you associated yourselves with those who were so treated. For you had compassion on me in my chains, and endured joyfully the plundering of your possessions, because you knew that you have in heaven a better possession and one that lasts. Therefore do not cast away your confidence. It involves a great payment of reward. For you have need of patient endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise. For yet a little while and he who is coming will come, and will not delay.

“Now the righteous will live by faith, but if anyone draws back, my soul will have no pleasure in him”.

But we are not of those who draw back to destruction, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

For consider him who endured such opposition from sinners against himself, or else you may grow weary and faint in your minds. You have not yet resisted to the shedding of your blood, fighting against sin.

And who is he who will harm you, if you are followers of what is good? But even if you suffer for righteousness’ sake, blessed are you. And do not fear their dread, or be troubled, but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give an answer, with meekness and fear, to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, having a good conscience, so that, although they slander you, as if you were evildoers, those who falsely accuse your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that you suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

Dear ones, do not be surprised at your fiery trial which is for your testing, as though some strange thing happened to you, but rejoice because you are sharers of Christ’s sufferings, so that when his glory is revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. He is slandered by them, but glorified by you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a meddler in other men’s matters. Yet if any man suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God that this is his lot. For the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God. And if it first begins at us, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?

Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as to a faithful Creator.

And this is the will of the Father who has sent me, that of all whom he has given me I should lose none, but should raise them up again at the last day. And this is the will of him who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him, will have everlasting life. And I will raise him up at the last day”.

When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about three kilometers away. And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary to comfort them concerning their brother. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him, but Mary still sat in the house.

Then Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now whatever you ask of God, God will give it to you”.

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again”.

Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day”.

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

She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who should come into the world”.

“Do not let your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me.

“In my Father’s house are many dwellings. If this were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And you know where I am going, and you know the way”.

And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies by his Spirit who lives in you.

For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.

For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and the living.

Now if Christ is preached that he rose from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not risen. And if Christ has not risen, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is also in vain. Yes, and we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ up, whom he did not raise up, if so be that the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is in vain, you are still in your sins. Then, also, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied. But now Christ has risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of those who slept.

For since by man came death, by man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all will be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward, at his coming, those who belong to Christ. After that comes the end, when he will have handed over the kingdom to God the Father, when he will have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. For he has put all things under his feet. But when he says that all things are put under him, it is evident that he who put all things under him is not included. And when all things have been made subject to him, then the Son himself will also be subject to him who put all things under him, so that God may be all in all.

Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why, then, are they baptized for the dead? And why do we stand in danger every hour? I declare by the boasting I have about you in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what does it benefit me, if the dead do not rise? In that case let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.

Do not be deceived: Bad company ruins good character. Awake to righteousness, and do not sin. For some do not have the knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.

But someone will say, How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come? Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive, unless it dies. And what you sow is only seed; you do not sow the body that will be, but perhaps seeds of wheat or of some other grain. But God gives it a body as it pleases him, and to every seed its own body. All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh for men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also heavenly bodies, and earthly bodies. But the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.

So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written: “The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a life-giving spirit”. However, that which is spiritual did not come first, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man was of the earth, earthly; the second man is the Lord from heaven. As was the earthly man, so also are those who are earthly; and as the heavenly man is, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the likeness of the earthly, so we will also bear the likeness of the heavenly.

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit the incorruptible. See, I show you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this corruptible must put on the incorruptible, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on the incorruptible, and this mortal has put on immortality, then will take place the word that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my dear brethren, be firm, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this one we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our dwelling which is from heaven, since, then being clothed, we will not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened; not that we want to be unclothed, but clothed, so that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now he who has made us for this very thing is God, who has also given us the Spirit as a pledge.

Therefore we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and prefer to be absent from the body and present with the Lord. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be pleasing to him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that everyone may receive according to the things he has done in the body, whether good or bad.

This is in accordance with my earnest expectation and my hope, that I will not be ashamed in anything, but that with complete boldness, now also, as always, Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I live on in the body, this will mean fruit from my labour . But I do not know what to choose. For I am held between these two: I have a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better, but to remain in the body is more necessary for you.

But I would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you do not grieve like others who have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, just so God will bring with him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we tell you by the word of the Lord: that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

Then 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 be forever with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Since therefore the children had flesh and blood, he also himself took of the same, so that through death he might destroy the one having the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver those who through fear of death were, throughout their lifetime, under the heel of slavery.

And I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on”. “Yes”, says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labours. And their works follow them”.

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. And no longer was there a sea. And I, John, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven which said, “Look, God’s dwelling place is with men, and he will live with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them, and be their God. And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes. And no longer will there be death, or sorrow, or crying. And no longer will there be pain, for the former things have passed away”.

And he showed me a pure river of the water of life, clear as crystal, issuing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of the city’s street. And on each side of the river there was the tree of life, producing twelve kinds of fruits and yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And no longer will there be any curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city. And his servants will serve him, and they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no night there, and they will need no lamp or light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they will reign forever and ever.

“Again, I tell you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I among them”.

Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you. And see, I am with you always, even to the end of the age”. Amen.

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Comforter, that he may stay with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see him, and does not know him. But you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you without comfort. I will come to you. After a little while, the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

“He who has my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will reveal myself to him”.

Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?”

Jesus answered and said to him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our home with him.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written,

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said,

so that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is its breadth and length and depth and height, and to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fulness of God.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Therefore just as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so continue to go forward in him, rooted and being built up in him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, overflowing in it with thanksgiving.

Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.

Your manner of life must be without the love of money. So be content with what you have, for he has said,

So that we may boldly say,

When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one who received seed by the path.

Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, and was tempted forty days by the devil. And in those days he ate nothing, and afterwards, when they were ended, he became hungry.

And the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread”.

And Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written: Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God”.

And the devil, having taken him up on a high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to him, “All this authority I will give you, and their glory; for that has been handed over to me, and I give it to anyone I wish. Therefore if you will worship me, all will be yours”.

And Jesus answered and said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve only him”.

And he brought him to Jerusalem, set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here. For it is written,

And Jesus answering said to him, “It is said, You shall not test the Lord your God”.

And when the devil had ended every temptation, he went away from him for a time.

Then Satan entered into Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the Twelve. And he went his way, and discussed with the chief priests and captains of the temple guard, how he might betray him to them.

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I set out and came from God. I did not come on my own, but he sent me. Why do you not understand my speech? Because you cannot hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and you want to fulfill the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and did not remain in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar, and the father of lies.

Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if I forgave anyone anything, it was for your sakes that I forgave it in the presence of Christ, so that Satan might not take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his schemes.

In their case, the god of this present world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, would not shine into them.

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, outwardly changing themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan outwardly changes himself into an angel of light. So it is no big thing if his servants also outwardly change themselves into servants of righteousness. Their end will be according to their works.

in which in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience.

Therefore we would have come to you, certainly I, Paul, more than once, but Satan hindered us.

This one’s coming will be according to the working of Satan, with all power and miraculous signs and deceiving wonders, and with all the deception of unrighteousness among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, so that they will believe the lie, that they all might be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that these same sufferings are being imposed on your brethren that are in the world.

He who commits sin is of the devil. For the devil has been sinning from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was revealed, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever is born of God does not go on sinning, for his seed remains in him and he cannot go on sinning, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, neither is he who does not love his brother.

And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought, but did not win. And no longer was a place found for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown out, that old serpent called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying,

And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key to the Abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he seized the dragon, that old serpent, who is the Devil, that is, Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the Abyss and locked him up and put a seal on him, so that he could no longer deceive the nations until the thousand years were finished. And after that he must be let loose for a little while.

And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterwards he was hungry. And when the tempter came to him, he said, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread”.

Then the devil took him up to the holy city, and had him stand on a pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,

Jesus said to him,

Again, the devil took him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, and said to him, “All these things I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me”.

Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan. For it is written,

Then the devil left him, and, at once, angels came and ministered to him.

And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon, now Satan has asked to have you, so that he can sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back again, strengthen your brethren”.

I have given them your word, and the world has hated them, because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.

“I am not praying that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them through your truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, even so I have also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? Christ is the one who died, and beyond that, who was raised again and who is at the right hand of God, who also is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written,

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, persevering in prayer,

For your obedience has become known to everyone. So I am happy about you, but I want you to be wise concerning what is good, and simple concerning evil.

And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Therefore let him who thinks he stands watch out that he does not fall.

No temptation has taken hold of you but such as is common to man. But God is faithful. He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to bear, but with the temptation will also make a way to escape, so that you may be able to bear it.

Watch, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong.

And so that I would not be highly lifted up with pride because of the greatness of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to beat me, so that I would not become highly lifted up with pride. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it might depart from me. And he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness”. Therefore I will boast more gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to him be glory in the church through Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against powers, against the princes of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in the heavenly places. So take for yourselves the whole armour of God that you may be able to resist them in the evil day and, having done everything, to stand. Stand, therefore, having your waist girded with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet fitted with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying always in the Spirit with all kinds of prayers and requests, and being alert for this with all perseverance and requests for all saints.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to find out about your faith, fearing that perhaps by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labour might be in vain.

But now Timothy has come from you to us, and brought us good news about your faith and love, and reported that you always have good memories of us, and greatly desire to see us, even as we desire to see you. So, brethren, we were encouraged about you in all our trouble and distress, because of your faith. For now we live, since you stand firm in the Lord.

But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and keep you from evil.

For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me his prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel, by the power of God,

For since he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

Seeing then that we have a great high priest who has passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our weaknesses, but one who was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin.

Therefore let us come boldly to the throne of grace, so that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Therefore since we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily adheres to us, and let us run with patient endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. For the joy that was set before him he endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Therefore submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that these same sufferings are being imposed on your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who has called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, make you perfect, make you stable, strengthen, and establish you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.

For this is love for God, that we keep his commands. And his commands are not grievous.

For whoever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world: our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought, but did not win. And no longer was a place found for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown out, that old serpent called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying,

And Jesus went around all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and disease among the people. And his fame spread all over Syria. And they brought to him all who were in the grip of various diseases and acute pains, and those who were demon-possessed, and epileptics and paralytics. And he healed them. And great multitudes from Galilee and Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan, followed him.

And Jesus went around all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

Now when John in prison heard about the deeds of Christ, he sent two of his disciples. And they said to him, “Are you the one who was to come, or do we look for another?”

Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, three in the afternoon. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was being carried to beg from those entering the temple (daily they laid him at the temple gate which is called Beautiful). He saw Peter and John about to go into the temple and asked for money. And Peter, together with John, fixed his eyes on him and said, “Look at us”. And he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.

Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk”.

Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. Then Philip went down to a city of Samaria, and preached Christ to them. And the people with one mind gave attention to the things Philip spoke, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voices, came out of many that had been possessed by them, and many were healed who had been paralyzed and lame. And there was great joy in that city.

And God performed special miracles by the hands of Paul, so that from his body handkerchiefs or aprons were taken to the sick, and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

Then some traveling Jews, exorcists, undertook to call out the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We command you by Jesus whom Paul preaches”. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?” And the man who had the evil spirit leaped on them and overpowered them and showed his strength against them, so that they ran out of that house naked and wounded.

And it so happened that the father of Publius lay sick with a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, laid his hands on him, and healed him. So when this happened, others in the island also who had diseases came and were healed.

to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

And so that I would not be highly lifted up with pride because of the greatness of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to beat me, so that I would not become highly lifted up with pride. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it might depart from me. And he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness”. Therefore I will boast more gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong.

No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.

Erastus stayed at Corinth, but I have left Trophimus at Miletum sick.

Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they should pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of man will appear in the sky. And then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch is still tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So in the same way, when you see all these things, know that he is near, right at the doors.

“Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things are fulfilled. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

“But as for that day and hour, no man knows, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But just as it was in the days of Noah, so the coming of the Son of man will also be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah went into the ark, and did not know what would happen until the flood came, and took them all away, so the coming of the Son of man will also be.

“Then two will be in the field. The one will be taken away, and the other left behind. Two people will be grinding at the mill. The one will be taken, and the other left. So watch, for you do not know what hour your Lord comes.

“But understand this: If the owner of the house had known what time of the night the thief would come, he would have watched and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore, you also be ready, for the Son of man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.

“Do not let your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me.

“In my Father’s house are many dwellings. If this were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

And while they looked steadily toward heaven as he went up, suddenly two men stood by them in white clothing. And they said, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same manner as you have seen him go into heaven”.

Repent, therefore, and be converted, so that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing might come from the presence of the Lord, and that he might send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you previously. Him heaven must receive until the times of the restoration of all things, which God has spoken through the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from there we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body, that it may become like his glorious body, according to the power that enables him to subdue all things under himself.

When Christ, who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

For they themselves declare concerning us what kind of entry we had among you and how you turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus, who has delivered us from the wrath to come.

to the end that he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness in the presence of our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

But I would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you do not grieve like others who have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, just so God will bring with him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we tell you by the word of the Lord: that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

Then 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 be forever with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

But about the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

For when they say, “Peace and safety”, then sudden destruction will come on them, as labour pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that day should overtake you like a thief. You are all children of light and children of the day. We are not of the night or of darkness. So let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night; and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But let us who belong to the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.

For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep, we should live together with him.

Therefore encourage each other, and edify one another, just as you are doing.

seeing it is a righteous thing for God to repay tribulation to those who trouble you, and give rest to you who are being troubled, along with us, when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God and who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. They will be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power, when he comes to be glorified in his saints and admired among all believers (because our testimony among you was believed), in that day.

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to him, we plead with you, brethren, not to be hastily shaken in mind, or alarmed, either by a spirit or by a message or by a letter seemingly from us, that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no one deceive you by any means. For that day will not come, unless apostasy comes first and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. He opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he as if he were God sits in the temple of God, setting himself forth to be God.

I charge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and in the presence of Christ Jesus who, standing before Pontius Pilate, gave witness in a good confession, that you keep this command without spot, blamelessly, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which in his own time he will reveal. He is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

Now there is reserved for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me in that day, and not to me only, but also to all those who love his appearing.

so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many. And to those who look for him he will appear the second time for salvation, without bearing sin.

This second epistle, dearly loved ones, I am now writing to you. In both of them I would stir up your pure minds by way of reminder, so that you may remember the words which were spoken beforehand by the holy prophets, and the command of the Lord and Saviour through us, the apostles.

First understand this: in the last days there will come scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation”. For they are willingly ignorant of the fact that long ago by the word of God the heavens existed, and the earth stood out of the water and in the water, and that the world that then existed was covered with water and perished. But by that same word the heavens and the earth which now exist are reserved for fire, kept until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

But, dearly loved ones, do not be ignorant of this one thing, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some men count slowness, but is patient toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. In that day the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fiery heat. The earth also and the works that are in it will be burned up. Since then all these things will be dissolved, what kind of people you ought to be in holy conduct and godliness, as you look for and speed the coming of the day of God, in which the heavens will be on fire and dissolve, and the elements will melt with fiery heat! Nevertheless, in accordance with his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness will dwell.

Therefore, dearly loved ones, since you look for such things, make every effort to be found by him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And consider that the patience of our Lord is salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also according to the wisdom given to him has written to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things. In them some things are hard to understand. Those who are ignorant and unstable twist these things, as they do also the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

Therefore, dearly loved ones, seeing that you know these things beforehand, be careful that you also are not led away by the error of the wicked, and fall from your own firm position. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

See what kind of love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the sons of God. Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know him. Dearly loved ones, we are now the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we will be, but we know that when he appears, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.

Look, he is coming with clouds, and every eye will see him, and those also who pierced him, and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. Even so, Amen.

“Look, I am coming quickly, and my reward will be with me to give to every man according to his work. I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons, and in your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man, if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will reward each one according to his deeds.