Acts 18 Cross References - MNT

¹ After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. ² Here he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife, Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. ³ Paul came to them, and because he was of the same trade with them, he lodged with them, and worked with them—for by trade they were tentmakers. ⁴ Every Sabbath he used to preach in the synagogue, and tried to persuade both Jews and Greeks. ⁵ And when Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was engrossed in his message, earnestly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. ⁶ But as they opposed him and abused him, he shook out his garments in protest, and said: "Your blood be upon your own hands. I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles." ⁷ So he left the place, and went into the house of a man named Titus Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house adjoined the synagogue. ⁸ And Crispus, the warden of the synagogue, believed on the Lord, with all his household; and many of the Corinthians from time to time listened, believed, and were baptized. ⁹ And the Lord said to Paul in a vision, by night. "Have no fear; go on speaking, and do not keep silent; ¹⁰ "for I am with you, and no one shall set upon you to injure you; for I have very many people in this city." ¹¹ So he lived there a year and six months and continued to teach them the word of God. ¹² But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose against Paul, and brought him before the tribunal. ¹³ "This fellow," they said, "is persuading men to offer unlawful worship to God." ¹⁴ Paul was about to open his mouth, when Gallio said to the Jews. "If it had been some misdemeanor or wicked villainy, it would have been within reason for me to listen to you Jews; ¹⁵ but as these are merely questions about words and names and your own law, you yourselves must see to it. I am not willing to be a judge of these matters." ¹⁶ And he drove them from the tribunal. ¹⁷ Then they all laid hold of Sosthenes, the warden of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal; but Gallio took no notice. ¹⁸ And Paul after remaining in Corinth some time longer, took leave of the brothers, and sailed away to Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. As Paul was under a vow, he had his head shaved at Cenchrea. ¹⁹ When they came to Ephesus he left them there; but he himself entered into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. ²⁰ When they begged him to stay longer, he would not consent, ²¹ but said, as he took leave of them, "I will return again to you, if God will." ²² Then, setting sail from Ephesus, he landed at Caesarea; he went up to Jerusalem and saluted the church, and came down to Antioch. ²³ After spending some time there, he set out and went through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, in order, and strengthened all the disciples. ²⁴ Now a certain Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, a learned man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. ²⁵ He had been instructed in the ways of the Lord, and being full of zeal, he used to speak and to teach accurately the facts about Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John. ²⁶ He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; and when Priscilla and Aquila heard him they took him home and explained to him more accurately the way of God. ²⁷ When he wished to cross over into Achaia, the brothers encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples in Corinth to receive him. On his arrival he mightily helped those who through grace had believed, ²⁸ for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public argument, proving to them from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.

²³ Behold! the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a son; and they shall call his name Immanuel, a word which means "God with us."

¹ In those days came John the Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea; ² "Repent," said he, "for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." ³ This John it was of whom it was said through Isaiah, the prophet, The voice of one who cries aloud in the desert, "Prepare a way for the Lord, Make the paths straight for him." ⁴ This John wore a garment of camel's hair, and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ Then Jerusalem began to go out to him, and all Judea, and the whole neighborhood of the Jordan, ⁶ and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁷ But when John saw that many of the Pharisees and Sadducees were coming for baptism, he said: "O brood of vipers! Who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Then bring forth fruit worthy of repentance. ⁹ And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father'—I tell you that out of these very stones God is able to raise up descendants for Abraham. ¹⁰ And already the axe is lying at the roots of the trees. Any tree, therefore, that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. ¹¹ I indeed am baptizing you in water, unto repentance; but One is coming after me, mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire. ¹² His winnowing-fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse the threshing-floor. He will store his wheat in the granary, but will burn up the chaff in unquenchable fire." ¹³ At that very time Jesus was on his way from Galilee to the Jordan, to John, to be baptized by him. ¹⁴ But he tried to prevent him. "It is I," he said, "who need to be baptized by you, and are you coming to me?" ¹⁵ But Jesus answered, "Permit it now, for so it is fitting for us to fulfill every religious duty." ¹⁶ Then he consented. And after Jesus was baptized, as soon as he rose out of the water, lo! the heavens opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon him, ¹⁷ while a voice from heaven said, "This is my son, the beloved, In whom I delight."

¹¹ "I tell you that many will come from the east and from the west, and sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

¹⁴ "And whoever will not receive you or listen to your words, as you go out from that house or that city, shake off the very dust from your feet.

³⁰ "The very hairs on your head are all numbered.

⁵² "Then," said he, "every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his storehouse new things and old."

³ "In solemn truth I tell you that unless you turn and become like little children, you will not even enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ "Whoever therefore will humble himself like this little child, is greatest in the kingdom of heaven;

⁴³ "I tell you that for this reason the kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and will be given to a nation that does produce the fruit of it.

¹⁰ "So those slaves went out into the roads, and gathered together all whom they found, good or bad, and the banquet-hall was filled with the guests.

³⁹ Then he went forward a short distance, and fell on his face and prayed. "O, my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt."

⁴ "I have sinned," he said, "in betraying innocent blood!" "What is that to us?" they answered; "you must see to that."

¹⁹ And while he was seated upon the judgment-seat, his wife had sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered many things today, in a dream, because of him."

²⁴ So when Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that on the contrary a riot was threatening, he took water and washed his hands in the presence of the crowd, saying. "I am innocent of the blood of this man; you must answer for it." ²⁵ All the people answered, "His blood be upon us and upon our children."

¹⁹ Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; ²⁰ teaching them to observe every command which I have given you. and lo! I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."

³ The voice of one crying aloud. In the desert make ready a road for the Lord. Make his paths straight.

³⁷ and told him, "Every one is looking for you." ³⁸ "Let us go away," he answered, "to the neighboring country towns, that I may preach there, too; because for that purpose I came forth."

²² Then one of the wardens of the synagogue, named Jairus, came up, and as soon as he saw Jesus, fell at his feet, with many entreaties,

³⁵ While he was still speaking men came from the house of the warden of the synagogue to tell him, "Your daughter is dead, why trouble the Teacher any further?"

¹⁹ "O unbelieving generation!" replied Jesus; "how long must I be with you? How long must I be patient with you? Bring him to me."

¹⁵ I tell you true that unless a man receives the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not even enter it."

¹⁴ So when they came, they said: "Teacher, we know that you are sincere and are not afraid of any one, for you do not regard the face of men; nay, but you reach the way of God in truth. Is it right to pay poll-tax to Caesar or not?

¹⁵ And he said to them. "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. ¹⁶ He who believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he who disbelieves shall be condemned.

¹ Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip, tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias, tetrarch of Abilene; ² during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zachariah, in the Desert. ³ And John went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. ⁴ As it is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah. The voice of one crying in the desert, Prepare the way for God, make straight paths for him. ⁵ Every ravine shall be filled up, Every hill and mountain shall be laid low, The crooked shall be made straight, And the rough roads smooth; ⁶ And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. ⁷ So John used to say to the crowd of those who were going out to be baptized by him. "You breed of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Then bring forth fruit befitting your penitence, and do not begin to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father." I tell you that God is able to raise up sons to Abraham out of these stones. ⁹ And now truly the axe is already laid at the root of the trees. So every tree which is not bearing good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." ¹⁰ And the crowd began to ask him questions. "What shall we do then?" they asked. In reply he said to them. ¹¹ "If you have two shirts share with him who has none; and let him who has food do the same." ¹² There came to him publicans also to be baptized, and they said to him, "Master, what must we do?" ¹³ And he said to them, "Exact no more than the sum allowed you." ¹⁴ The soldiers also repeatedly questioned him, saying, "And we, what shall we do?" "Do not intimidate any one," he replied, "nor lay false charges, and be content with your pay." ¹⁵ And while the people were in expectation, and all men were debating in their hearts about John, ¹⁶ whether perhaps he were the Christ, John answered, saying to all of them. "I indeed am baptizing you in water, but One is coming after me, mightier than I, whose shoe-latchet I am not worthy to unloose. He shall baptize you in the Holy Ghost and in fire. ¹⁷ He has his fan in his hand to cleanse his threshing-floor thoroughly, and to gather the wheat into his storehouse, but the chaff will he burn with unquenchable fire." ¹⁸ With many other exhortations then John declared the gospel to the people; ¹⁹ but Herod, the Tetrarch, when reproved by him because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and because of all the wicked deeds that he had done, ²⁰ added yet this above them all that he shut up John in prison. ²¹ Now after all the people had been baptized, and Jesus himself had been baptized and was praying, ²² heaven opened, and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form like a dove, descended upon him. and a voice came out of heaven, saying. "Thou art my Son, dearly beloved; in thee is my delight." ²³ And Jesus himself when he began to teach was about thirty years of age. He was the son (as it was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, ²⁴ son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Melchi, ²⁵ son of Matthias, son of Nahum, son of Esli, ²⁶ son of Mahath, son of Matthias, son of Semein, son of Joseph, son of Joda, ²⁷ son of Johann, son of Resa, son of Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, son of Neri, ²⁸ son of Melchi, son of Addi, son of Cosam, son of Elmadam, son of Er, ²⁹ son of Joshua, son of Eliezar, son of Jorim, son of Mathat, son of Levi, ³⁰ son of Symeon, son of Judah, son of Joseph, son of Jonan, son of Eliakim, ³¹ son of Melea, son of Menna, son of Mattatha, son of Nathan, son of David, ³² son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Boaz, son of Salmon, son of Nahshon, ³³ son of Amminadab, son of Admin, son of Arni, son of Hezron, son of Perez, son of Judah, ³⁴ son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, son of Terah, son of Nahor, ³⁵ son of Serug, son of Reu, son of Peleg, son of Eber, son of Shelah, ³⁶ son of Cainan, son of Arpachshad, son of Shem, son of Noah, son of Lamech, ³⁷ son of Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalel, son of Kenan, ³⁸ son of Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God.

¹⁶ Then he came to Nazareth where he had been brought up. and, as was his custom, he entered into the synagogue on the Sabbath Day, and stood up to read.

²⁹ On hearing this all the people and the tax-gatherers acknowledged the justice of God by being baptized with the baptism of John;

⁵ "If any one will not receive you, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave this town, as a testimony against them."

⁶¹ And another man also said to him. "I will follow you, Lord; but first permit me to bid farewell to those who are in my house."

¹⁰ "But whatever town you enter, and they do not receive you, Go out into the streets and cry, ¹¹ "'The very dust of your town which clings to your feet we wipe off as protest; but know this, that the kingdom of God is drawing near to you.'

⁵⁰ "Would it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how am I straitened till it is accomplished!

³¹ "'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,' said Father Abraham, 'neither will they be persuaded if one should rise from the dead.'"

²⁶ "'I tell you that to every one who has it shall be given; and from him who has not shall be taken away even what he has.

¹² "But before all these things happen, they will apprehend you and persecute you and deliver you to the synagogues and to prisons, and bring you before kings and governors for the sake of my name. ¹³ "It shall turn out for a testimony to you. ¹⁴ "So settle it in your hearts not to prepare a defense beforehand, ¹⁵ "for I will give you utterance and a wisdom which none of your adversaries will be able to answer or withstand.

¹⁸ "And not a hair on your head shall perish.

³² "But I made supplication for you that your own faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned again, must strengthen your brothers."

⁴³ (And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.)

⁶⁵ And they said many other insulting things against him.

¹⁹ "What kind of things?" he answered. And they said: "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people;

²⁷ And beginning with Moses and the Prophets, he interpreted all the passages concerning himself.

⁴⁴ Then he said to them, "These are my words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, how all things must be fulfilled which are written in the Law of Moses, and the prophets, and the Psalms concerning me."

¹² But to all who receive him, to them he has given the right to become children of God, even to those who trust in his name; ¹³ who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

¹⁹ Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent some priests and Levites to him from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" ²⁰ He acknowledged—he did not deny it—but acknowledged, "I am not the Christ." ²¹ "What then?" they questioned; "Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" "No," he replied. ²² Then said they to him. "Who are you? That we may give some answer to those who sent us. What account do you give of yourself?" ²³ He said, "I am a voice of one who cries aloud in the desert, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as said the prophet Isaiah." ²⁴ Now it was some of the Pharisees who had been sent to him; ²⁵ so they questioned him, saying, "Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" ²⁶ "I indeed am baptizing in water," John said in reply, "but in your midst stands One whom you do not recognize, ²⁷ One who is to come after me, whose sandal-strap I am not worthy to untie." ²⁸ This happened in Bethany, beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. ²⁹ The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said: "Behold, that is God's Lamb, who takes and bears away the sin of the world. ³⁰ This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes One who has been put before me, for he was before me.' ³¹ I myself did not recognize him; I only came baptizing in water, in order that he might be openly shown to Israel." ³² John also bore this testimony, saying. "I saw the Spirit like a dove descend from heaven and rest upon him. ³³ And I did not recognize him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, 'The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and resting upon him, is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.' ³⁴ This I have seen, and I am become a witness to the fact that he is the Son of God." ³⁵ Next day again, John was standing with two of his disciples. ³⁶ After gazing intently on Jesus as he walked about, he said, "Look! that is the Lamb of God!"

⁴¹ In the morning he found his brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (a word which means Christ, the Anointed One).

²⁸ You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, 'I am not the Christ, but have been sent before him.'

³⁹ "You are searching the Scriptures because you suppose that in tem you have eternal life; and though these are they that bear witness concerning me,

¹⁷ "If any one wills to do God's will he shall know concerning my teaching, whether it is from God, or I speak my own authority. Dedicate them in thy truth; thy word is truth."

¹⁶ "I have other sheep also, which do not belong to this fold. I must bring them too, and they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd.

²⁴ Then all the Jews encircled him and kept asking him. "How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."

⁵² and not in behalf of the nation alone, but in order that he might gather into one the widely scattered children of God.

²⁷ "and you to shall bear witness because you have been with me from the first.

³¹ "Take him yourselves," answered Pilate, "and judge him according to your law."

¹³ On hearing what they said, Pilate brought Jesus out and made him sit on the judge's seat in a place called the Mosaic Pavement (the Hebrew name is Gabbatha).

⁹ Parthians, Medes, Elamites, dwellers in Mesopotamia, in Judea, in Cappadocia, in Pontus and Asia,

³⁶ "Therefore let the whole House of Israel know assuredly that Gods has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you have crucified." ³⁷ When they heard these words they were stung to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles. "Men and brothers, what shall we do?" ³⁸ "Repent," answered Peter, "and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ "For the promise belongs to you and to your children and to all who are afar off, whomever the Lord may call." ⁴⁰ With many other words he continued to bear testimony, and kept entreating them, saying, "Save yourselves from this perverse generation." ⁴¹ Then those who welcomed his message were baptized, and in that day about three thousand souls were added to them;

²⁰ but for our part, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."

⁹ But certain men from the so-called "Synagogue of the Freedmen" and certain Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, Cilicians, and men from Roman Asia, started to dispute with Stephen,

¹³ They also set up false witnesses who testified. "This fellow is continually talking against the Holy Place and against the law.

²² "So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in his words and works.

¹² But when they believed Philip, who was preaching glad tidings about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they began to be baptized, both men and women.

³¹ The eunuch answered, "Why, how can I unless someone shall show me the way?" And he begged Philip to get up and sit with him.

³⁵ Then Philip opened his lips, and beginning from that same scripture, he preached the gospel of Jesus to him. ³⁶ And as they were going on their way they came to a certain water, and the eunuch said: "See, here is water! What hinders my being baptized?" ³⁷ And Philip said, "If you believe with your whole heart, you may." The eunuch answered, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." ³⁸ And he ordered the chariot to stop; and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

⁴⁰ Philip found himself at Ashdod. Then visiting town after town, he kept preaching the good news in all the cities until he reached Caesarea.

² and begged of him letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any that were of the Way, either men or women, he could bind them and bring them to Jerusalem.

²² But Saul gained more and more influence, and kept putting the Jews who lived in Damascus to confusion by his proof that Jesus was the Christ.

²⁷ But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and told them how Saul had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him; and also how he had preached the Name of the Lord Jesus boldly at Damascus.

¹ Now there was at Caesarea a man named Cornelius, a captain in the Italian regiment. ² He was a devout man and God-fearing, and so were all his household. He gave many alms to the people, and constantly prayed to God.

²² "Cornelius," they answered, "a captain, a devout man, and God-fearing, of whom the whole, Jewish nation speaks well, was instructed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house, and to listen to your message."

²⁴ and the day after that they reached Caesarea. There Cornelius was waiting for them, and had brought together all his relatives and intimate friends.

⁴² "when he charged us to preach to the people, and to testify that this was he whom God ordained to be the judge of the living and of the dead.

¹¹ "And lo! at that very moment, three men who had been sent for me from Caesarea stood before the house in which I was.

¹⁴ "'He will speak words to you by which you and all your family will be saved.'

¹⁹ Then those who had been scattered by the trouble that arose over Stephen, traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch; but they preached the word to none except Jews. ²⁰ Some of them, however, were Cyprians and Cyrenaeans, who, on reaching Antioch, began to tell the Greeks also the Good News concerning the Lord Jesus. ²¹ The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. ²² When news of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas as far as Antioch. ²³ When he arrived, and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord, with full purpose of heart; ²⁴ for he was a good man, and full of faith and the Holy Spirit. And a great multitude was added to the Lord. ²⁵ Then Barnabas visited Tarsus, to try to find Saul, ²⁶ and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch, where for a whole year they were guests of the church, and taught many people. And it was in Antioch that the disciples first received the name of "Christians." ²⁷ At that time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. ²⁸ One of them, who was Agabus, rose up, and being instructed by the Spirit, predicted that a great famine was about to come upon the whole inhabited earth. (It came in the reign of Claudius.)

¹ Now there were in the church in Antioch prophets and teachers; Barnabas and Symeon, surnamed "the Black," Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, the foster-brother of Herod the Tetrarch, and Saul.

⁷ who belonged to the suite of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. He summoned Barnabas and Saul, and sought to hear the word of God.

¹⁰ "O full of all craft and cunning, you son of the devil! You enemy of all goodness! Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?

¹² Then the proconsul, seeing what had happened, believed. He was astounded at the teaching of the Lord.

¹⁴ Then they themselves, passing through from Perga, came to Antioch in Pisidia. Here they went into the synagogue on the Sabbath Day and sat down. ¹⁵ And, after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the wardens of the synagogue sent word to them. "Brothers," they said, "if you have any word of encouragement to the people, say it."

¹⁸ "For about forty years he bore with them in the desert,

⁴² As Paul and Barnabas left the synagogue, the people earnestly begged that these words might be repeated to them on the following Sabbath.

⁴⁵ When they saw the crowds, the Jews were filled with jealousy, and began to contradict Paul's statements, and to abuse him. ⁴⁶ So Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly. "It was necessary," they said, "first to proclaim the word of God to you. But since you push it away from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. ⁴⁷ "For such is God's command to us, saying, "I have set thee for a light to the Gentiles, That thou shouldest be for salvation to the uttermost part of the earth."

⁵⁰ But the Jews urged on the devout women of high rank, and the leading citizens, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of the district, ⁵¹ But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came to Iconium.

² But the disobedient Jews stirred up the souls of the Gentiles, and embittered them against them against the brothers. ³ Long time, therefore, they tarried there, speaking fearlessly in the Lord, who attested the word of his grace by permitting signs and wonders to be performed by their hands.

¹⁹ And now a party of Jews came down form Antioch and Iconium, and after persuading the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.

²² Everywhere they strengthened the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to hold to the faith. "It is through many tribulations," they said, "that we must enter into the kingdom of God."

²⁶ Thence they sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been commended to the grace of God, for the work which they had now completed.

⁴ Upon their arrival in Jerusalem they were received by the church and the apostles and elders, and they told them all things that God had done with them.

¹⁴ "Brothers, listen to me. Symeon has told how God first looked graciously upon the Gentiles, to take out from among them a people to be called by his name.

¹⁸ "Says the Lord, who has been making this known from the beginning of the world.

²² Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, to select some of their number, and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. The men chosen were Judas called Bar-Sabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren. ²³ They took with them the following letter. "The apostles and older brothers send greeting to the Gentile Brotherhood throughout Antioch and Syria and Cilicia;

²⁹ "that you abstain from food that has been sacrificed to idols, and from tasting blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication. Keep yourselves clear from these things and it will be well with you. Farewell." ³⁰ So they, when they had been dispatched, went down to Antioch, and after gathering the whole multitude together, they handed them the letter,

³² And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many a good counsel.

³⁵ Paul and Barnabas also stayed in Antioch teaching and proclaiming the word of the Lord, in company with others.

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

¹ And he came also to Derbe and Lystra, where there was a certain disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewess, and of a Greek father.

⁶ Then they went through Phrygia and Galatia, the Holy Spirit having forbidden them to proclaim the message in Asia.

⁹ Here a vision appeared to Paul in the night. There stood a man of Macedonia, entreating him and saying, "Come over into Macedonia and help us!"

¹⁴ Among them was a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, who belonged to the town of Thyatira. She, since she was a worshiper of God, listened to us, and the Lord opened her heart to attend to what Paul said.

¹⁴ Among them was a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, who belonged to the town of Thyatira. She, since she was a worshiper of God, listened to us, and the Lord opened her heart to attend to what Paul said. ¹⁵ When she was baptized, and her household, she urged us, saying, "If in your judgment I am a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house." And she compelled us to come.

¹⁷ She used to follow after Paul and us, crying out again and again, "These men are servants of the most high God, who proclaimed to you the way of salvation."

³⁴ And after bringing them up into his house, he set food before them, overjoyed with all his household in having believed in God.

⁴⁰ So Paul and Silas came out of the prison, and went to Lydia's house; and after they had seen the brethren and encouraged them, they left Philippi.

¹ Now when they had gone through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica. Here there was a Jewish synagogue, ² and Paul, according to his usual custom, went in to them and, for three Sabbath Days, he reasoned with them out of the Scriptures, ³ explaining and quoting passages to prove that the Messiah had to suffer and to rise again from the dead and that "This Jesus whom I am proclaiming unto you is the Messiah."

³ explaining and quoting passages to prove that the Messiah had to suffer and to rise again from the dead and that "This Jesus whom I am proclaiming unto you is the Messiah." ⁴ Some were persuaded and attached themselves to Paul and Silas, including a number of devout Greeks, and a large number of the leading women. ⁵ But the Jews, moved with jealousy, called to their aid certain ill-favored and idle fellows, formed a mob, and began to set the town in an uproar. Assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them out to the people.

¹¹ The Jews of Berea were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they very readily received the message with all readiness of mind, and day after day searched the Scriptures to see whether these things were so.

¹³ As soon as the Jews in Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul in Berea also, they came there, and stirred up and troubled the crowds. ¹⁴ Then the brothers at once sent Paul down to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained behind. ¹⁵ Those who were caring for Paul brought him as far as Athens, and there left him, with instructions to Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed.

¹⁵ Those who were caring for Paul brought him as far as Athens, and there left him, with instructions to Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed. ¹⁶ While Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred within him, when he noticed that the city was full of idols. ¹⁷ He argued in the synagogues with the Jews and the devout proselytes, and also daily in the market-place with those that met him there.

³² But on hearing of the resurrection of the dead, some began to mock; but others said, "We will hear you again on that subject."

³² But on hearing of the resurrection of the dead, some began to mock; but others said, "We will hear you again on that subject." ³³ So Paul withdrew from them.

² Here he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife, Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome.

² Here he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife, Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. ³ Paul came to them, and because he was of the same trade with them, he lodged with them, and worked with them—for by trade they were tentmakers. ⁴ Every Sabbath he used to preach in the synagogue, and tried to persuade both Jews and Greeks. ⁵ And when Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was engrossed in his message, earnestly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.

¹² But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose against Paul, and brought him before the tribunal. ¹³ "This fellow," they said, "is persuading men to offer unlawful worship to God."

¹⁵ but as these are merely questions about words and names and your own law, you yourselves must see to it. I am not willing to be a judge of these matters." ¹⁶ And he drove them from the tribunal. ¹⁷ Then they all laid hold of Sosthenes, the warden of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal; but Gallio took no notice.

¹⁷ Then they all laid hold of Sosthenes, the warden of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal; but Gallio took no notice. ¹⁸ And Paul after remaining in Corinth some time longer, took leave of the brothers, and sailed away to Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. As Paul was under a vow, he had his head shaved at Cenchrea.

²¹ but said, as he took leave of them, "I will return again to you, if God will."

²¹ but said, as he took leave of them, "I will return again to you, if God will." ²² Then, setting sail from Ephesus, he landed at Caesarea; he went up to Jerusalem and saluted the church, and came down to Antioch.

²⁴ Now a certain Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, a learned man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. ²⁵ He had been instructed in the ways of the Lord, and being full of zeal, he used to speak and to teach accurately the facts about Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John. ²⁶ He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; and when Priscilla and Aquila heard him they took him home and explained to him more accurately the way of God. ²⁷ When he wished to cross over into Achaia, the brothers encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples in Corinth to receive him. On his arrival he mightily helped those who through grace had believed, ²⁸ for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public argument, proving to them from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.

²⁸ for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public argument, proving to them from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.

¹ Now it happened that while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul, after passing through the hinterland, came to Ephesus, where he found a few disciples.

³ "Into what, then, were you baptized?" he asked. And they said, "Into the baptism of John."

⁸ Then Paul went into the synagogue, and there continued to preach fearlessly for about three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. ⁹ But when some grew hardened and disobedient, and spoke evil of the Way before the crowd, he left them, withdrew the disciples, and continued to hold discussions daily in the lecture-hall of Tyrannus.

⁹ But when some grew hardened and disobedient, and spoke evil of the Way before the crowd, he left them, withdrew the disciples, and continued to hold discussions daily in the lecture-hall of Tyrannus. ¹⁰ This went on for two years, so that all the inhabitants of Asia heard the Lord's message, Jews as well as Greeks.

¹⁰ This went on for two years, so that all the inhabitants of Asia heard the Lord's message, Jews as well as Greeks.

¹⁷ And this became known to all the people of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. Awe fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus began to be held in honor.

²¹ Now after these things were ended, Paul resolved in his spirit to travel through Macedonia and Achaia on his way to Jerusalem. "After I get there," he said, "I must see Rome, too."

²³ Now just at this time, there arose no small commotion concerning the Way.

²⁶ "And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but almost throughout all of Asia, this fellow Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, by telling them that they are no gods at all who are made with hands.

¹⁶ For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, so as not to spend time in Asia, for he was hurrying to get to Jerusalem, if it were possible, by the day of Pentecost.

²¹ testifying both to Jews and Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

²⁶ So I testify to you this day that I am clear from the blood of all men; ²⁷ I never shrank from telling you the whole counsel of God.

³¹ So be on guard; and remember that for three years I ceased not to admonish you all, night and day, even with tears.

³⁴ "You yourselves know how these hands of mine provided for my needs, and those of my companions. ³⁵ "In all things I have set you an example, how that so toiling, you ought to help the weak and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

³ After sighting Cyprus and leaving it on the left hand, we sailed for Syria, and put in at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload her cargo.

¹³ "What do you mean by thus breaking my heart with your grief?" answered Paul. "For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus." ¹⁴ And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, "The will of the Lord be done."

¹⁴ And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, "The will of the Lord be done."

¹⁷ At length we reached Jerusalem, and the brothers there received us gladly. ¹⁸ On the following day we went with Paul to call on James, and all the elders were present. ¹⁹ After saluting them Paul rehearsed, one by one, the things that God had done among the Gentiles by his ministry.

²⁴ "We have four men here under a vow; associate yourself with them, purify yourself with them, and pay their expenses so that they may have their heads shaved; then every one will know that there is no truth in the rumors that they have heard about you; but that you yourself walk orderly obeying the law.

²⁷ But when the seven days were almost over, the Asiatic Jews caught sight of him in the temple, and began to stir up all the crowd, and laid hands on him, shouting. ²⁸ "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who goes everywhere preaching to everybody against the people, and the Law, and this place. And he has actually brought Gentiles even into the temple, and has desecrated the holy place."

²⁸ "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who goes everywhere preaching to everybody against the people, and the Law, and this place. And he has actually brought Gentiles even into the temple, and has desecrated the holy place." ²⁹ (For they had formerly seen Trophimus, the Ephesian, with him in the city, and supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.) ³⁰ The whole city was thrown into uproar. The mob surged together, seized Paul, and began to drag him outside the temple. Whereupon the doors were at once shut. ³¹ While they were attempting to kill him, news came to the tribune commander of the garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. ³² At once he took soldiers and centurions, and rushed down upon them. When they saw the tribune and the troops, they left off beating Paul. ³³ Then the tribune came up and seized him, and ordered that he be bound with two chains. "Who is he?" he began asking, "and what has he done?" ³⁴ Some among the crowd kept shouting one thing, some another; and when the tribune could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered Paul into the barracks. ³⁵ When was going up the steps, he had to be carried by the soldiers, because of the violence of the mob, ³⁶ for the whole mass of the people were following him, shouting, "Away with him!"

³⁹ "I am a Jew," answered Paul, "a native of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city. And I pray you, give me permission to speak to the people."

¹⁸ "I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, "'Make haste and go quickly out of Jerusalem, because they will not receive your testimony concerning me.'

¹¹ And the following night the Lord stood by him and said: "Be of good courage; for as you have borne faithful witness concerning me at Jerusalem, so you must testify at Rome also."

²³ Then he called two centurions to him and said: "Get ready by nine o'clock tonight two hundred infantry to march as far as Caesarea, and also seventy troopers and two hundred spearmen."

²⁷ "This man Paul had been seized by the Jews, and was about to be killed by them, when I came upon them with the troops, and rescued him, as I had learned that he was a Roman citizen. ²⁸ "Anxious to find out why they had accused him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin. ²⁹ "Here I learned that he was accused about questions of their law, but was not charged with anything worthy of death or imprisonment.

²⁹ "Here I learned that he was accused about questions of their law, but was not charged with anything worthy of death or imprisonment.

⁵ "For we have found this fellow a pest, an inciter of insurrection among all the Jews of the empire, and a ringleader in the heresy of the Nazarenes. ⁶ "He even tried to profane the Temple, but we arrested him.

⁶ "He even tried to profane the Temple, but we arrested him. ⁷ "Then the chief captain, Lysias came and violently took him from us. ⁸ From him you will be able, by examining Paul yourself, to learn the truth of all these charges we are bringing against him."

¹ Three days after Festus entered his province, he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem.

⁸ Paul said in his defense, "I have committed no crime against the Law of the Jews, against the Temple, or against Caesar." ⁹ But Festus, wishing to ingratiate himself with the Jews, answered Paul and said, "Will you go up to Jerusalem and be tried there by me upon these charges?" ¹⁰ "I am standing before Caesar's tribunal," answered Paul, "where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you very well know. ¹¹ "If I am a criminal and have done anything for which I ought to die, I do not object to die. But if none of their charges is true, no man can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar."

¹⁸ "But when his accusers stood up, they did not begin charging him with any of the crimes that I was expecting, ¹⁹ but they kept quarreling with him about certain matters connected with their own religion, and about one Jesus who had died, but whom Paul affirmed over and over was alive.

¹⁹ but they kept quarreling with him about certain matters connected with their own religion, and about one Jesus who had died, but whom Paul affirmed over and over was alive. ²⁰ I was perplexed how to investigate such questions, and asked Paul whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.

²⁶ "Now I have nothing very definite to tell our sovereign about him. So I have brought the man before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, in order that, after examination, I may have something to write.

¹ Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You are permitted to speak for yourself." So Paul stretched forth his hand and began to make his defense. ² "I think myself happy, King Agrippa, that I am to make my defense before you this day, in regard to all the accusations brought against me by the Jews; ³ "especially since you are an export in all Jewish customs and questions. I pray you, expert in all Jewish customs and questions. I pray you, hear me with patience.

¹¹ "In all the synagogues also I punished them oftentimes, and tried to make them blaspheme; and in my mad fury I was pursuing them even to foreign cities.

²⁰ "but I proceeded to preach, first to those in Damascus, and then in Jerusalem and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they must repent and turn to God and do deeds worthy of repentance.

²² "But having obtained the help that comes from God, I stand even to this day witnessing both to small and great, saying nothing except what the prophets and Moses said should come; ²³ "how that the Christ must suffer, and how he should be the first to rise from the dead, and should bring a message of light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles."

²⁸ Agrippa answered, "In short, you are doing your best to persuade me to become a Christian."

⁶ And there the centurion found an Alexandrian ship bound for Italy, and put us on board of her.

²³ "for last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve, stood by me and said: ²⁴ "'Fear not, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. Behold, God has granted you the lives of all who are sailing with you.' ²⁵ "So take courage, men! I believe God, I believe that things will turn out exactly as it has been told me.

²³ So they arranged a day with him and came to him in his lodgings in great numbers. He expounded the matter to them; testifying to the Kingdom of God, and persuading them about Jesus, from morning till evening, both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.

²⁸ "Be fully assured, therefore, that this salvation of God is now sent unto the Gentiles. They will listen to it."

⁵ It is through him, even Jesus Christ our Lord, that I received grace and apostleship to promote obedience to the faith among all the Gentiles, for his name's sake;

¹⁰ always entreating him that now at length, if such be his will, the way may be made clear for me to come to you.

²⁹ Is God then the God of the Jews alone, and not of the Gentiles also? He is God of the Gentiles also,

³¹ What shall we say then, to these things? If God be for us, Who can be against us?

²⁵ As he also said in Hosea. Those who were not my people I will call "my people," And her "beloved" who was not beloved; ²⁶ And in that very spot where it was told them, "You are not my people," There they shall be called "Sons of the living God."

³⁰ What then shall we say? That Gentiles who never pursed righteousness have overtaken it, even the righteousness of faith? ³¹ But that the descendants of Israel, who were in pursuit of a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law? ³² And why? Because they sought it not by faith, but thought to gain it by works. They stumbled at the stone of stumbling; ³³ even as it is written. Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense; but he that believes on Him shall not be put to shame.

¹² For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile, because the same Lord Jesus is all over, and is rich unto all who call upon Him; ¹³ for Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. ¹⁴ How then shall thy call upon Him in whom they do not believe? And how are they to believe in One of whom they have never heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵ And how can men preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring a glad gospel. ¹⁶ And yet they did not all hearken to the good news; for Isaiah said, Lord, who hath believed our message? ¹⁷ So faith comes from a message heard, and the message comes from the teaching of Christ.

²⁰ But Isaiah speaks very boldly, I was found of those who were not seeking me, I was made manifest to those who were not asking for me. ²¹ But to Israel he says, All day long I have been spreading out my hands unto a disobedient and contrary people.

¹¹ I ask then, "Have they stumbled so as to fall?" No indeed; but by their lapse salvation has come unto Gentiles, "to provoke Israel to jealousy." ¹² Now if their stumbling enriches the world, and their loss enriches the Gentiles, how much more must their fulness do! ¹³ For to you who are Gentiles I say that since I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I glorify my ministry, ¹⁴ if by any means I might "provoke to jealousy" my kinsmen, and save some among them. ¹⁵ For if their casting out is the reconciliation of the world to God, what will their restoration be but life out of death?

¹¹ In your diligence be free from sloth. Be glowing in spirit. Slave for the master.

³ For rulers are no terror to good deeds, but to evil. Would you be fearless of the ruler's authority? Do what is good, and you will have his praise.

³ For rulers are no terror to good deeds, but to evil. Would you be fearless of the ruler's authority? Do what is good, and you will have his praise. ⁴ For the ruler is God's minister appointed for your good. But if you are a wrong-doer, be afraid; he does not carry the sword to no purpose; he is God's servant, appointed to vengeance upon the guilty.

²⁶ For it has been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make an offering for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.

³² and that I may come to you in joy, by the will of God, and find rest together with you.

¹ I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a minister of the church at Cenchrae.

¹ I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a minister of the church at Cenchrae. ² I beg you to give her a Christian welcome, as the saints should; and to assist her in any matter in which she may have need of you. For she herself has been made an overseer to many people, including myself. ³ Salute Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow laborers in the cause of Jesus Christ, ⁴ who risked their own lives to save mine; who are thanked not only by me, ⁵ but by all the churches among the Gentiles. Salute likewise the church that meets in their home. Salute Epaenetus, my dearly beloved, the first man in Roman Asia to believe in Christ.

¹ Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Jesus Christ, and Sosthenes, his brother. ² to the Church of God at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all, wherever they are, who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus.

¹² I mean by this that one of you says, "I am a follower of Paul"; another, "I of Apollos"; another, "I of Cephas"; another, "I of Christ." ¹³ Has Christ been divided? Paul, was he crucified for you? or was it into the name of Paul that you were baptized? ¹⁴ I am thankful to God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, ¹⁵ so that no one can say you were baptized in my name. ¹⁶ Yes, I did baptize the house of Stephanas also, but I do not think I baptized any one else. ¹⁷ For Christ did not think I baptized any one else. For Christ did not send me forth to baptize, but to proclaim the gospel; and that not in philosophic words, lest the Cross of Christ should be made an empty thing.

²³ but we come preaching a crucified Messiah—to Jews a stumbling-block, to Greeks foolishness,

¹ And when I came to you, brothers, I came not to proclaim God's great secret purpose in fine language of philosophy; ² for I determined to know nothing, while among you, but Jesus as Christ, and him a crucified Christ.

⁵ What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Just ministers through whom you have believed, and each doing the work that the Lord gave him. ⁶ I planted, Apollos watered, but God made the seed grow.

⁶ I planted, Apollos watered, but God made the seed grow.

¹⁰ According to the grace of God vouchsafed me, like a skillful master-builder, I have laid a foundation; but another will be building upon it. Let each take heed how he builds on it. ¹¹ The foundation is already laid—Jesus Christ—and no man can lay another. ¹² On that foundation, if a man proceeds to build gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble, each man's work will be made manifest. ¹³ The Day will disclose it, for it dawns in fire, and the fire will test each man's work, of what quality it is. ¹⁴ If any man's work—the building he has made—stands the test, he will be rewarded.

¹⁸ Let no one deceive himself. If any one of you supposes that he is wise in the philosophy of the present age, let him become foolish, so that he may be wise.

⁶ Now these things, brothers, I have applied in a figure to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that in us you might learn not to go beyond what is written; that none of you be puffed up for the one, against the other.

¹² Homeless men, we toil, working with our own hands.

¹⁹ But come to you I will, and that soon, if it please the Lord, and then I shall learn not the talk of these boasters, but their power.

⁹ Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. None who are immoral, or idolaters, or adulterers, or catamites, or sodomites, ¹⁰ or thieves, or avaricious men, or drunkards, or foul-mouthed men, or extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ Such were some of you, but you have washed away your stains, you have been consecrated, you have been justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.

² If a man thinks that he already has knowledge, he does not yet truly know as he ought to know;

⁶ Are we the only ones, Barnabas and I, who have no right to give up manual labor? ⁷ What soldier ever serves at his own expense? What farmer ever plants a vineyard and his flock and does not taste the milk? ⁸ Am I saying this on human authority only, or does not the Law also say the same? ⁹ Yea, in the Law of Moses it is written, Thou shalt not muzzle an ox while he is treading out the grain. ¹⁰ Is it the oxen that God is thinking about, or is it really said for our sakes? It was written for us; because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher in hope of getting a share of the crop. ¹¹ If I have sown for you the seeds of spiritual good, is it a great thing if I reap from you temporal goods? ¹² If others share this authority over you, do not I far more? Yet I have not availed myself of it, but am patiently enduring; so that I may not in any way hinder the progress of Christ's gospel.

²⁰ To the Jews I am become like a Jew, that I may win Jews; to those under the Law, like one under the Law, though I am not under the Law, myself;

²¹ And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you". nor again of head to the feet, "I have no need for you."

³ For the very first thing I taught you was that I had myself been taught, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture, ⁴ that he was buried, and that he was raised the third day, according to the Scriptures,

¹⁰ But by the grace of God I am what I am, and that grace of his, bestowed upon me, did not prove ineffectual. I labored more abundantly than all the rest, yet not I, but by the grace of God that is with me.

³² If after the manner of men I have fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what good does it do me? If the dead do not rise, Let us eat and drink, For we shall be dead tomorrow.

¹ Now concerning the offering for the saints, you also are to do as I directed the church of Galatia.

³ On my arrival I will send those whom you may accredit by letter to carry your bounty to Jerusalem.

⁷ For I do not wish at this present time to see you merely in passing; but if the Lord permits, I hope to remain some time with you. ⁸ I am staying for the present in Ephesus, until Pentecost;

¹² As for our Apollos, I have many times urged him to go to you with the others, but he was always unwilling to go to you at this time. He will come, however, whenever he has a good opportunity.

¹⁵ I beg you this, my brothers—you know the household of Stephanus, that they were the first-fruits of Achaia, and that they devoted themselves to the service of the saints—

¹⁹ The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla (Prisca), with the church that meets in their house, greet you heartily in the Lord.

¹ To the Church of God which is in Corinth, and to all the saints throughout Greece. from Paul, by God's will an apostle of Christ, and from brother Timothy.

²³ But for my part I call God to witness, as my soul shall answer for it, that it was to spare you that I came not to Corinth ²⁴ (not that I am attempting to lord it over your faith, but rather to work with you for your happiness); for your faith is stedfast.

¹ Am I beginning again to "recommend" myself? Or do I need, as some do, letters of commendation either to you or from you? ² You are my letter, written on my heart, known and read by all men.

¹¹ So, because I know the fear of God, I "persuade men." What I am is manifest to God, and I hope manifest also to your conscience.

¹⁴ For the love of Christ overmasters me; because I thus judge that if One has died for all, then all have died;

² for I know how ready you are, and am always boasting about you to the Macedonians, telling them that Greece has been ready for a year past; and your zeal has been a spur to the majority of them.

¹⁰ "His letters indeed," says one, "are mighty and forcible, but his personality is weak, and his speech contemptible."

¹ Would that you could put up with a little "folly" from me! Nay, do bear with me.

⁴ If indeed some one is coming to preach another Jesus, whom I did not preach, or you are receiving a Spirit other than you once received, or another gospel which you did not accept before, you would do well to bear with me.

⁷ Is it a sin, forsooth, that I humbled myself that you might be exalted, in preaching the gospel to you free of cost?

⁹ Even when I lacked the actual necessities of life while I was with you, I was a burden to no one; for whatever I lacked, the brothers from Macedonia supplied, when they came. So I kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. ¹⁰ As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine shall not be stopped within the boundaries of Greece!

¹ I am forced to boast, though it is unprofitable, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. ² I know a Christian man who, fourteen years ago (whether in the body I know not, or out of the body, I know not. God knows), was caught up—this man of whom I speak—even into the third heaven. ³ And I know such a man (whether in the body or apart from the body I know not, God knows),

⁹ but he has answered me. "My grace is sufficient for you; it is in weakness that my power is perfected."

¹³ In what respect, then, were you inferior to the other churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

¹¹ Finally, brothers, farewell. Aim at perfection, take courage, be of one mind, live in peace; so shall the God of love and peace be with you.

² with all the brothers who are with me. To the churches of Galatia greeting.

²¹ Then I went into the districts of Syria and Cilicia.

¹⁴ and although my bodily affliction was a trial to you, you did not scoff at it nor spurn me, but welcomed me like an angel of God, like Christ Jesus himself.

¹ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus and to the faithful in Christ Jesus,

⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is God's gift. ⁹ It is not of works, so that any one can boast of it; ¹⁰ for we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for good deeds, which God predestined us to make our daily way of life.

¹⁹ and for me, that utterance may be given me to open my mouth boldly, and to make known the mystery of the gospel for which I am an ambassador, ²⁰ and in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it boldly as I ought to speak.

²³ but am in a quandary between the two. I am perplexed. I have a strong desire to break camp and to be with Christ, which is far better;

²⁵ And because I am convinced of this, I know that I shall live, and go on working side by side with you all for your progress and joy in the faith,

²⁹ For it has been granted you in Christ's behalf, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake,

¹⁹ Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you before long, so that I may be of good comfort when I learn the news concerning you. ²⁰ For I have no other like him with a genuine concern for your welfare, ²¹ for they are all seeking their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. ²² And you know Timothy's worth, how he has shared my servitude in furtherance of the gospel, like a son helping his father. ²³ So I hope to send him, as soon as ever I see how it will go with me; ²⁴ but I trust in the Lord that I also shall come shortly.

²⁸ Him I am ever proclaiming, warning every one and teaching every one, in all wisdom; that I may bring every man into his presence, full grown in Christ. ²⁹ For that end I am ever toiling, wrestling with all that energy of his which is mightily at work within me.

¹² when you were buried with him in baptism. In baptism also you were raised with him, through your faith in the energy of that God who raised him from the dead.

¹⁶ Let the word of Christ have its home in you richly, in all wisdom. Teach and admonish one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, ever singing with grace in your hearts unto God.

¹⁰ Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, salutes you, and Marcus, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, make him welcome), and Jesus surnamed Justas. ¹¹ These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God, belonging to the circumcision, who have been any comfort to me.

⁷ Thus you became a pattern to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. ⁸ For the word of the Lord has been sounded forth from you, and its sound has been heard not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place where the tidings of your faith toward God have been spread abroad, so that I have no need to speak of it.

² for you remember that although I had already borne ill-treatment and insult at Philippi, I took courage in my God to tell you the gospel of God, in the face of much opposition.

⁹ You recall, brothers, my labor and toil; how, while working at my trade day and night, so as not to become a burden to any of you, I proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

¹⁴ For you, brothers, began to follow the example of the churches of God in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus; and you in your turn suffered at the hands of your fellow citizens persecutions like to those which they endured from the Jews— ¹⁵ The men who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out—they are displeasing to God, and are the enemies of all mankind. ¹⁶ They forbid me to speak to the Gentiles with a view to their salvation. They continue always to fill up the measure of their sins; but the wrath of God is come upon them to the full!

² I sent Timothy, my brother and God's fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen you and to hearten you in your faith.

¹⁸ So comfort one another with these words.

¹⁴ And, brothers, we urge you to admonish the disorderly, comfort the faint-hearted, sustain the weak, lose patience with none.

¹³ But for you, brothers, whom the Lord loves, I ought to give thanks to God continually, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation in consecration of the Spirit and belief of the truth. ¹⁴ For this he called you through my gospel, so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁸ I did not eat my food as a gift from any man, but in toil and travail, night and day, I worked, so that I might not be a burden to any of you. ⁹ Not that I have no right to such support; it was simply to give you an example for you to imitate.

³ As I begged you when I was setting out for Macedonia, stay where you are at Ephesus, and instruct certain individuals there not to be teaching heterodoxy, ⁴ nor to be paying attention to myths and interminable genealogies, which tend to promote discussions rather than a stewardship entrusted by God, a stewardship which is in faith.

²² Never ordain any one hastily, nor take part in the wrong-doing of others. Keep yourself pure.

⁴ he is puffed up with conceit and knows nothing, but is doting about disputations and a strife of words. These give rise to envy, quarrels, railings, evil suspicions,

¹⁸ The Lord grant him to find mercy form the Lord in that Day! And you know better than I how many services he rendered in Ephesus.

⁴ A soldier in active service avoids entangling himself in the every-day affairs of life, so that he may please his commander.

²³ Ever shun foolish and puerile discussions, for you know that they lead to quarrels.

²⁵ He must be gentle when instructing opponents; for possibly God may give them a change of mind for the recognition of the truth,

¹² Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.

¹⁷ Nevertheless the Lord Jesus stood by me, and strengthened my heart, that through me full proclamation of the gospel might be made, and the Gentiles might hear it; and I was rescued from the lion's jaws.

¹⁹ Give my greetings to Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. ²⁰ Erastus remained at Corinth; Trophimus I left behind me ill at Miletus.

²² The Lord Jesus be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.

⁴ But when the kindness of God our Saviour, And his love toward men shined forth, ⁵ He saved us, not because of any deeds that we had done in righteousness, But because of his own pity for us. He saved us by that washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit ⁶ which he poured out upon us richly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

⁹ But avoid foolish questionings and genealogies and dissensions and wranglings about the law; for these are unprofitable and empty.

¹³ Speed Zenas the lawyer, and Apollos, on their journey diligently.

² He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and erring, since he himself also is encompassed with moral weakness,

¹ So let us get beyond the teaching of the elementary doctrines of Christ, and let us be borne along toward what is mature. Let us not be continually laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works,

³ And this we will do, if God permit.

¹ It was this Melchizedek, King of Salem and Priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him; ² and it was to him that Abraham apportioned a tithe of all the spoil. He was first, as his name signifies, King of righteousness, and then King of Salem, that is, King of Peace; ³ without father or mother, without lineage, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest in perpetuity. ⁴ But observe how great this man was, to whom even Abraham, the Patriarch, gave a tenth part of the spoils. ⁵ Now those of the sons of Levi who are appointed to the priesthood, are authorized by the Law to take tithes of the people, that is, of their brothers, and that too, although these are descended from Abraham. ⁶ But this man who had no Levitical genealogy actually took tithes of Abraham, and blessed him to whom the promises belong. ⁷ Now it is beyond all controversy that the inferior is always blessed by the superior. ⁸ Again it is mortal men who receive tithes in the one case; while in the other it is he of whom it is attested, "He lives." ⁹ And even Levi, who is the receiver of tithes, so to speak, paid tithes through Abraham; ¹⁰ for Levi was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met Abraham.

¹² Wherefore lift up your listless hands, strengthen your feeble knees; ¹³ make straight path for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.

¹⁶ Do not be deceived, my brothers! ¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect boon is from above, and is ever coming down to us from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom is no variation nor shadow of eclipse. ¹⁸ Because he willed, he gave us birth through the word of truth, so that we should be a kind of first-fruits among his creatures.

⁶ But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you to court?

⁶ But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you to court? ⁷ Are they not blaspheming that glorious Name by which you are called?

¹⁵ You ought instead to say, "If the Lord wills it, we shall live and do this or that."

¹⁶ So confess your sins one to another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. For the fervent prayer of a righteous man is mighty in its working.

¹ Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect who are sojourners of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Roman Asia, and Bithynia, ² according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ; Grace and peace be multiplied to you. ³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whose great mercy we have been born anew into a living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead;

¹⁴ But even if you should suffer in behalf of righteousness, you are happy. Do not be afraid of their terror, neither be troubled. ¹⁵ But consecrate Christ in your hearts, as Lord. Be always in readiness to make and answer to any one who asks you a reason for the hope that is within you, yet with gentleness and reverence.

¹⁷ For it is better that you suffer for doing right, if such be God's will, than for doing wrong;

⁴ They are astonished at this, that you do not run into the same excesses of profligacy as they do; and they speak evil of you.

¹⁴ If you are being reproached for the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the spirit of glory and of God is resting upon you.

¹² By Sylvanus, a faithful brother of yours, as I suppose, I have written you briefly, to comfort you, and to testify that this is the true grace of God. In this stand fast.

¹⁸ But grow continually in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and unto the Day of Eternity, Amen.

⁸ Hence we ought to support such, so that we may become fellow workers for the truth. ⁹ I have written somewhat to the church; but Diotrephes, who love to take the lead among them, does not receive me. ¹⁰ Do them when I come I will recall to mind the deeds which he is doing, prating against me with wicked words. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to receive the brothers, forbids those that would receive them, and excommunicates them from the church. ¹¹ saying, "Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches; to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamos and to Thyatira and Sardis and Philadelphia and Laodicea."

¹ To the angel of the Church in Ephesus, write. These are the words of Him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, and who walks among the seven golden candlesticks.

¹⁶ But the earth came to the rescue of the woman and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the river that the dragon had poured forth from his mouth.