Hebrews 11 Cross References - WNT

¹ Now faith is a well-grounded assurance of that for which we hope, and a conviction of the reality of things which we do not see. ² For by it the saints of old won God's approval. ³ Through faith we understand that the worlds came into being, and still exist, at the command of God, so that what is seen does not owe its existence to that which is visible. ⁴ Through faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain did, and through this faith he obtained testimony that he was righteous, God giving the testimony by accepting his gifts; and through it, though he is dead, he still speaks. ⁵ Through faith Enoch was taken from the earth so that he did not see death, and he could not be found, because God had taken him; for before he was taken we have evidence that he truly pleased God. ⁶ But where there is no faith it is impossible truly to please Him; for the man who draws near to God must believe that there is a God and that He proves Himself a rewarder of those who earnestly try to find Him. ⁷ Through faith Noah, being divinely taught about things as yet unseen, reverently gave heed and built an ark for the safety of his family, and by this act he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which depends on faith. ⁸ Through faith Abraham, upon being called to leave home and go into a land which he was soon to receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing where he was going to. ⁹ Through faith he came and made his home for a time in a land which had been promised to him, as if in a foreign country, living in tents together with Isaac and Jacob, sharers with him in the same promise; ¹⁰ for he continually looked forward to the city which has the foundations, whose architect and builder is God. ¹¹ Through faith even Sarah herself received strength to become a mother--although she was past the time of life for this--because she judged Him faithful who had given the promise. ¹² And thus there sprang from one man, and him practically dead, a nation like the stars of the sky in number, and like the sands on the sea shore which cannot be counted. ¹³ All these died in the possession of faith. They had not received the promised blessings, but had seen them from a distance and had greeted them, and had acknowledged themselves to be foreigners and strangers here on earth; ¹⁴ for men who acknowledge this make it manifest that they are seeking elsewhere a country of their own. ¹⁵ And if they had cherished the remembrance of the country they had left, they would have found an opportunity to return; ¹⁶ but, as it is, we see them eager for a better land, that is to say, a heavenly one. For this reason God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has now prepared a city for them. ¹⁷ Through faith Abraham, as soon as God put him to the test, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had joyfully welcomed the promises was on the point of sacrificing his only son ¹⁸ with regard to whom he had been told, "IT IS THROUGH ISAAC THAT YOUR POSTERITY SHALL BE TRACED." ¹⁹ For he reckoned that God is even able to raise a man up from among the dead, and, figuratively speaking, it was from among the dead that he received Isaac again. ²⁰ Through faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even in connexion with things soon to come. ²¹ Through faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and, leaning on the top of his staff, worshipped God. ²² Through faith Joseph, when he was near his end, made mention of the departure of the descendants of Israel, and gave orders about his own body. ²³ Through faith the child Moses was hid for three months by his parents, because they saw his rare beauty; and the king's edict had no terror for them. ²⁴ Through faith Moses, when he grew to manhood, refused to be known as Pharaoh's daughter's son, ²⁵ having determined to endure ill-treatment along with the people of God rather than enjoy the short-lived pleasures of sin; ²⁶ because he deemed the reproaches which he might meet with in the service of the Christ to be greater riches than all the treasures of Egypt; for he fixed his gaze on the coming reward. ²⁷ Through faith he left Egypt, not being frightened by the king's anger; for he held on his course as seeing the unseen One. ²⁸ Through faith he instituted the Passover, and the sprinkling with blood so that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch the Israelites. ²⁹ Through faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing over dry land, but the Egyptians, when they tried to do the same, were swallowed up. ³⁰ Through faith the walls of Jericho fell to the ground after being surrounded for seven days. ³¹ Through faith the notorious sinner Rahab did not perish along with the disobedient, for she had welcomed the spies and had sheltered them. ³² And why need I say more? For time will fail me if I tell the story of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, and of David and Samuel and the Prophets; ³³ men who, as the result of faith, conquered whole kingdoms, brought about true justice, obtained promises from God, stopped lions' mouths, ³⁴ deprived fire of its power, escaped being killed by the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put to flight foreign armies. ³⁵ Women received back their dear ones alive from the dead; and others were put to death with torture, refusing the deliverance offered to them--that they might secure a better resurrection. ³⁶ Others again were tested by cruel mockery and by scourging; yes, and by chains and imprisonment. ³⁷ They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tried by temptation, they were killed with the sword. They went from place to place in sheepskins or goatskins, enduring want, oppression and cruelty. ³⁸ (They were men of whom the world was not worthy.) They wandered across deserts and mountains, or hid themselves in caves and in holes in the ground. ³⁹ And although by their faith all these people won God's approval, none of them received the fulfilment of His great promise; ⁴⁰ for God had provided for them and us something better, so that apart from us they were not to attain to full blessedness.

²¹ and urging upon both Jews and Greeks the necessity of turning to God and of believing in Jesus our Lord.

²⁴ It is *in hope* that we have been saved. But an object of hope is such no longer when it is present to view; for when a man has a thing before his eyes, how can he be said to hope for it? ²⁵ But if we hope for something which we do not see, then we eagerly and patiently wait for it.

¹³ And so there remain Faith, Hope, Love--these three; and of these the greatest is Love.

¹⁸ while we look not at things seen, but things unseen; for things seen are temporary, but things unseen are eternal.

⁷ for we are living a life of faith, and not one of sight.

¹⁷ So that if any one is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old state of things has passed away; a new state of things has come into existence.

⁴ for fear that, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we--not to say you yourselves--should be put to the blush in respect to this confidence.

¹⁷ What I am now saying, I do not say by the Lord's command, but as a fool in his folly might, in this reckless boasting.

⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any importance; but only faith working through love.

¹ Paul, a bondservant of God and an Apostle of Jesus Christ for building up the faith of God's own people and spreading a full knowledge of the truths of religion,

³ how shall *we* escape if we are indifferent to a salvation as great as that now offered to us? This, after having first of all been announced by the Lord Himself, had its truth made sure to us by those who heard Him,

¹⁴ For we have, all alike, become sharers with Christ, if we really hold our first confidence firm to the End;

¹² so that you may not become half-hearted, but be imitators of those who through faith and patient endurance are now heirs to the promises.

¹⁸ He added an oath, in order that, through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for Him to prove false, we may possess mighty encouragement--we who, for safety, have hastened to lay hold of the hope set before us. ¹⁹ That hope we have as an anchor of the soul--an anchor that can neither break nor drag. It passes in behind the veil,

²² let us draw near with sincerity and unfaltering faith, having had our hearts sprinkled, once for all, from consciences oppressed with sin, and our bodies bathed in pure water.

³⁹ But we are not people who shrink back and perish, but are among those who believe and gain possession of their souls.

⁷ Through faith Noah, being divinely taught about things as yet unseen, reverently gave heed and built an ark for the safety of his family, and by this act he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which depends on faith.

¹³ All these died in the possession of faith. They had not received the promised blessings, but had seen them from a distance and had greeted them, and had acknowledged themselves to be foreigners and strangers here on earth;

²⁷ Through faith he left Egypt, not being frightened by the king's anger; for he held on his course as seeing the unseen One.

⁷ The sorrow comes in order that the testing of your faith--being more precious than that of gold, which perishes and yet is proved by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the re-appearing of Jesus Christ. ⁸ Him you love, though your eyes have never looked on Him. In Him, though at present you cannot see Him, you nevertheless trust, and triumph with a joy which is unspeakable and is crowned with glory,

¹ Simon Peter, a bondservant and Apostle of Jesus Christ: To those to whom there has been allotted the same precious faith as that which is ours through the righteousness of our God and of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

⁴ Through faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain did, and through this faith he obtained testimony that he was righteous, God giving the testimony by accepting his gifts; and through it, though he is dead, he still speaks.

³⁹ And although by their faith all these people won God's approval, none of them received the fulfilment of His great promise;

³ All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing that exists came into being.

¹⁵ We also are but men, with natures kindred to your own; and we bring you the Good News that you are to turn from these unreal things, to worship the ever-living God, the Creator of earth and sky and sea and of everything that is in them.

²⁴ GOD who made the universe and everything in it--He, being Lord of Heaven and earth, does not dwell in sanctuaries built by men.

¹⁹ because what may be known about Him is plain to their inmost consciousness; for He Himself has made it plain to them. ²⁰ For, from the very creation of the world, His invisible perfections--namely His eternal power and divine nature--have been rendered intelligible and clearly visible by His works, so that these men are without excuse. ²¹ For when they had come to know God, they did not give Him glory as God nor render Him thanks, but they became absorbed in useless discussions, and their senseless minds were darkened.

¹⁷ so that the promise should be made sure to all Abraham's true descendants; not merely to those who are righteous through the Law, but to those who are righteous through a faith like that of Abraham. Thus in the sight of God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and makes reference to things that do not exist, as though they did, Abraham is the forefather of all of us. As it is written, "I HAVE APPOINTED YOU TO BE THE FOREFATHER OF MANY NATIONS."

² has at the end of these days spoken to us through a Son, who is the pre-destined Lord of the universe, and through whom He made the Ages.

⁵ For they are wilfully blind to the fact that there were heavens which existed of old, and an earth, the latter arising out of water and extending continuously through water, by the command of God;

¹¹ saying, "It is fitting, O our Lord and God, That we should ascribe unto Thee the glory and the honor and the power; For Thou didst create all things, And because it was Thy will they came into existence, and were created."

³⁵ that all the innocent blood shed upon earth may come on you, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Berechiah whom you murdered between the Sanctuary and the altar.

⁵¹ Yes, I tell you that, from the blood of Abel down to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the House, it shall all be required from the present generation.

¹⁶ They profess to know God; but in their actions they disown Him, and are detestable and disobedient men, and for any good work are utterly useless.

²² Indeed we may almost say that in obedience to the Law everything is sprinkled with blood, and that apart from the outpouring of blood there is no remission of sins.

¹ Therefore, surrounded as we are by such a vast cloud of witnesses, let us fling aside every encumbrance and the sin that so readily entangles our feet. And let us run with patient endurance the race that lies before us,

²⁴ and to Jesus the negotiator of a new Covenant, and to the sprinkled blood which speaks in more gracious tones than that of Abel.

¹¹ For this is the Message you have heard from the beginning--that we are to love one another. ¹² We are not to resemble Cain, who was a child of the Evil one and killed his own brother. And why did he kill him? Because his own actions were wicked and his brother's actions righteous.

¹¹ Alas for them; for they have followed in the steps of Cain; for the sake of gain they have rushed on headlong in the evil ways of Balaam; and have perished in rebellion like that of Korah!

³⁷ son of Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalalel, son of Kenan,

⁵¹ In most solemn truth I tell you that if any one shall have obeyed my teaching he shall in no case ever see death." ⁵² "Now," exclaimed the Jews, "we know that you are possessed by a demon. Abraham died, and so did the Prophets, and yet *you* say, 'If any one shall have obeyed my teaching, he shall in no case ever taste death.'

⁸ And those whose hearts are absorbed in earthly things cannot please God. ⁹ You, however, are not devoted to earthly, but to spiritual things, if the Spirit of God is really dwelling in you; whereas if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, such a one does not belong to Him.

⁴ But as God tested and approved us before entrusting us with His Good News, so in what we say we are seeking not to please men but to please God, who tests and approves our motives.

³ Through faith we understand that the worlds came into being, and still exist, at the command of God, so that what is seen does not owe its existence to that which is visible. ⁴ Through faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain did, and through this faith he obtained testimony that he was righteous, God giving the testimony by accepting his gifts; and through it, though he is dead, he still speaks.

⁶ But where there is no faith it is impossible truly to please Him; for the man who draws near to God must believe that there is a God and that He proves Himself a rewarder of those who earnestly try to find Him.

²² and whatever we ask for we obtain from Him, because we obey His commands and do the things which are pleasing in His sight.

¹⁴ It was also about these that Enoch, who belonged to the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, "The Lord has come, attended by myriads of His people, to execute judgement upon all,

⁹ And men belonging to all peoples, tribes, languages and nations gaze at their dead bodies for three days and a half, but they refuse to let them be laid in a tomb. ¹⁰ The inhabitants of the earth rejoice over them and are glad and will send gifts to one another; for these two Prophets had greatly troubled the inhabitants of the earth." ¹¹ But at the end of the three days and a half the breath of life from God entered into them, and they rose to their feet; and all who saw them were terrified. ¹² Then they heard a loud voice calling to them out of Heaven, and bidding them come up; and they went up to Heaven in the cloud, and their enemies saw them go.

¹² Be joyful and triumphant, because your reward is great in the Heavens; for so were the Prophets before you persecuted.

¹ "But beware of doing your good actions in the sight of men, in order to attract their gaze; if you do, there is no reward for you with your Father who is in Heaven. ² 'When you give in charity, never blow a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and streets in order that their praises may be sung by men. I solemnly tell you that they already have their reward.

⁵ "And when praying, you must not be like the hypocrites. They are fond of standing and praying in the synagogues or at the corners of the wider streets, in order that men may see them. I solemnly tell you that they already have their reward.

¹⁶ "When any of you fast, never assume gloomy looks as the hypocrites do; for they disfigure their faces in order that it may be evident to men that they are fasting. I solemnly tell you that they already have their reward.

³³ But make His Kingdom and righteousness your chief aim, and then these things shall all be given you in addition.

⁴¹ Every one who receives a prophet, because he is a prophet, will receive a prophet's reward, and every one who receives a righteous man, because he is a righteous man, will receive a righteous man's reward. ⁴² And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink because he is a disciple, I solemnly tell you that he will not lose his reward."

¹⁷ And signs shall attend those who believe, even such as these. By making use of my name they shall expel demons. They shall speak new languages.

³⁵ Nevertheless love your enemies, be beneficent; and lend without hoping for any repayment. Then your recompense shall be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

³¹ But make His Kingdom the object of your pursuit, and these things shall be given you in addition.

¹⁸ He who trusts in Him does not come up for judgement. He who does not trust has already received sentence, because he has not his trust resting on the name of God's only Son. ¹⁹ And this is the test by which men are judged--the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness more than they loved the Light, because their deeds were wicked.

²⁴ That is why I told you that you will die in your sins; for, unless you believe that I am He, that is what will happen."

⁶ "I am the Way," replied Jesus, "and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

¹⁴ But how are they to call on One in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in One whose voice they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher?

¹² see to it, brethren, that there is never in any one of you--as perhaps there may be--a sinful and unbelieving heart, manifesting itself in revolt from the ever-living God.

¹⁸ And to whom did He swear that they should not be admitted to His rest, if it was not to those who were disobedient? ¹⁹ And so we see that it was owing to lack of faith that they could not be admitted.

² For Good News has been brought to us as truly as to them; but the message they heard failed to benefit them, because they were not one in faith with those who gave heed to it.

⁶ Since, then, it is still true that some will be admitted to that rest, and that because of disobedience those who formerly had Good News proclaimed to them were not admitted,

¹⁹ for the Law brought no perfect blessing--but on the other hand we have the bringing in of a new and better hope by means of which we draw near to God.

²⁵ Hence too He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, seeing that He ever lives to plead for them.

²⁶ because he deemed the reproaches which he might meet with in the service of the Christ to be greater riches than all the treasures of Egypt; for he fixed his gaze on the coming reward.

⁵ But for this very reason--adding, on your part, all earnestness-- along with your faith, manifest also a noble character: along with a noble character, knowledge;

¹⁰ For this reason, brethren, be all the more in earnest to make sure that God has called you and chosen you; for it is certain that so long as you practise these things, you will never stumble.

¹⁴ Therefore, dear friends, since you have these expectations, earnestly seek to be found in His presence, free from blemish or reproach, in peace.

⁸ But as for cowards and the unfaithful, and the polluted, and murderers, fornicators, and those who practise magic or worship idols, and all liars--the portion allotted to them shall be in the Lake which burns with fire and sulphur. This is the Second Death."

⁷ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he exclaimed, "O vipers' brood, who has warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

⁴¹ There will stand up men of Nineveh at the Judgement together with the present generation, and will condemn it; because they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and mark! there is One greater than Jonah here. ⁴² The Queen of the south will awake at the Judgement together with the present generation, and will condemn it; because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and mark! there is One greater than Solomon here.

¹⁵ "When you have seen (to use the language of the Prophet Daniel) the 'ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION', standing in the Holy Place" --let the reader observe those words--

²⁵ Remember, I have forewarned you.

³⁸ At that time, before the Deluge, men were busy eating and drinking, taking wives or giving them, up to the very day when Noah entered the Ark,

³¹ The Queen of the South will awake at the Judgement together with the men of the present generation, and will condemn them; because she came from the extremity of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; but mark! One greater than Solomon is here. ³² There will stand up men of Nineveh at the Judgement together with the present generation, and will condemn it; because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and mark! One greater than Jonah is here.

²⁶ "And as it was in the time of Noah, so will it also be in the time of the Son of Man.

¹⁷ For in the Good News a righteousness which comes from God is being revealed, depending on faith and tending to produce faith; as the Scripture has it, "THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."

²² a righteousness coming from God, which depends on faith in Jesus Christ and extends to all who believe. No distinction is made;

¹¹ Before, not after. And he received circumcision as a sign, a mark attesting the reality of the faith-righteousness which was his while still uncircumcised, that he might be the forefather of all those who believe even though they are uncircumcised--in order that this righteousness might be placed to their credit;

¹³ Again, the promise that he should inherit the world did not come to Abraham or his posterity conditioned by Law, but by faith-righteousness.

³⁰ To what conclusion does this bring us? Why, that the Gentiles, who were not in pursuit of righteousness, have overtaken it--a righteousness, however, which arises from faith;

⁶ But the righteousness which is based on faith speaks in a different tone. "Say not in your heart," it declares, "'Who shall ascend to Heaven?'" --that is, to bring Christ down;

⁵ *We* have not, for through the Spirit we wait with longing hope for an acceptance with God which is to come through faith.

⁹ not having a righteousness of my own, derived from the Law, but that which arises from faith in Christ--the righteousness which comes from God through faith.

⁷ For Jesus during his earthly life offered up prayers and entreaties, crying aloud and weeping as He pleaded with Him who was able to bring Him in safety out of death, and He was delivered from the terror from which He shrank.

¹ Now faith is a well-grounded assurance of that for which we hope, and a conviction of the reality of things which we do not see.

²⁰ who in ancient times had been disobedient, while God's longsuffering was patiently waiting in the days of Noah during the building of the Ark, in which a few persons--eight in number--were brought safely through the water.

⁵ And He did not spare the ancient world, although He preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a deluge on the world of the ungodly.

⁶ and that, by means of these, the then existing race of men was overwhelmed with water and perished.

²⁴ "Every one who hears these my teachings and acts upon them will be found to resemble a wise man who builds his house upon rock; ²⁵ and the heavy rain falls, the swollen torrents come, and the winds blow and beat against the house; yet it does not fall, for its foundation is on rock.

² The reply of Stephen was, "Sirs--brethren and fathers--listen to me. God Most Glorious appeared to our forefather Abraham when he was living in Mesopotamia, before he settled in Haran, ³ and said to him, "'Leave your country and your relatives, and go into whatever land I point out to you.' ⁴ "Thereupon he left Chaldaea and settled in Haran till after the death of his father, when God caused him to remove into this country where you now live.

⁵ through whom we have received grace and Apostleship in His service in order to win men to obedience to the faith, among all Gentile peoples,

¹⁷ But thanks be to God that though you were once in thraldom to Sin, you have now yielded a hearty obedience to that system of truth in which you have been instructed.

¹⁶ But, some will say, they have not all hearkened to the Good News. No, for Isaiah asks, "LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED THE MESSAGE THEY HAVE HEARD FROM US?"

⁵ For we overthrow arrogant 'reckonings,' and every stronghold that towers high in defiance of the knowledge of God, and we carry off every thought as if into slavery--into subjection to Christ;

⁹ and so, having been made perfect, He became to all who obey Him the source and giver of eternal salvation.

³³ men who, as the result of faith, conquered whole kingdoms, brought about true justice, obtained promises from God, stopped lions' mouths,

¹⁴ What good is it, my brethren, if a man professes to have faith, and yet his actions do not correspond? Can such faith save him? ¹⁵ Suppose a Christian brother or sister is poorly clad or lacks daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, "I wish you well; keep yourselves warm and well fed," and yet you do not give them what they need; what is the use of that?

²² Now that, through your obedience to the truth, you have purified your souls for cherishing sincere brotherly love, you must love another heartily and fervently.

¹ Married women, in the same way, be submissive to your husbands, so that even if some of them disbelieve the Message, they may, apart from the Message, be won over by the daily life of their wives, after watching your daily life--

¹⁷ For the time has come for judgement to begin, and to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the end of those who reject God's Good News?

⁵ But he gave him no inheritance in it, no, not a single square yard of ground. And yet He promised to bestow the land as a permanent possession on him and his posterity after him--and promised this at a time when Abraham was childless. ⁶ And God declared that Abraham's posterity should for four hundred years make their home in a country not their own, and be reduced to slavery and be oppressed.

¹⁷ In the same way, since it was God's desire to display more convincingly to the heirs of the promise how unchangeable His purpose was,

² In my Father's house there are many resting-places. Were it otherwise, I would have told you; for I am going to make ready a place for you.

¹ For we know that if this poor tent, our earthly house, is taken down, we have in Heaven a building which God has provided, a house not built by human hands, but eternal.

²⁰ We, however, are free citizens of Heaven, and we are waiting with longing expectation for the coming from Heaven of a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ,

⁴ For every house has had a builder, and the builder of all things is God.

²² On the contrary you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the ever-living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to countless hosts of angels,

²⁸ Therefore, receiving, as we now do, a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us cherish thankfulness so that we may ever offer to God an acceptable service, with godly reverence and awe.

¹⁴ For we have no permanent city here, but we are longing for the city which is soon to be ours.

² And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God and made ready like a bride attired to meet her husband.

¹⁰ So in the Spirit he carried me to the top of a vast, lofty mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God, ¹¹ and bringing with it the glory of God. It shone with a radiance like that of a very precious stone--such as a jasper, bright and transparent. ¹² It has a wall, massive and high, with twelve large gates, and in charge of the gates were twelve angels. And overhead, above the gates, names were inscribed which are those of the twelve tribes of the descendants of Israel. ¹³ There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south, and three on the west. ¹⁴ The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and engraved upon them were twelve names--the names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb. ¹⁵ Now he who was speaking to me had a measuring-rod of gold, with which to measure the city and its gates and its wall. ¹⁶ The plan of the city is a square, the length being the same as the breadth; and he measured the city furlong by furlong, with his measuring rod--it is twelve hundred miles long, and the length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. ¹⁷ And he measured the wall of it--a wall of a hundred and forty-four cubits, according to human measure, which was also that of the angel. ¹⁸ The solid fabric of the wall was jasper; and the city itself was made of gold, resembling transparent glass. ¹⁹ As for the foundation-stones of the city wall, which were beautified with various kinds of precious stones, the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, ²⁰ the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. ²¹ And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each of them consisting of a single pearl. And the main street of the city was made of pure gold, resembling transparent glass. ²² I saw no sanctuary in the city, for the Lord God, the Ruler of all, is its Sanctuary, and so is the Lamb. ²³ Nor has the city any need of the sun or of the moon, to give it light; for the glory of God has shone upon it and its lamp is the Lamb. ²⁴ The nations will live their lives by its light; and the kings of the earth are to bring their glory into it. ²⁵ And in the daytime (for there will be no night there) the gates will never be closed; ²⁶ and the glory and honor of the nations shall be brought into it. ²⁷ And no unclean thing shall ever enter it, nor any one who is guilty of base conduct or tells lies, but only they whose names stand recorded in the Lamb's Book of Life.

³⁶ And see, your relative Elizabeth--she also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.

²⁰ Nor did he in unbelief stagger at God's promise, but became mighty in faith, giving glory to God, ²¹ and being absolutely certain that whatever promise He is bound by He is able also to make good.

²³ Let us hold firmly to an unflinching avowal of our hope, for He is faithful who gave us the promises.

⁵ For in ancient times also this was the way the holy women who set their hopes upon God used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their husbands. ⁶ Thus, for instance, Sarah obeyed Abraham, acknowledging his authority over her. And you have become Sarah's children if you do what is right and permit nothing whatever to terrify you.

¹⁷ so that the promise should be made sure to all Abraham's true descendants; not merely to those who are righteous through the Law, but to those who are righteous through a faith like that of Abraham. Thus in the sight of God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and makes reference to things that do not exist, as though they did, Abraham is the forefather of all of us. As it is written, "I HAVE APPOINTED YOU TO BE THE FOREFATHER OF MANY NATIONS." ¹⁸ Under utterly hopeless circumstances he hopefully believed, so that he might become the forefather of many nations, in agreement with the words "EQUALLY NUMEROUS SHALL YOUR POSTERITY BE." ¹⁹ And, without growing weak in faith, he could contemplate his own vital powers which had now decayed--for he was nearly 100 years old--and Sarah's barrenness.

²⁷ And Isaiah cries aloud concerning Israel, "THOUGH THE NUMBER OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL BE LIKE THE SANDS OF THE SEA, ONLY A REMNANT OF THEM SHALL BE SAVED;

⁸ and will go out to lead astray the nations in all the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, and assemble them for war, and they are like the sands on the seashore in number.

¹⁷ For I solemnly tell you that many Prophets and holy men have longed to see the sights you see, and have not seen them, and to hear the words you hear, and have not heard them.

⁵⁶ Abraham your forefather exulted in the hope of seeing my day: and he saw it, and was glad."

⁴¹ Isaiah uttered these words because he saw His glory; and he spoke of Him.

²¹ and being absolutely certain that whatever promise He is bound by He is able also to make good.

²⁴ It is *in hope* that we have been saved. But an object of hope is such no longer when it is present to view; for when a man has a thing before his eyes, how can he be said to hope for it?

¹⁹ You are therefore no longer mere foreigners or persons excluded from civil rights. On the contrary you share citizenship with God's people and are members of His family.

¹⁰ There were Prophets who earnestly inquired about that salvation, and closely searched into it--even those who spoke beforehand of the grace which was to come to you. ¹¹ They were eager to know the time which the Spirit of Christ within them kept indicating, or the characteristics of that time, when they solemnly made known beforehand the sufferings that were to come upon Christ and the glories which would follow. ¹² To them it was revealed that they were serving not themselves but you, when they foretold the very things which have now been openly declared to you by those who, having been taught by the Holy Spirit which had been sent from Heaven, brought you the Good News. Angels long to stoop and look into these things.

¹⁷ And if you address as your Father Him who judges impartially in accordance with each man's actions, then spend in fear the time of your stay here on earth,

¹¹ Dear friends, I entreat you as pilgrims and foreigners not to indulge the cravings of your lower natures: for all such cravings wage war upon the soul.

¹⁹ And in this way we shall come to know that we are loyal to the truth, and shall satisfy our consciences in His presence

²³ And more than that, we ourselves, though we possess the Spirit as a foretaste and pledge of the glorious future, yet we ourselves inwardly sigh, as we wait and long for open recognition as sons through the deliverance of our bodies.

¹⁸ while we look not at things seen, but things unseen; for things seen are temporary, but things unseen are eternal.

²³ I am in a dilemma, my earnest desire being to depart and be with Christ, for that is far, far better.

¹⁶ but, as it is, we see them eager for a better land, that is to say, a heavenly one. For this reason God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has now prepared a city for them.

³¹ But as to the Resurrection of the dead, have you never read what God says to you, ³² 'I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB'? He is not the God of dead, but of living men."

³⁴ "Then the King will say to those at His right, "'Come, my Father's blessed ones, receive your inheritance of the Kingdom which has been divinely intended for you ever since the creation of the world.

³⁸ Every one, however, who has been ashamed of me and of my teachings in this faithless and sinful age, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in His Father's glory with the holy angels."

²⁶ But as to the dead, that they rise to life, have you never read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the Bush, how God said to him, 'I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB?'

³² "Dismiss your fears, little flock: your Father finds a pleasure in giving you the Kingdom.

³⁷ But that the dead rise to life even Moses clearly implies in the passage about the Bush, where he calls the Lord 'THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB.'

³² "'I am the God of your forefathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob.' "Quaking with fear Moses did not dare gaze.

¹⁸ The Lord will deliver me from every cruel attack and will keep me safe in preparation for His heavenly Kingdom. To Him be the glory until the Ages of the Ages! Amen.

¹¹ For both He who sanctifies and those whom He is sanctifying have all one Father; and for this reason He is not ashamed to speak of them as His brothers;

¹⁰ for he continually looked forward to the city which has the foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

¹⁴ for men who acknowledge this make it manifest that they are seeking elsewhere a country of their own.

¹⁶ For so greatly did God love the world that He gave His only Son, that every one who trusts in Him may not perish but may have the Life of Ages.

¹² For, assuming the earnest willingness, the gift is acceptable according to whatever a man has, and not according to what he has not.

⁶ But, in this instance, one who does not trace his origin from them takes tithes from Abraham, and pronounces a blessing on him to whom the promises belong.

² Reckon it nothing but joy, my brethren, whenever you find yourselves hedged in by various trials. ³ Be assured that the testing of your faith leads to power of endurance. ⁴ Only let endurance have perfect results so that you may become perfect and complete, deficient in nothing.

²¹ Was it, or was it not, because of his actions that he was declared to be righteous as the result of his having offered up his son Isaac upon the altar? ²² You notice that his faith was co-operating with his actions, and that by his actions his faith was perfected; ²³ and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND HIS FAITH WAS PLACED TO HIS CREDIT AS RIGHTEOUSNESS," and he received the name of 'God's friend.' ²⁴ You all see that it is because of actions that a man is pronounced righteous, and not simply because of faith.

¹¹ Remember that we call those blessed who endured what they did. You have also heard of Job's patient endurance, and have seen the issue of the Lord's dealings with him--how full of tenderness and pity the Lord is.

⁶ Rejoice triumphantly in the prospect of this, even if now, for a short time, you are compelled to sorrow amid various trials. ⁷ The sorrow comes in order that the testing of your faith--being more precious than that of gold, which perishes and yet is proved by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the re-appearing of Jesus Christ.

¹² Dear friends, do not be surprised at finding that that scorching flame of persecution is raging among you to put you to the test--as though some surprising thing were accidentally happening to you.

¹⁰ Because in spite of suffering you have guarded My word, I in turn will guard you from that hour of trial which is soon coming upon the whole world, to put to the test the inhabitants of the earth.

⁷ nor because they are Abraham's true children. But the promise was "THROUGH ISAAC SHALL YOUR POSTERITY BE RECKONED."

²⁸ And when He had gone indoors, they came to Him. "Do you believe that I can do this?" He asked them. "Yes, Sir," they replied.

¹⁷ so that the promise should be made sure to all Abraham's true descendants; not merely to those who are righteous through the Law, but to those who are righteous through a faith like that of Abraham. Thus in the sight of God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and makes reference to things that do not exist, as though they did, Abraham is the forefather of all of us. As it is written, "I HAVE APPOINTED YOU TO BE THE FOREFATHER OF MANY NATIONS." ¹⁸ Under utterly hopeless circumstances he hopefully believed, so that he might become the forefather of many nations, in agreement with the words "EQUALLY NUMEROUS SHALL YOUR POSTERITY BE." ¹⁹ And, without growing weak in faith, he could contemplate his own vital powers which had now decayed--for he was nearly 100 years old--and Sarah's barrenness.

¹⁴ Yet Death reigned as king from Adam to Moses even over those who had not sinned, as Adam did, against Law. And in Adam we have a type of Him whose coming was still future.

²⁰ Now to Him who, in exercise of His power that is at work within us, is able to do infinitely beyond all our highest prayers or thoughts--

²⁴ For not into a Holy place built by men's hands--a mere copy of the reality--did Christ enter, but He entered Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.

¹¹ Through faith even Sarah herself received strength to become a mother--although she was past the time of life for this--because she judged Him faithful who had given the promise. ¹² And thus there sprang from one man, and him practically dead, a nation like the stars of the sky in number, and like the sands on the sea shore which cannot be counted.

¹⁶ and they were taken to Shechem and were laid in the tomb which Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a sum of money paid in silver.

²⁸ "And do not fear those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul; but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

⁴ "But to you who are my friends I say, "'Be not afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do nothing further. ⁵ I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who after killing has power to throw into Gehenna: yes, I say to you, fear him.

²⁰ At this time Moses was born--a wonderfully beautiful child; and for three months he was cared for in his father's house.

⁶ So that we fearlessly say, "THE LORD IS MY HELPER; I WILL NOT BE AFRAID: WHAT CAN MAN DO TO ME?"

²¹ At length he was cast out, but Pharaoh's daughter adopted him, and brought him up as her own son. ²² So Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and possessed great influence through his eloquence and his achievements. ²³ "And when he was just forty years old, it occurred to him to visit his brethren the descendants of Israel. ²⁴ Seeing one of them wrongfully treated he took his part, and secured justice for the ill-treated man by striking down the Egyptian.

¹⁰ "Blessed are those who have borne persecution in the cause of Righteousness, for to them belongs the Kingdom of the Heavens. ¹¹ "Blessed are you when they have insulted and persecuted you, and have said every cruel thing about you falsely for my sake. ¹² Be joyful and triumphant, because your reward is great in the Heavens; for so were the Prophets before you persecuted.

²¹ It has struck no root, however, within him. He continues for a time, but when suffering comes, or persecution, because of the Message, he at once stumbles and falls.

¹⁹ and I will say to my life, "'Life, you have ample possessions laid up for many years to come: take your ease, eat, drink, enjoy yourself.' ²⁰ "But God said to him, "'Foolish man, this night your life is demanded from you; and these preparations--for whom shall they be?'

²⁵ "'Remember, my child,' said Abraham, 'that you had all your good things during your lifetime, and that Lazarus in like manner had his bad things. But, now and here, he is receiving consolation and you are in agony.

²⁴ Seeing one of them wrongfully treated he took his part, and secured justice for the ill-treated man by striking down the Egyptian. ²⁵ He supposed his brethren to be aware that by him God was sending them deliverance; this, however, they did not understand.

²³ except that the Holy Spirit, at town after town, testifies to me that imprisonment and suffering are awaiting me. ²⁴ But even the sacrifice of my life I count as nothing, if only I may perfect my earthly course, and be faithful to the duty which the Lord Jesus has entrusted to me of proclaiming, as of supreme importance, the Good News of God's grace.

³ And not only so: we also exult in our sufferings, knowing as we do, that suffering produces fortitude;

¹⁷ and if children, then heirs too--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ; if indeed we are sharers in Christ's sufferings, in order that we may also be sharers in His glory. ¹⁸ Why, what we now suffer I count as nothing in comparison with the glory which is soon to be manifested in us.

³⁵ Who shall separate us from Christ's love? Shall affliction or distress, persecution or hunger, nakedness or danger or the sword? ³⁶ As it stands written in the Scripture, "FOR THY SAKE THEY ARE, ALL DAY LONG, TRYING TO KILL US. WE HAVE BEEN LOOKED UPON AS SHEEP DESTINED FOR SLAUGHTER." ³⁷ Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who has loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither the lower ranks of evil angels nor the higher, neither things present nor things future, nor the forces of nature, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God which rests upon us in Christ Jesus our Lord.

²⁴ Now I can find joy amid my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my own person whatever is lacking in Christ's afflictions on behalf of His Body, the Church.

³ Unceasing thanks are due from us to God on your behalf, brethren. They are appropriate because your faith is growing greatly, and the love of every one of you for all the others goes on increasing. ⁴ It so increases that we ourselves make honourable mention of you among the Churches of God because of your patience and faith amid all your persecutions and amid the afflictions which you are enduring. ⁵ For these are a plain token of God's righteous judgement, which has in view your being deemed worthy of admission to God's Kingdom, for the sake of which, indeed, you are sufferers. ⁶ A plain token of God's righteous judgement, I say, since it is a righteous thing for Him to requite with affliction those who are now afflicting you;

⁸ Do not be ashamed then to bear witness for our Lord and for me His prisoner; but rather share suffering with me in the service of the Good News, strengthened by the power of God.

³ As a good soldier of Christ Jesus accept your share of suffering. ⁴ Every one who serves as a soldier keeps himself from becoming entangled in the world's business--so that he may satisfy the officer who enlisted him. ⁵ And if any one takes part in an athletic contest, he gets no prize unless he obeys the rules. ⁶ The harvestman who labours in the field must be the first to get a share of the crop. ⁷ Mark well what I am saying: the Lord will give you discernment in everything. ⁸ Never forget that Jesus Christ has risen from among the dead and is a descendant of David, as is declared in the Good News which I preach. ⁹ For preaching the Good News I suffer, and am even put in chains, as if I were a criminal: yet the word of God is not imprisoned. ¹⁰ For this reason I endure all things for the sake of God's own people; so that they also may obtain salvation--even the salvation which is in Christ Jesus--and with it eternal glory.

¹¹ and the persecutions and sufferings which I have endured; the things which happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra. You know the persecutions I endured, and how the Lord delivered me out of them all. ¹² And indeed every one who is determined to live a godly life as a follower of Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

⁹ It follows that there still remains a sabbath rest for the people of God.

³² But continually recall to mind the days now past, when on being first enlightened you went through a great conflict and many sufferings.

³⁷ They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tried by temptation, they were killed with the sword. They went from place to place in sheepskins or goatskins, enduring want, oppression and cruelty.

²⁰ For a man's anger does not lead to action which God regards as righteous.

⁵ Here on earth you have lived self-indulgent and profligate lives. You have stupefied yourselves with gross feeding; but a day of slaughter has come.

¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God. Once you had not found mercy, but now you have.

¹² Dear friends, do not be surprised at finding that that scorching flame of persecution is raging among you to put you to the test--as though some surprising thing were accidentally happening to you. ¹³ On the contrary, in the degree that you share in the sufferings of the Christ, rejoice, so that at the unveiling of His glory you may also rejoice with triumphant gladness. ¹⁴ You are to be envied, if you are being reproached for bearing the name of Christ; for in that case the Spirit of glory-- even the Spirit of God--is resting upon you. ¹⁵ But let not one of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evil-doer, or as a spy upon other people's business. ¹⁶ If, however, any one suffers because he is a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God for being permitted to bear that name.

⁷ She has freely glorified herself and revelled in luxury; equally freely administer torment to her, and woe. For in her heart she boasts, saying, 'I sit enthroned as Queen: no widow am I: I shall never know sorrow.'

¹ "But beware of doing your good actions in the sight of men, in order to attract their gaze; if you do, there is no reward for you with your Father who is in Heaven.

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

¹⁴ and you will be blessed, because they have no means of requiting you, but there will be requital for you at the Resurrection of the righteous."

⁴¹ They, therefore, left the Sanhedrin and went their way, rejoicing that they had been deemed worthy to suffer disgrace on behalf of the NAME.

¹⁰ as sad, but we are always joyful; as poor, but we bestow wealth on many; as having nothing, and yet we securely possess all things.

¹⁰ In fact I take pleasure in infirmities, in the bearing of insults, in distress, in persecutions, in grievous difficulties--for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

¹⁸ the eyes of your understanding being enlightened so that you may know what is the hope which His call to you inspires, what the wealth of the glory of His inheritance in God's people,

⁸ To me who am less than the least of all God's people has this work been graciously entrusted--to proclaim to the Gentiles the Good News of the exhaustless wealth of Christ,

⁷ Yet all that was gain to me--for Christ's sake I have reckoned it loss.

² For if the message delivered through angels proved to be true, and every transgression and act of disobedience met with just retribution,

³³ This was partly through allowing yourselves to be made a public spectacle amid reproaches and persecutions, and partly through coming forward to share the sufferings of those who were thus treated.

³⁵ Therefore do not cast from you your confident hope, for it will receive a vast reward.

¹³ Therefore let us go to Him outside the camp, sharing the insults directed against Him.

¹¹ They were eager to know the time which the Spirit of Christ within them kept indicating, or the characteristics of that time, when they solemnly made known beforehand the sufferings that were to come upon Christ and the glories which would follow.

¹⁴ You are to be envied, if you are being reproached for bearing the name of Christ; for in that case the Spirit of glory-- even the Spirit of God--is resting upon you.

⁹ Your sufferings I know, and your poverty--but you are rich--and the evil name given you by those who say that they themselves are Jews, and are not, but are Satan's synagogue.

¹⁸ Therefore I counsel you to buy of Me gold refined in the fire that you may become rich, and white robes to put on, so as to hide your shameful nakedness, and eye-salve to anoint your eyes with, so that you may be able to see.

²² And you will be objects of universal hatred because you are called by my name; but he who holds out to the End--he will be saved.

¹³ but those who stand firm to the End shall be saved.

¹⁷ but they have no root within them. They last for a time; then, when suffering or persecution comes because of the Message, they are immediately overthrown.

¹³ You will be objects of universal hatred because you are called by my name, but those who stand firm to the End will be saved.

²⁵ For David says in reference to Him, "'I CONSTANTLY FIXED MY EYES UPON THE LORD, BECAUSE HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND IN ORDER THAT I MAY CONTINUE UNSHAKEN.

⁷ She knows how to be silent. She is full of trust, full of hope, full of patient endurance.

¹⁷ Now to the immortal and invisible King of the Ages, who alone is God, be honour and glory to the Ages of the Ages! Amen.

¹⁶ who alone possesses immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, and whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be eternal honour and power! Amen.

¹⁵ And so, as the result of patient waiting, our forefather obtained what God had promised.

² simply fixing our gaze upon Jesus, our Prince Leader in the faith, who will also award us the prize. He, for the sake of the joy which lay before Him, patiently endured the cross, looking with contempt upon its shame, and afterwards seated Himself-- where He still sits--at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Therefore, if you would escape becoming weary and faint-hearted, compare your own sufferings with those of Him who endured such hostility directed against Him by sinners.

⁸ Him you love, though your eyes have never looked on Him. In Him, though at present you cannot see Him, you nevertheless trust, and triumph with a joy which is unspeakable and is crowned with glory,

¹⁹ For when Moses had proclaimed to all the people every commandment contained in the Law, he took the blood of the calves and of the goats and with them water, scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,

² chosen in accordance with the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, with a view to their obedience and to their being sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. May more and more grace and peace be granted to you.

⁴ The weapons with which we fight are not human weapons, but are mighty for God in overthrowing strong fortresses. ⁵ For we overthrow arrogant 'reckonings,' and every stronghold that towers high in defiance of the knowledge of God, and we carry off every thought as if into slavery--into subjection to Christ;

¹ The Genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

⁵ Salmon (by Rahab) of Boaz; Boaz (by Ruth) of Obed; Obed of Jesse;

¹⁸ And to whom did He swear that they should not be admitted to His rest, if it was not to those who were disobedient?

²⁵ In the same way also was not the notorious sinner Rahab declared to be righteous because of her actions when she welcomed the spies and hurriedly helped them to escape another way?

⁸ and "A STONE FOR THE FOOT TO STRIKE AGAINST, AND A ROCK TO STUMBLE OVER." Their foot strikes against it because they are disobedient to God's Message, and to this they were appointed.

²⁸ "There will be the weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the Prophets in the Kingdom of God, and yourselves being driven far away.

³¹ "'If they are deaf to Moses and the Prophets,' replied Abraham, 'they would not be led to believe even if some one should rise from the dead.'"

²⁵ But there are also many other things which Jesus did--so vast a number indeed that if they were all described in detail, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would have to be written.

²⁹ "As to the patriarch David, I need hardly remind you, brethren, that he died and was buried, and that we still have his tomb among us. ³⁰ Being a Prophet, however, and knowing that God had solemnly sworn to him to seat a descendant of his upon his throne, ³¹ with prophetic foresight he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, to the effect that He was not left forsaken in the Unseen World, nor did His body undergo decay.

²⁴ Yes, and all the Prophets, from Samuel onwards--all who have spoken--have also announced the coming of this present time.

⁴³ To Him all the Prophets bear witness, and testify that through His name all who believe in Him receive the forgiveness of their sins."

²⁰ and afterwards He gave them judges down to the time of the Prophet Samuel.

²² After removing him, He raised up David to be their king, to whom He also bore witness when He said, "'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man I love, who will obey all My commands.' ²³ "It is from among David's descendants that God, in fulfilment of His promise, has raised up a Saviour for Israel, even Jesus. ²⁴ Before the coming of Jesus, John had proclaimed to all the people of Israel a baptism of repentance. ²⁵ But John, towards the end of his career, repeatedly asked the people, "'What do you suppose me to be? I am not the Christ. But there is One coming after me whose sandal I am not worthy to unfasten.' ²⁶ "Brethren, descendants of the family of Abraham, and all among you who fear God, to us has this Message of salvation been sent. ²⁷ For the people of Jerusalem and their rulers, by the judgement they pronounced on Jesus, have actually fulfilled the predictions of the Prophets which are read Sabbath after Sabbath, through ignorance of those predictions and of Him. ²⁸ Without having found Him guilty of any capital offence they urged Pilate to have Him put to death; ²⁹ and when they had carried out everything which had been written about Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb. ³⁰ "But God raised Him from the dead. ³¹ And, after a few days, He appeared to the people who had gone up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem and are now witnesses concerning Him to the Jews. ³² And we bring you the Good News about the promise made to our forefathers, ³³ that God has amply fulfilled it to our children in raising up Jesus; as it is also written in the second Psalm, 'THOU ART MY SON: TO-DAY I HAVE BECOME THY FATHER.' ³⁴ And as to His having raised Him from among the dead, never again to be in the position of one soon to return to decay, He speaks thus: 'I WILL GIVE YOU THE HOLY AND TRUSTWORTHY PROMISES MADE TO DAVID.' ³⁵ Because in another Psalm also He says, 'THOU WILT NOT GIVE UP THY HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY.' ³⁶ For David, after having been useful to his own generation in accordance with God's purpose, did fall asleep, was gathered to his forefathers, and did undergo decay.

⁵ But if our unrighteousness sets God's righteousness in a clearer light, what shall we say? (Is God unrighteous--I speak in our everyday language-- when He inflicts punishment?

¹ What then shall we say that Abraham, our earthly forefather, has gained?

¹ To what conclusion, then, shall we come? Are we to persist in sinning in order that the grace extended to us may be the greater?

⁷ What follows? Is the Law itself a sinful thing? No, indeed; on the contrary, unless I had been taught by the Law, I should have known nothing of sin as sin. For instance, I should not have known what covetousness is, if the Law had not repeatedly said, "THOU SHALT NOT COVET."

¹⁰ In illustration, brethren, of persecution patiently endured take the Prophets who have spoken as messengers from the Lord.

²¹ for never did any prophecy come by human will, but men sent by God spoke as they were impelled by the Holy Spirit.

² so that you may recall the words spoken long ago by the holy Prophets, and the commandments of our Lord and Saviour given you through your Apostles.

¹⁶ (Now the promises were given to Abraham and to his seed. God did not say "and to seeds," as if speaking of many, but "and to your seed," since He spoke of only one--and this is Christ.)

¹⁷ The Lord, however, stood by me and filled me with inward strength, that through me the Message might be fully proclaimed and that all the Gentiles might hear it; and I was rescued from the lion's jaws.

¹² so that you may not become half-hearted, but be imitators of those who through faith and patient endurance are now heirs to the promises. ¹³ For when God gave the promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself, ¹⁴ saying, "ASSUREDLY I WILL BLESS YOU AND BLESS YOU, I WILL INCREASE YOU AND INCREASE YOU." ¹⁵ And so, as the result of patient waiting, our forefather obtained what God had promised.

³⁶ For you stand in need of patient endurance, so that, as the result of having done the will of God, you may receive the promised blessing.

⁴ Through faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain did, and through this faith he obtained testimony that he was righteous, God giving the testimony by accepting his gifts; and through it, though he is dead, he still speaks. ⁵ Through faith Enoch was taken from the earth so that he did not see death, and he could not be found, because God had taken him; for before he was taken we have evidence that he truly pleased God. ⁶ But where there is no faith it is impossible truly to please Him; for the man who draws near to God must believe that there is a God and that He proves Himself a rewarder of those who earnestly try to find Him. ⁷ Through faith Noah, being divinely taught about things as yet unseen, reverently gave heed and built an ark for the safety of his family, and by this act he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which depends on faith. ⁸ Through faith Abraham, upon being called to leave home and go into a land which he was soon to receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing where he was going to.

¹⁷ Through faith Abraham, as soon as God put him to the test, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had joyfully welcomed the promises was on the point of sacrificing his only son

⁸ Curb every passion, and be on the alert. Your great accuser, the Devil, is going about like a roaring lion to see whom he can devour.

⁹ but His reply has been, "My grace suffices for you, for power matures in weakness." Most gladly therefore will I boast of my infirmities rather than complain of them--in order that Christ's power may overshadow me. ¹⁰ In fact I take pleasure in infirmities, in the bearing of insults, in distress, in persecutions, in grievous difficulties--for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

³⁰ For in the Resurrection, men neither marry nor are women given in marriage, but they are like angels in Heaven.

²⁵ For when they have risen from among the dead, men do not marry and women are not given in marriage, but they are as angels are in Heaven.

¹² And just as He reached the gate of the town, they happened to be bringing out for burial a dead man who was his mother's only son; and she was a widow; and a great number of the townspeople were with her. ¹³ The Lord saw her, was moved with pity for her, and said to her, "Do not weep." ¹⁴ Then He went close and touched the bier, and the bearers halted. "Young man," He said, "I command you, wake!" ¹⁵ The dead man sat up and began to speak; and He restored him to his mother. ¹⁶ All were awe-struck, and they gave glory to God--some saying, "A Prophet, a great Prophet, has risen up among us." Others said, "God has not forgotten His People."

³⁶ For indeed they cannot die again; they are like angels, and are sons of God through being sons of the Resurrection.

²⁹ they who have done what is right to the resurrection of Life, and they whose actions have been evil to the resurrection of judgement.

⁴⁰ "Did I not promise you," replied Jesus, "that if you believe, you shall see the glory of God?" ⁴¹ So they removed the stone. Then Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank Thee that Thou hast heard me. ⁴² I know that Thou always hearest me; but for the sake of the crowd standing round I have said this--that they may believe that Thou didst send me." ⁴³ After speaking thus, He called out in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out." ⁴⁴ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped in cloths, and his face wrapped round with a towel. "Untie him," said Jesus, "and let him go free." ⁴⁵ Thereupon a considerable number of the Jews--namely those who had come to Mary and had witnessed His deeds--became believers in Him;

¹⁹ But Peter and John replied, "Judge whether it is right in God's sight to listen to you instead of listening to God.

⁴¹ Then, giving her his hand, he raised her to her feet and, calling to him God's people and the widows, he 7 gave her back to them alive.

²⁴ the Tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, and be examined by flogging, in order to ascertain the reason why they thus cried out against him. ²⁵ But, when they had tied him up with the straps, Paul said to the Captain who stood by, "Does the Law permit you to flog a Roman citizen--and one too who is uncondemned?"

²⁹ So the men who had been on the point of putting him under torture immediately left him. And the Tribune, too, was frightened when he learnt that Paul was a Roman citizen, for he had had him bound.

⁶ Noticing, however, that the Sanhedrin consisted partly of Sadducees and partly of Pharisees, he called out loudly among them, "Brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees. It is because of my hope of a resurrection of the dead that I am on my trial."

¹⁵ and having a hope directed towards God, which my accusers themselves also entertain, that before long there will be a resurrection both of the righteous and the unrighteous.

⁵⁴ But when this perishable nature has put on what is imperishable, and this mortality has put on immortality, then will the words of Scripture be fulfilled, "DEATH HAS BEEN SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY."

¹¹ in the hope that I may attain to the resurrection from among the dead.

¹⁹ and hand Him over to the Gentiles to be made sport of and scourged and crucified; and on the third day He will be raised to life."

³⁵ but the vine-dressers seized the servants, and one they cruelly beat, one they killed, one they pelted with stones.

³⁴ "For this reason I am sending to you Prophets and wise men and Scribes. Some of them you will put to death--nay, crucify; some of them you will flog in your synagogues and chase from town to town;

²⁶ Then he released Barabbas to them, but Jesus he ordered to be scourged, and gave Him up to be crucified.

³⁴ they will insult Him in cruel sport, spit on Him, scourge Him, and put Him to death; but on the third day He will rise to life again."

³² For He will be given up to the Gentiles, and be mocked, outraged and spit upon.

¹¹ Then, laughing to scorn the claims of Jesus, Herod (and his soldiers with him) made sport of Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous costume, and sent Him back to Pilate.

³⁶ And the soldiers also made sport of Him, coming and offering Him sour wine and saying,

³ They arrested the two Apostles and lodged them in custody till the next day; for it was already evening.

¹⁸ and laid hands upon the Apostles, and put them into the public jail.

⁴⁰ His advice carried conviction. So they called the Apostles in, and--after flogging them--ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then let them go.

³ But Saul cruelly harassed the Church. He went into house after house, and, dragging off both men and women, threw them into prison.

⁴ He had him arrested and lodged in jail, handing him over to the care of sixteen soldiers; and intended after the Passover to bring him out again to the people. ⁵ So Peter was kept in prison; but long and fervent prayer was offered to God by the Church on his behalf. ⁶ Now when Herod was on the point of taking him out of prison, that very night Peter was asleep between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards were on duty outside the door. ⁷ Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell; and, striking Peter on the side, he woke him and said, "Rise quickly." Instantly the chains dropped off his wrists. ⁸ "Fasten your girdle," said the angel, "and tie on your sandals." He did so. Then the angel said, "Throw your cloak round you, and follow me." ⁹ So Peter went out, following him, yet could not believe that what the angel was doing was real, but supposed that he saw a vision. ¹⁰ And passing through the first ward and the second, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. This opened to them of itself; and, going out, they passed on through one of the streets, and then suddenly the angel left him. ¹¹ Peter coming to himself said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel and has rescued me from the power of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were anticipating." ¹² So, after thinking things over, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John surnamed Mark, where a large number of people were assembled, praying. ¹³ When he knocked at the wicket in the door, a maidservant named Rhoda came to answer the knock; ¹⁴ and recognizing Peter's voice, for very joy she did not open the door, but ran in and told them that Peter was standing there. ¹⁵ "You are mad," they said. But she strenuously maintained that it was true. "It is his guardian angel," they said. ¹⁶ Meanwhile Peter went on knocking, until at last they opened the door and saw that it was really he, and were filled with amazement. ¹⁷ But he motioned with his hand for silence, and then described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. "Tell all this to James and the brethren," he added. Then he left them, and went to another place. ¹⁸ When morning came, there was no little commotion among the soldiers, as to what could possibly have become of Peter. ¹⁹ And when Herod had had him searched for and could not find him, after sharply questioning the guards he ordered them away to execution. He then went down from Judaea to Caesarea and remained there.

²² The crowd, too, joined in the outcry against them, till at length the praetors ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods; ²³ and, after severely flogging them, they threw them into jail and bade the jailer keep them safely. ²⁴ He, having received an order like that, lodged them in the inner prison, and secured their feet in the stocks. ²⁵ About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, ²⁶ when suddenly there was such a violent shock of earthquake that the prison shook to its foundations. Instantly the doors all flew open, and the chains fell off from every prisoner. ²⁷ Starting up from sleep and seeing the doors of the jail wide open, the jailer drew his sword and was on the point of killing himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. ²⁸ But Paul shouted loudly to him, saying, "Do yourself no injury: we are all here. ²⁹ Then, calling for lights, he sprang in and fell trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas; ³⁰ and, bringing them out of the prison, he exclaimed, "O sirs, what must I do to be saved?" ³¹ "Believe on the Lord Jesus," they replied, "and both you and your household will be saved." ³² And they told the Lord's Message to him as well as to all who were in his house. ³³ Then he took them, even at that time of night, washed their wounds, and he and all his household were immediately baptized; ³⁴ and bringing the Apostles up into his house, he spread a meal for them, and was filled with gladness, with his whole household, his faith resting on God. ³⁵ In the morning the praetors sent their lictors with the order, "Release those men." ³⁶ So the jailer brought Paul word, saying, "The praetors have sent orders for you to be released. Now therefore you can go, and proceed on your way in peace." ³⁷ But Paul said to them, "After cruelly beating us in public, without trial, Roman citizens though we are, they have thrown us into prison, and are they now going to send us away privately? No, indeed! Let them come in person and fetch us out." ³⁸ This answer the lictors took back to the praetors, who were alarmed when they were told that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. ³⁹ Accordingly they came and apologized to them; and, bringing them out, asked them to leave the city. ⁴⁰ Then Paul and Silas, having come out of the prison, went to Lydia's house; and, after seeing the brethren and encouraging them, they left Philippi.

³³ Then the Tribune, making his way to him, arrested him, and, having ordered him to be secured with two chains, proceeded to ask who he was and what he had been doing.

²⁷ But after the lapse of fully two years Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and being desirous of gratifying the Jews, Felix left Paul still in prison.

²³ Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as if I were out of my mind.) Much more am I His servant; serving Him more thoroughly than they by my labours, and more thoroughly also by my imprisonments, by excessively cruel floggings, and with risk of life many a time. ²⁴ From the Jews I five times have received forty lashes all but one. ²⁵ Three times I have been beaten with Roman rods, once I have been stoned, three times I have been shipwrecked, once for full four and twenty hours I was floating on the open sea.

¹ For this reason I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles--

¹ I, then, the prisoner for the Master's sake, entreat you to live and act as becomes those who have received the call that you have received--

¹⁶ May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus; for many a time he cheered me and he was not ashamed of my chain.

⁹ For preaching the Good News I suffer, and am even put in chains, as if I were a criminal: yet the word of God is not imprisoned.

³⁴ For you not only showed sympathy with those who were imprisoned, but you even submitted with joy when your property was taken from you, being well aware that you have in your own selves a more valuable possession and one which will remain.

¹⁰ Dismiss your fears concerning all that you are about to suffer. I tell you that the Devil is about to throw some of you into prison that you may be put to the test, and for ten days you will have to endure persecution. Be faithful to the End, even if you have to die, and then I will give you the victor's Wreath of Life.

⁴ This man John wore a garment of camel's hair, and a loincloth of leather; and he lived upon locusts and wild honey.

²⁰ "Foxes have holes," replied Jesus, "and birds have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."

³⁵ that all the innocent blood shed upon earth may come on you, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Berechiah whom you murdered between the Sanctuary and the altar. ³⁶ I tell you in solemn truth that all these things will come upon the present generation. ³⁷ "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! thou who murderest the Prophets and stonest those who have been sent to thee! how often have I desired to gather thy children to me, just as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not come!

⁵¹ Yes, I tell you that, from the blood of Abel down to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the House, it shall all be required from the present generation. ⁵² "Alas for you expounders of the Law! for you have taken away the key of knowledge: you yourselves have not entered, and those who wanted to enter you have hindered." ⁵³ After He had left the house, the Scribes and Pharisees commenced a vehement attempt to entangle Him and make Him give off-hand answers on numerous points, ⁵⁴ lying in wait to catch some unguarded expression from His lips.

³⁴ O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou who murderest the Prophets and stonest those who have been sent to thee, how often have I desired to gather thy children just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not come!

³¹ Again the Jews brought stones with which to stone Him. ³² Jesus remonstrated with them. "Many good deeds," He said, "have I shown you as coming from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?" ³³ "For no good deed," the Jews replied, "are we going to stone you, but for blasphemy, and because you, who are only a man, are making yourself out to be God."

⁵² Which of the Prophets did not your forefathers persecute? Yes, they killed those who announced beforehand the advent of the righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become--

⁵⁸ dragged him out of the city, and stoned him, the witnesses throwing off their outer garments and giving them into the care of a young man called Saul. ⁵⁹ So they stoned Stephen, while he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

² and James, John's brother, he beheaded. ³ Finding that this gratified the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also; these being the days of Unleavened Bread.

¹⁹ But now a party of Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and, having won over the crowd, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the town, believing him to be dead.

⁹ God, it seems to me, has exhibited us Apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; for we have come to be a spectacle to all creation--alike to angels and to men. ¹⁰ We, for Christ's sake, are labeled as "foolish"; you, as Christians, are men of shrewd intelligence. We are mere weaklings: you are strong. You are in high repute: we are outcasts. ¹¹ To this very moment we endure both hunger and thirst, with scanty clothing and many a blow. ¹² Homes we have none. Wearily we toil, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we bear it patiently; ¹³ when slandered, we try to conciliate. We have come to be regarded as the mere dirt and filth of the world--the refuse of the universe, even to this hour.

²³ Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as if I were out of my mind.) Much more am I His servant; serving Him more thoroughly than they by my labours, and more thoroughly also by my imprisonments, by excessively cruel floggings, and with risk of life many a time. ²⁴ From the Jews I five times have received forty lashes all but one. ²⁵ Three times I have been beaten with Roman rods, once I have been stoned, three times I have been shipwrecked, once for full four and twenty hours I was floating on the open sea. ²⁶ I have served Him by frequent travelling, amid dangers in crossing rivers, dangers from robbers; dangers from my own countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles; dangers in the city, dangers in the Desert, dangers by sea, dangers from spies in our midst; ²⁷ with labour and toil, with many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, in frequent fastings, in cold, and with insufficient clothing.

¹ Therefore, surrounded as we are by such a vast cloud of witnesses, let us fling aside every encumbrance and the sin that so readily entangles our feet. And let us run with patient endurance the race that lies before us,

¹⁰ In illustration, brethren, of persecution patiently endured take the Prophets who have spoken as messengers from the Lord. ¹¹ Remember that we call those blessed who endured what they did. You have also heard of Job's patient endurance, and have seen the issue of the Lord's dealings with him--how full of tenderness and pity the Lord is.

³ And I will authorize My two witnesses to prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.

²³ And He turned towards His disciples and said to them apart, "Blessed are the eyes which see what you see! ²⁴ For I tell you that many Prophets and kings have desired to see the things you see, and have not seen them, and to hear the things you hear, and have not heard them."

² For by it the saints of old won God's approval.

¹² To them it was revealed that they were serving not themselves but you, when they foretold the very things which have now been openly declared to you by those who, having been taught by the Holy Spirit which had been sent from Heaven, brought you the Good News. Angels long to stoop and look into these things.

²⁵ He it is whom God put forward as a Mercy-seat, rendered efficacious through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness-- because of the passing over, in God's forbearance, of the sins previously committed-- ²⁶ with a view to demonstrating, at the present time, His righteousness, that He may be shown to be righteous Himself, and the giver of righteousness to those who believe in Jesus.

²² so much the more also is the Covenant of which Jesus has become the guarantor, a better covenant.

⁶ But, as a matter of fact, the ministry which Christ has obtained is all the nobler a ministry, in that He is at the same time the negotiator of a sublimer covenant, based upon sublimer promises.

⁸ And the lesson which the Holy Spirit teaches is this--that the way into the true Holy place is not yet open so long as the outer tent still remains in existence. ⁹ And this is a figure--for the time now present--answering to which both gifts and sacrifices are offered, unable though they are to give complete freedom from sin to him who ministers. ¹⁰ For their efficacy depends only on meats and drinks and various washings, ceremonies pertaining to the body and imposed until a time of reformation. ¹¹ But Christ appeared as a High Priest of the blessings that are soon to come by means of the greater and more perfect Tent of worship, a tent which has not been built with hands--that is to say does not belong to this material creation-- ¹² and once for all entered the Holy place, taking with Him not the blood of goats and calves, but His own blood, and thus procuring eternal redemption for us. ¹³ For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have contracted defilement make them holy so as to bring about ceremonial purity, ¹⁴ how much more certainly shall the blood of Christ, who strengthened by the eternal Spirit offered Himself to God, free from blemish, purify your consciences from lifeless works for you to serve the ever-living God? ¹⁵ And because of this He is the negotiator of a new Covenant, in order that, since a life has been given in atonement for the offences committed under the first Covenant, those who have been called may receive the eternal inheritance which has been promised to them.

²³ It was needful therefore that the copies of the things in Heaven should be cleansed in this way, but that the heavenly things themselves should be cleansed with more costly sacrifices.

¹¹ And while every priest stands ministering, day after day, and constantly offering the same sacrifices--though such can never rid us of our sins-- ¹² this Priest, on the contrary, after offering for sins a single sacrifice of perpetual efficacy, took His seat at God's right hand, ¹³ waiting from that time onward until His enemies be put as a footstool under His feet. ¹⁴ For by a single offering He has for ever completed the blessing for those whom He is setting free from sin.

²³ to the great festal gathering and Church of the first-born, whose names are recorded in Heaven, and to a Judge who is God of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, ²⁴ and to Jesus the negotiator of a new Covenant, and to the sprinkled blood which speaks in more gracious tones than that of Abel.

¹¹ And there was given to each of them a long white robe, and they were bidden to wait patiently for a short time longer, until the full number of their fellow bondservants should also complete--namely of their brethren who were soon to be killed just as they had been.