Luke 1 Cross References - WNT

¹ Seeing that many have attempted to draw up a narrative of the facts which are received with full assurance among us ² on the authority of those who were from the beginning eye-witnesses and were devoted to the service of the divine Message, ³ it has seemed right to me also, after careful investigation of the facts from their commencement, to write for you, most noble Theophilus, a connected account, ⁴ that you may fully know the truth of the things which you have been taught by word of mouth. ⁵ There was in the time of Herod, the king of Judaea, a priest of the name of Zechariah, belonging to the class of Abijah. He had a wife who was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. ⁶ They were both of them upright before God, blamelessly obeying all the Lord's precepts and ordinances. ⁷ But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren; and both of them were far advanced in life. ⁸ Now while he was doing priestly duty before God in the prescribed course of his class, ⁹ it fell to his lot--according to the custom of the priesthood--to go into the Sanctuary of the Lord and burn the incense; ¹⁰ and the whole multitude of the people were outside praying, at the hour of incense. ¹¹ Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense; ¹² and Zechariah on seeing him was agitated and terrified. ¹³ But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your petition has been heard: and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call his name John. ¹⁴ Gladness and exultant joy shall be yours, and many will rejoice over his birth. ¹⁵ For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; no wine or fermented drink shall he ever drink; but he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the very hour of his birth. ¹⁶ Many of the descendants of Israel will he turn to the Lord their God; ¹⁷ and he will be His forerunner in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn fathers' hearts to the children, and cause the rebellious to walk in the wisdom of the upright, to make a people perfectly ready for the lord." ¹⁸ "By what proof," asked Zechariah, "shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is far advanced in years." ¹⁹ "I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God," answered the angel, "and I have been sent to talk with you and tell you this good news. ²⁰ And now you will be dumb and unable to speak until the day when this has taken place; because you did not believe my words--words which will be fulfilled at their appointed time." ²¹ Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and were surprised that he stayed so long in the Sanctuary. ²² When, however, he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they knew that he must have seen a vision in the Sanctuary; but he kept making signs to them and continued dumb. ²³ When his days of service were at an end, he went to his home; ²⁴ and in course of time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and kept herself secluded five months. ²⁵ "Thus has the Lord dealt with me," she said, "now that He has graciously taken away my reproach among men." ²⁶ Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, ²⁷ to a maiden betrothed to a man of the name of Joseph, a descendant of David. The maiden's name was Mary. ²⁸ So Gabriel went into the house and said to her, "Joy be to you, favoured one! the Lord is with you." ²⁹ She was greatly agitated at his words, and wondered what such a greeting meant. ³⁰ But the angel said, "Do not be frightened, Mary, for you have found favour with God. ³¹ You will conceive in your womb and bear a son; and you are to call His name JESUS. ³² He will be great and He will be called 'Son of the Most High.' And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His forefather David; ³³ and He will be King over the House of Jacob for the Ages, and of His Kingdom there will be no end." ³⁴ "How can this be," Mary replied, "seeing that I have no husband?" ³⁵ The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for this reason your holy offspring will be called 'the Son of God.' 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. ³⁷ For no promise from God will be impossible of fulfilment." ³⁸ "I am the Lord's maidservant," Mary replied; "may it be with me in accordance with your words!" And then the angel left her. ³⁹ Not long after this, Mary rose up and went in haste into the hill country to a town in Judah. ⁴⁰ Here she came to the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth; ⁴¹ and as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the babe leapt within her. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, ⁴² and uttered a loud cry of joy. "Blest among women are you," she said, "and the offspring of your body is blest! ⁴³ But why is this honour done me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ For, the moment your greeting reached my ears, the babe within me leapt for joy. ⁴⁵ And blessed is she who has believed, for the word spoken to her from the Lord shall be fulfilled." ⁴⁶ Then Mary said: "My soul extols the Lord, ⁴⁷ And my spirit triumphs in God my Saviour; ⁴⁸ Because He has not turned from His maidservant in her lowly position; For from this time forward all generations will account me happy, ⁴⁹ Because the mighty One has done great things for me--Holy is His name!-- ⁵⁰ And His compassion is, generation after generation, Upon those who fear Him. ⁵¹ He has manifested His supreme strength. He has scattered those who were haughty in the thoughts of their hearts. ⁵² He has cast monarchs down from their thrones, And exalted men of low estate. ⁵³ The hungry He has satisfied with choice gifts, But the rich He has sent empty-handed away. ⁵⁴ His servant Israel He has helped, Remembering His compassion-- ⁵⁵ In fulfillment of His promises to our forefathers--For Abraham and his posterity for ever." ⁵⁶ So Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned home. ⁵⁷ Now when Elizabeth's full time was come, she gave birth to a son; ⁵⁸ and her neighbours and relatives heard how the Lord had had great compassion on her; and they rejoiced with her. ⁵⁹ And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and were going to call him Zechariah, after his father. ⁶⁰ His mother, however, said, "No, he is to be called John." ⁶¹ "There is not one of your family," they said, "who has that name." ⁶² They asked his father by signs what he wished him to be called. ⁶³ So he asked for a writing-tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And they all wondered. ⁶⁴ Instantly his mouth and his tongue were set free, and he began to speak and bless God. ⁶⁵ And all who lived round about them were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judaea reports of all these things were spread abroad. ⁶⁶ All who heard the story treasured it in their memories. "What then will this child be?" they said. For the Lord's hand was indeed with him. ⁶⁷ And Zechariah his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke in a rapture of praise. ⁶⁸ "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel," he said, "Because He has not forgotten His people but has effected redemption for them, ⁶⁹ And has raised up a mighty Deliverer for us In the house of David His servant-- ⁷⁰ As He has spoken from all time by the lips of His holy Prophets-- ⁷¹ To deliver us from our foes and from the power of all who hate us. ⁷² He dealt pitifully with our forefathers, And remembered His holy covenant, ⁷³ The oath which He swore to Abraham our forefather, ⁷⁴ To grant us to be rescued from the power of our foes And so render worship to Him free from fear, ⁷⁵ In piety and uprightness before Him all our days. ⁷⁶ And you moreover, O child, shall be called Prophet of the Most High; For you shall go on in front before the Lord to prepare the way for Him, ⁷⁷ To give to His People a knowledge of salvation In the forgiveness of their sins, ⁷⁸ Through the tender compassion of our God, Through which the daybreak from on high will come to us, ⁷⁹ Dawning on those who now dwell in the darkness and shadow of death--To direct our feet into the path of peace." ⁸⁰ And the child grew and became strong in character, and lived in the Desert till the time came for him to appear publicly to Israel.

³¹ But these have been recorded in order that you may believe that He is the Christ, the Son of God, and that, through believing, you may have Life through His name.

¹ My former narrative, Theophilus, dealt with all that Jesus did and taught as a beginning, down to the day on which, ² after giving instruction through the Holy Spirit to the Apostles whom He had chosen, He was taken up to Heaven. ³ He had also, after He suffered, shown Himself alive to them with many sure proofs, appearing to them at intervals during forty days, and speaking of the Kingdom of God.

¹⁶ And, beyond controversy, great is the mystery of our religion-- that Christ appeared in human form, and His claims justified by the Spirit, was seen by angels and proclaimed among Gentile nations, was believed on in the world, and received up again into glory.

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.

¹⁶ For when we made known to you the power and Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we were not eagerly following cleverly devised legends, but we had been eye-witnesses of His majesty. ¹⁷ He received honour and glory from God the Father, and out of the wondrous glory words such as these were spoken to Him, "This is My dearly-loved Son, in whom I take delight." ¹⁸ And we ourselves heard these words come from Heaven, when we were with Him on the holy mountain. ¹⁹ And in the written word of prophecy we have something more permanent; to which you do well to pay attention--as to a lamp shining in a dimly-lighted place--until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

¹ The beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ the Son of God.

¹⁴ "What the sower sows is the Message.

⁴⁸ You are witnesses as to these things.

²⁷ And you also are witnesses, because you have been with me from the first.

³ He had also, after He suffered, shown Himself alive to them with many sure proofs, appearing to them at intervals during forty days, and speaking of the Kingdom of God.

⁸ and yet you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judaea and Samaria and to the remotest parts of the earth."

²¹ "It is necessary, therefore, that of the men who have been with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us-- ²² beginning from His baptism by John down to the day on which He was taken up again from us into Heaven--one should be appointed to become a witness with us as to His resurrection."

²⁰ As for us, what we have seen and heard we cannot help speaking about."

³⁹ "And we are witnesses as to all that He did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. But they even put Him to death, by crucifixion. ⁴⁰ That same Jesus God raised to life on the third day, and permitted Him to appear unmistakably, ⁴¹ not to all the people, but to witnesses--men previously chosen by God--namely, to us, who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.

¹⁶ 'But rise, and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for the very purpose of appointing you My servant and My witness both as to the things you have already seen and as to those in which I will appear to you.

¹⁶ that I should be a minister of Christ Jesus among the Gentiles, doing priestly duties in connexion with God's Good News so that the sacrifice--namely the Gentiles--may be acceptable to Him, being (as it is) an offering which the Holy Spirit has made holy.

¹ As for us Apostles, let any one take this view of us--we are Christ's officers, and stewards of God's secret truths.

⁷ in which I have been appointed to serve, in virtue of the work which God, in the exercise of His power within me, has graciously entrusted to me. 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,

¹¹ And He Himself appointed some to be Apostles, some to be Prophets, some to be evangelists, some to be pastors and teachers, ¹² in order fully to equip His people for the work of serving--for the building up of Christ's body--

²³ if, indeed, you are still firmly holding to faith as your foundation, without ever shifting from your hope that rests on the Good News that you have heard, which has been proclaimed in the whole creation under Heaven, and in which I Paul have been appointed to serve. 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. ²⁵ I have been appointed to serve the Church in the position of responsibility entrusted to me by God for your benefit, so that I may fully deliver God's Message--

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,

¹ So I exhort the Elders among you--I who am their fellow Elder and have been an eye-witness of the sufferings of the Christ, and am also a sharer in the glory which is soon to be revealed.

¹⁶ For when we made known to you the power and Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we were not eagerly following cleverly devised legends, but we had been eye-witnesses of His majesty.

¹ That which was from the beginning, which we have listened to, which we have seen with our own eyes, and our own hands have handled concerning the Word of Life-- ² the Life was manifested, and we have seen and bear witness, and we declare unto you the Life of the Ages which was with the Father and was manifested to us-- ³ that which we have seen and listened to we now announce to you also, in order that you also may have fellowship in it with us, and this fellowship with us is fellowship with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

¹ Seeing that many have attempted to draw up a narrative of the facts which are received with full assurance among us

¹ My former narrative, Theophilus, dealt with all that Jesus did and taught as a beginning, down to the day on which,

⁴ Peter, however, explained the whole matter to them from the beginning.

¹⁹ "My judgement, therefore, is against inflicting unexpected annoyance on those of the Gentiles who are turning to God.

²⁵ we have unanimously decided to select certain men and send them to you in company with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul,

²⁸ For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no burden heavier than these necessary requirements--

²⁶ "Claudius Lysias to his Excellency, Felix the Governor: all good wishes.

³ in every instance and in every place we accept them with profound gratitude.

²⁵ "I am not mad, most noble Festus," replied Paul; "I am speaking words of sober truth.

⁴⁰ But in my judgement, her state is a more enviable one if she remains as she is; and I also think that I have the Spirit of God.

¹² As for our brother Apollos, I have repeatedly urged him to accompany the brethren who are coming to you: but he is quite resolved not to do so at present. He will come, however, when he has a good opportunity.

²⁵ He had been instructed by word of mouth in the way of the Lord, and, being full of burning zeal, he used to speak and teach accurately the facts about Jesus, though he knew of no baptism but John's.

¹⁸ and know the supreme will, and can test things that differ--being a man who receives instruction from the Law--

¹⁹ but in the Church I would rather speak five words with my understanding--so as to instruct others also--than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

⁶ But let those who receive instruction in Christian truth share with their instructors all temporal blessings.

¹⁵ So on every possible occasion I will also do my best to enable you to recall these things after my departure. ¹⁶ For when we made known to you the power and Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we were not eagerly following cleverly devised legends, but we had been eye-witnesses of His majesty.

¹ Now after the birth of Jesus, which took place at Bethlehem in Judaea in the reign of King Herod, excitement was produced in Jerusalem by the arrival of certain Magi from the east,

¹⁵ "You are they," He said to them, "who boast of their own goodness before men, but God sees your hearts; for that which holds a proud position among men is detestable in God's sight.

¹ Then Paul, fixing a steady gaze on the Sanhedrin, said, "Brethren, it is with a perfectly clear conscience that I have discharged my duties before God up to this day."

¹⁶ This too is my own earnest endeavour--always to have a clear conscience in relation to God and man.

⁹ What then? Are we Jews more highly estimated than they? Not in the least; for we have already charged all Jews and Gentiles alike with being in thraldom to sin. ¹⁰ Thus it stands written, "THERE IS NOT ONE RIGHTEOUS MAN. ¹¹ THERE IS NOT ONE WHO IS REALLY WISE, NOR ONE WHO IS A DILIGENT SEEKER AFTER GOD. ¹² ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE FROM THE RIGHT PATH; THEY HAVE EVERY ONE OF THEM BECOME CORRUPT. THERE IS NO ONE WHO DOES WHAT IS RIGHT--NO, NOT SO MUCH AS ONE." ¹³ "THEIR THROATS RESEMBLE AN OPENED GRAVE; WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY HAVE BEEN TALKING DECEITFULLY." "THE VENOM OF VIPERS LIES HIDDEN BEHIND THEIR LIPS." ¹⁴ "THEIR MOUTHS ARE FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS." ¹⁵ "THEIR FEET MOVE SWIFTLY TO SHED BLOOD. ¹⁶ RUIN AND MISERY MARK THEIR PATH; ¹⁷ AND THE WAY TO PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN." ¹⁸ "THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES." ¹⁹ But it cannot be denied that all that the Law says is addressed to those who are living under the Law, in order that every mouth may be stopped, and that the whole world may await sentence from God. ²⁰ For on the ground of obedience to Law no man living will be declared righteous before Him. Law simply brings a sure knowledge of sin. ²¹ But now a righteousness coming from God has been brought to light apart from any Law, both Law and Prophets bearing witness to it-- ²² a righteousness coming from God, which depends on faith in Jesus Christ and extends to all who believe. No distinction is made; ²³ for all alike have sinned, and all consciously come short of the glory of God, ²⁴ gaining acquittal from guilt by His free unpurchased grace through the deliverance which is found in Christ Jesus. 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--

² Now I commend you for remembering me in everything, and because you hold fast truths and practices precisely as I have taught them to you.

¹² For the reason for our boasting is this--the testimony of our own conscience that it was in holiness and with pure motives before God, and in reliance not on worldly wisdom but on the gracious help of God, that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and above all in our relations with you.

¹⁵ so that you may always prove yourselves to be blameless and spotless--irreproachable children of God in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as heavenly lights in the world,

⁶ as to zeal, a persecutor of the Church; as to the righteousness which comes through Law, blameless. ⁷ Yet all that was gain to me--for Christ's sake I have reckoned it loss. ⁸ Nay, I even reckon all things as pure loss because of the priceless privilege of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. And for His sake I have suffered the loss of everything, and reckon it all as mere refuse, in order that I may win Christ and be found in union with Him, 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.

²² He has now, in His human body, reconciled to God by His death, to bring you, holy and faultless and irreproachable, into His presence;

¹³ Thus He will build up your characters, so that you will be faultlessly holy in the presence of our God and Father at the Coming of our Lord Jesus with all His holy ones.

¹¹ For the grace of God has displayed itself with healing power to all mankind, ¹² training us to renounce ungodliness and all the pleasures of this world, and to live sober, upright, and pious lives at the present time, ¹³ in expectation of the fulfilment of our blessed hope--the Appearing in glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ; ¹⁴ who gave Himself for us to purchase our freedom from all iniquity, and purify for Himself a people who should be specially His own, zealous for doing good works.

³ For there was a time when we also were deficient in understanding, obstinate, deluded, the slaves of various cravings and pleasures, spending our lives in malice and envy, hateful ourselves and hating one another. ⁴ But when the goodness of God our Saviour, and His love to man, dawned upon us, not in consequence of things which we, ⁵ as righteous men, had done, but as the result of His own mercy He saved us by means of the bath of regeneration and the renewal of our natures by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ which He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; ⁷ in order that having been declared righteous through His grace we might become heirs to the Life of the Ages in fulfilment of our hopes.

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

³ And by this we may know that we know Him--if we obey His commands.

²⁹ Since you know that He is righteous, be assured also that the man who habitually acts righteously is a child of His.

⁷ Dear children, let no one lead you astray. The man who acts righteously is righteous, just as He is righteous.

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.

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.

⁵ There was in the time of Herod, the king of Judaea, a priest of the name of Zechariah, belonging to the class of Abijah. He had a wife who was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

⁶ These arrangements having long been completed, the priests, when conducting the divine services, continually enter the outer tent.

¹⁴ Inasmuch, then, as we have in Jesus, the Son of God, a great High Priest who has passed into Heaven itself, let us hold firmly to our profession of faith.

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.

³ And another angel came and stood close to the altar, carrying a censer of gold; and abundance of incense was given to him that he might place it with the prayers of all God's people upon the golden altar which was in front of the throne.

¹⁹ "I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God," answered the angel, "and I have been sent to talk with you and tell you this good news.

²⁸ So Gabriel went into the house and said to her, "Joy be to you, favoured one! the Lord is with you."

¹⁰ But the angel said to them, "Put away all fear; for I am bringing you good news of great joy--joy for all the People.

¹⁹ But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said,

³ About three o'clock one afternoon he had a vision, and distinctly saw an angel of God enter his house, who called him by name, saying, "Cornelius!" ⁴ Looking steadily at him, and being much alarmed, he said, "What do you want, Sir?" "Your prayers and charities," he replied, "have gone up and have been recorded before God.

¹⁴ Are not all angels spirits that serve Him--whom He sends out to render service for the benefit of those who, before long, will inherit salvation?

³ And another angel came and stood close to the altar, carrying a censer of gold; and abundance of incense was given to him that he might place it with the prayers of all God's people upon the golden altar which was in front of the throne. ⁴ And the smoke of the incense rose into the presence of God from the angel's hand, and mingled with the prayers of His people.

¹³ The sixth angel blew his trumpet; and I heard a single voice speaking from among the horns of the golden incense altar which is in the presence of God.

⁵ Upon entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at their right hand, clothed in a long white robe. They were astonished and terrified.

²⁹ She was greatly agitated at his words, and wondered what such a greeting meant.

⁹ when suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round them; and they were filled with terror. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, "Put away all fear; for I am bringing you good news of great joy--joy for all the People.

⁴ Looking steadily at him, and being much alarmed, he said, "What do you want, Sir?" "Your prayers and charities," he replied, "have gone up and have been recorded before God.

¹⁷ When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as if I were dead. But He laid His right hand upon me and said, "Do not be afraid: I am the First and the Last, and the ever-living One.

²¹ She will give birth to a Son, and you are to call His name JESUS for He it is who will save His People from their sins."

²⁷ But instantly Jesus spoke to them, and said, "There is no danger; it is I; do not be afraid."

⁵ But the angel said to the women, "As for you, dismiss your fears. I know that it is Jesus that you are looking for--the crucified One.

⁶ But he said to them, "Do not be terrified. It is Jesus you are looking for--the Nazarene who has been crucified. He has come back to life: He is not here: this is the place where they laid Him.

³⁰ But the angel said, "Do not be frightened, Mary, for you have found favour with God.

⁶⁰ His mother, however, said, "No, he is to be called John." ⁶¹ "There is not one of your family," they said, "who has that name." ⁶² They asked his father by signs what he wished him to be called. ⁶³ So he asked for a writing-tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And they all wondered.

²¹ When eight days had passed and the time for circumcising Him had come, He was called JESUS, the name given Him by the angel before His conception in the womb.

³⁶ While they were thus talking, He Himself stood in their midst and said, "Peace be to you!" ³⁷ Startled, and in the utmost alarm, they thought they were looking at a spirit; ³⁸ but He said to them, "Why such alarm? And why are there such questionings in your minds? ³⁹ See my hands and my feet--it is my very self. Feel me and see, for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see I have." ⁴⁰ And then He showed them His hands and His feet.

³¹ who said, "'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your charities have been put on record before God.

⁵⁸ and her neighbours and relatives heard how the Lord had had great compassion on her; and they rejoiced with her.

⁹ But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet. ¹⁰ This is he of whom it is written, "'SEE I AM SENDING MY MESSENGER BEFORE THY FACE, AND HE WILL MAKE THY ROAD READY BEFORE THEE.' ¹¹ "I solemnly tell you that among all of woman born no greater has ever been raised up than John the Baptist; yet one who is of lower rank in the Kingdom of the Heavens is greater than he. ¹² But from the time of John the Baptist till now, the Kingdom of the Heavens has been suffering violent assault, and the violent have been seizing it by force. ¹³ For all the Prophets and the Law taught until John. ¹⁴ And (if you are willing to receive it) he is the Elijah who was to come. ¹⁵ Listen, every one who has ears! ¹⁶ "But to what shall I compare the present generation? It is like children sitting in the open places, who call to their playmates. ¹⁷ "'We have played the flute to you,' they say, 'and you have not danced: we have sung dirges, and you have not beaten your breasts.' ¹⁸ "For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' ¹⁹ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they exclaim, 'See this man! --given to gluttony and tippling, and a friend of tax-gatherers and notorious sinners!' And yet Wisdom is vindicated by her actions."

²⁸ "I tell you that among all of women born there is not one greater than John. Yet one who is of lower rank in the Kingdom of God is greater than he.

³³ For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, 'He has a demon!'

³⁵ He was the lamp that burned and shone, and for a time you were willing to be gladdened by his light.

⁴ They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in foreign languages according as the Spirit gave them words to utter.

¹⁴ Peter however, together with the Eleven, stood up and addressed them in a loud voice. "Men of Judaea, and all you inhabitants of Jerusalem," he said, "be in no uncertainty about this matter but pay attention to what I say. ¹⁵ For this is not intoxication, as you suppose, it being only the third hour of the day. ¹⁶ But that which was predicted through the Prophet Joel has happened: ¹⁷ "AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THE LAST DAYS, GOD SAYS, THAT I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT UPON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL HAVE DREAMS; ¹⁸ AND EVEN UPON MY BONDSERVANTS, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, AT THAT TIME, I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT, AND THEY SHALL PROPHESY.

¹⁵ But when He who set me apart even from my birth, and called me by His grace,

¹⁸ Do not over-indulge in wine--a thing in which excess is so easy--

¹ About this time John the Baptist made his appearance, preaching in the Desert of Judaea. ² "Repent," he said, "for the Kingdom of the Heavens is now close at hand." ³ He it is who was spoken of through the Prophet Isaiah when he said, "THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING ALOUD, 'IN THE DESERT PREPARE YE A ROAD FOR THE LORD: MAKE HIS HIGHWAY STRAIGHT.'" ⁴ This man John wore a garment of camel's hair, and a loincloth of leather; and he lived upon locusts and wild honey. ⁵ Then large numbers of people went out to him--people from Jerusalem and from all Judaea, and from the whole of the Jordan valley-- ⁶ and were baptized by him in the Jordan, making full confession of their sins.

³² For John came to you observing all sorts of ritual, and you put no faith in him: the tax-gatherers and the notorious sinners did put faith in him, and you, though you saw this example set you, were not even afterwards sorry so as to believe him.

⁷⁶ And you moreover, O child, shall be called Prophet of the Most High; For you shall go on in front before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,

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

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? ⁸ Therefore let your lives prove your change of heart; ⁹ and do not imagine that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our forefather,' for I tell you that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones. ¹⁰ And already the axe is lying at the root of the trees, so that every tree which does not produce good fruit will quickly be hewn down and thrown into the fire. ¹¹ I indeed am baptizing you in water on a profession of repentance; but He who is coming after me is mightier than I: His sandals I am not worthy to carry for a moment; He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire. ¹² His winnowing-shovel is in His hand, and He will make a thorough clearance of His threshing-floor, gathering His wheat into the storehouse, but burning up the chaff in unquenchable fire."

¹⁴ And (if you are willing to receive it) he is the Elijah who was to come.

⁴ because John had persistently said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."

¹¹ "Elijah was indeed to come," He replied, "and would reform everything. ¹² But I tell you that he has already come, and they did not recognize him, but dealt with him as they chose. And before long the Son of Man will be treated by them in a similar way."

²⁹ "'I will not,' he replied. "But afterwards he was sorry, and went. ³⁰ He came to the second and spoke in the same manner. His answer was, "'I will go, Sir.' "But he did not go. ³¹ Which of the two did as his father desired?" "The first," they said. "I solemnly tell you,' replied Jesus, "that the tax-gatherers and the notorious sinners are entering the Kingdom of God in front of you. ³² For John came to you observing all sorts of ritual, and you put no faith in him: the tax-gatherers and the notorious sinners did put faith in him, and you, though you saw this example set you, were not even afterwards sorry so as to believe him.

¹¹ They also asked Him, "How is it that the Scribes say that Elijah must first come?" ¹² "Elijah," He replied, "does indeed come first and reforms everything; but how is it that it is written of the Son of Man that He will endure much suffering and be held in contempt? ¹³ Yet I tell you that not only has Elijah come, but they have also done to him whatever they chose, as the Scriptures say about him."

¹⁶ Many of the descendants of Israel will he turn to the Lord their God;

⁷ Accordingly John used to say to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, "O vipers' brood, who has warned you to flee from the coming wrath? ⁸ Live lives which shall prove your change of heart; and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our forefather,' for I tell you that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones. ⁹ And even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees, so that every tree which fails to yield good fruit will quickly be hewn down and thrown into the fire." ¹⁰ The crowds repeatedly asked him, "What then are we to do?" ¹¹ "Let the man who has two coats," he answered, "give one to the man who has none; and let the man who has food share it with others." ¹² There came also a party of tax-gatherers to be baptized, and they asked him, "Rabbi, what are we to do?" ¹³ "Do not exact more than the legal amount," he replied. ¹⁴ The soldiers also once and again inquired of him, "And we, what are we to do?" His answer was, "Neither intimidate any one nor lay false charges; and be content with your pay."

¹³ who were begotten as such not by human descent, nor through an impulse of their own nature, nor through the will of a human father, but from God.

²¹ "What then?" they inquired; "are you Elijah?" "I am not," he said. "Are you the Prophet?" "No," he answered. ²² So they pressed the question. "Who are you?" they said-- "that we may take an answer to those who sent us. What account do you give of yourself?" ²³ "I am THE VOICE," he replied, "OF ONE CRYING ALOUD, 'MAKE STRAIGHT THE LORD'S WAY IN THE DESERT,' fulfilling the words of the Prophet Isaiah." ²⁴ They were Pharisees who had been sent. ²⁵ Again they questioned him. "Why then do you baptize," they said, "if you are neither the Christ nor Elijah nor the Prophet?" ²⁶ "I baptize in water only," John answered, "but in your midst stands One whom you do not know-- ²⁷ He who is to come after me, and whose sandal-strap I am not worthy to unfasten." ²⁸ This conversation took place at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. ²⁹ The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him and exclaimed, "Look, that is the Lamb of God who is to take away the sin of the world! ³⁰ This is He about whom I said, 'After me is to come One who has been put before me, because He was before me.'

³⁴ "This I have seen, and I have become a witness that He is the Son of God."

²⁸ You yourselves can bear witness to my having said, 'I am not the Christ,' but 'I am His appointed forerunner.'

³³ "Immediately, therefore, I sent to you, and I thank you heartily for having come. That is why all of us are now assembled here in God's presence, to listen to what the Lord has commanded you to say."

²³ in order to make known His infinite goodness towards the subjects of His mercy whom He has prepared beforehand for glory,

⁹ Do you not know that unrighteous men will not inherit God's Kingdom? Cherish no delusion here. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor any who are guilty of unnatural crime, ¹⁰ nor theives, nor avaricious people, nor any who are addicted to hard drinking, to abusive language or to greed of gain, will inherit God's Kingdom. ¹¹ And all this describes what some of you were. But now you have had every stain washed off: now you have been set apart as holy: now you have been pronounced free from guilt; in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and through the Spirit of our God.

¹² and give thanks to the Father who has made us fit to receive our share of the inheritance of God's people in Light.

²¹ If therefore a man keeps himself clear of these latter, he himself will be for specially honourable use, consecrated, fit for the Master's service, and fully equipped for every good work.

⁹ But you are a chosen race, a priesthood of kingly lineage, a holy nation, a people belonging specially to God, that you may make known the perfections of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.

¹¹ Since all these things are thus pre-destined to dissolution, what sort of men ought you to be found to be in all holy living and godly conduct, ¹² eagerly looking forward to the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens, all ablaze, will be destroyed, and the elements will melt in the fierce heat? ¹³ But in accordance with His promise we are expecting new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness will dwell. ¹⁴ Therefore, dear friends, since you have these expectations, earnestly seek to be found in His presence, free from blemish or reproach, in peace.

²⁸ And now, dear children, continue in union with Him; so that, if He re-appears, we may have perfect confidence, and may not shrink away in shame from His presence at His Coming.

⁴ And I saw thrones, and some who were seated on them, to whom judgment was entrusted. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded on account of the testimony that they had borne to Jesus and on account of God's Message, and also the souls of those who had not worshipped the Wild Beast or his statue, nor received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands; and they came to Life and were kings with Christ for a thousand years.

⁷ But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren; and both of them were far advanced in life.

³⁴ "How can this be," Mary replied, "seeing that I have no husband?"

¹⁰ "Beware of ever despising one of these little ones, for I tell you that in Heaven their angels have continual access to my Father who is in Heaven.

²⁶ Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,

¹⁹ "O unbelieving generation!" replied Jesus; "how long must I be with you? how long must I have patience with you? Bring the boy to me."

¹⁴ Later still He showed Himself to the Eleven themselves whilst they were at table, and He upbraided them with their unbelief and obstinacy in not having believed those who had seen Him alive.

²² When, however, he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they knew that he must have seen a vision in the Sanctuary; but he kept making signs to them and continued dumb.

⁴⁵ And blessed is she who has believed, for the word spoken to her from the Lord shall be fulfilled."

³ For what if some Jews have proved unfaithful? Shall their faithlessness render God's faithfulness worthless?

¹³ "And even if *our* faith fails, He remains true--He cannot prove false to Himself."

² in hope of the Life of the Ages which God, who is never false to His word, promised before the commencement of the Ages.

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 All whom I hold dear, I reprove and chastise; therefore be in earnest and repent.

⁶² They asked his father by signs what he wished him to be called.

²⁴ Making a sign therefore to him, Simon Peter said, "Tell us to whom he is referring."

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.

³³ Then some of the people crowded round Alexander, whom the Jews had pushed forward; and Alexander, motioning with his hand to get silence, was prepared to make a defence to the people.

⁴⁰ So with his permission Paul stood on the steps and motioned with his hand to the people to be quiet; and when there was perfect silence he addressed them in Hebrew.

¹³ But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your petition has been heard: and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call his name John.

²³ and went and settled in a town called Nazareth, in order that these words spoken through the Prophets might be fulfilled, "HE SHALL BE CALLED A NAZARENE."

⁴ So Joseph went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judaea, to David's town of Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,

⁴⁵ Then Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the Law wrote, as well as the Prophets--Jesus, the son of Joseph, a man of Nazareth." ⁴⁶ "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" replied Nathanael. "Come and see," said Philip.

⁴¹ Others said, "He is the Christ." But others again, "Not so, for is the Christ to come from Galilee?

¹⁶ and Jacob of Joseph the husband of Mary, who was the mother of JESUS who is called CHRIST.

¹⁸ The circumstances of the birth of Jesus Christ were these. After his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they were united in marriage, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.

²⁰ But while he was contemplating this step, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to bring home your wife Mary, for she is with child through the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will give birth to a Son, and you are to call His name JESUS for He it is who will save His People from their sins."

²³ "MARK! THE MAIDEN WILL BE WITH CHILD AND WILL GIVE BIRTH TO A SON, AND THEY WILL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL" --a word which signifies 'GOD WITH US'.

⁴ So Joseph went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judaea, to David's town of Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, ⁵ to have himself registered together with Mary, who was betrothed to him and was with child.

⁴⁸ "Who is my mother?" He said to the man; "and who are my brothers?"

⁴² and uttered a loud cry of joy. "Blest among women are you," she said, "and the offspring of your body is blest!

²⁷ As He thus spoke a woman in the crowd called out in a loud voice, "Blessed is the mother who carried you, and the breasts that you have sucked." ²⁸ "Nay rather," He replied, "they are blessed who hear God's Message and carefully keep it."

¹⁰ I am with you, and no one shall attack you to injure you; for I have very many people in this city."

⁶ to the praise of the splendour of His grace with which He has enriched us in the beloved One.

⁴⁹ They saw Him walking on the water, and thinking that it was a spirit they cried out; ⁵⁰ for they all saw Him and were terrified. He, however, immediately spoke to them. "There is no danger," He said; "it is I; be not alarmed."

⁵ Upon entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at their right hand, clothed in a long white robe. They were astonished and terrified. ⁶ But he said to them, "Do not be terrified. It is Jesus you are looking for--the Nazarene who has been crucified. He has come back to life: He is not here: this is the place where they laid Him.

¹² and Zechariah on seeing him was agitated and terrified.

⁶⁶ All who heard the story treasured it in their memories. "What then will this child be?" they said. For the Lord's hand was indeed with him.

¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things, often dwelling on them in her mind.

⁵¹ Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was always obedient to them; but His mother carefully treasured up all these incidents in her memory.

¹⁷ While Peter was greatly perplexed as to the meaning of the vision which he had seen, just then the men sent by Cornelius, having by inquiry found out Simon's house,

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

⁹ And, in a vision by night, the Lord said to Paul, "Dismiss your fears: go on speaking, and do not give up. ¹⁰ I am with you, and no one shall attack you to injure you; for I have very many people in this city."

²⁴ and he said, "'Dismiss all fear, Paul, for you must stand before Caesar; and God has granted you the lives of all who are sailing with you.'

³¹ What then shall we say to this? If God is on our side, who is there to appear against us?

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

²⁵ but did not live with her until she had given birth to a son. The child's name he called JESUS.

²⁷ to a maiden betrothed to a man of the name of Joseph, a descendant of David. The maiden's name was Mary.

⁴ But, when the time was fully come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born subject to Law,

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

¹¹ I indeed am baptizing you in water on a profession of repentance; but He who is coming after me is mightier than I: His sandals I am not worthy to carry for a moment; He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire.

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.

¹⁸ Jesus however came near and said to them, "All power in Heaven and over the earth has been given to me.

⁷ crying out in a loud voice, "What hast Thou to do with me, Jesus, Son of God Most High? In God's name I implore Thee not to torment me."

⁶¹ But He remained silent, and gave no reply. A second time the High Priest questioned Him. "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" he said.

¹⁵ For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; no wine or fermented drink shall he ever drink; but he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the very hour of his birth.

³⁵ The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for this reason your holy offspring will be called 'the Son of God.'

¹⁶ he answered the question by saying to them all, "As for me, I am baptizing you with water, but One mightier than I is coming, whose very sandal-strap I am not worthy to unfasten: He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and with fire.

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.

³⁵ The Father loves the Son and has entrusted everything to His hands. ³⁶ He who believes in the Son has the Life of the Ages; he who disobeys the Son will not enter into Life, but God's anger remains upon him.

²¹ For just as the Father awakens the dead and gives them life, so the Son also gives life to whom He wills. ²² The Father indeed does not judge any one, but He has entrusted all judgement to the Son, ²³ that all may honour the Son even as they honour the Father. The man who withholds honour from the Son withholds honour from the Father who sent Him. ²⁴ "In most solemn truth I tell you that he who listens to my teaching and believes Him who sent me, has the Life of the Ages, and does not come under judgement, but has passed over out of death into Life. ²⁵ "In most solemn truth I tell you that a time is coming--nay, has already come--when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear it will live. ²⁶ For just as the Father has life in Himself, so He has also given to the Son to have life in Himself. ²⁷ And He has conferred on Him authority to act as Judge, because He is the Son of Man. ²⁸ Wonder not at this. For a time is coming when all who are in the graves will hear His voice and will come forth-- 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.

⁶⁹ And we have come to believe and know that *you* are indeed the Holy One of God."

³⁴ The crowd answered Him, "We have heard out of the Law that the Christ remains for ever. In what sense do you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is that Son of Man?"

³⁰ Being a Prophet, however, and knowing that God had solemnly sworn to him to seat a descendant of his upon his throne,

³⁶ "Therefore let the whole House of Israel know beyond all doubt that God has made Him both LORD and CHRIST--this Jesus whom you crucified."

⁴⁸ Yet the Most High does not dwell in buildings erected by men's hands. But, as the Prophet declares,

¹⁷ She kept following close behind Paul and the rest of us, crying aloud, "These men are the bondservants of the Most High God, and are proclaiming to you the way of salvation."

⁴ but as regards the holiness of His Spirit was decisively proved by His Resurrection to be the Son of God--I mean concerning Jesus Christ our Lord,

²⁰ when He displayed it in Christ by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His own right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹ high above all other government and authority and power and dominion, and every title of sovereignty used either in this Age or in the Age to come. ²² God has put all things under His feet, and has appointed Him universal and supreme Head of the Church, which is His Body, ²³ the completeness of Him who everywhere fills the universe with Himself.

⁹ It is in consequence of this that God has also so highly exalted Him, and has conferred on Him the Name which is supreme above every other, ¹⁰ in order that in the Name of JESUS every knee should bow, of beings in Heaven, of those on the earth, and of those in the underworld, ¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that JESUS CHRIST is LORD, to the glory of God the Father.

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. ³ He brightly reflects God's glory and is the exact representation of His being, and upholds the universe by His all-powerful word. After securing man's purification from sin He took His seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high, ⁴ having become as far superior to the angels as the Name He possesses by inheritance is more excellent than theirs. ⁵ For to which of the angels did God ever say, "MY SON ART THOU: I HAVE THIS DAY BECOME THY FATHER;" and again, "I WILL BE A FATHER TO HIM, AND HE SHALL BE MY SON"? ⁶ But speaking of the time when He once more brings His Firstborn into the world, He says, "AND LET ALL GOD'S ANGELS WORSHIP HIM." ⁷ Moreover of the angels He says, "HE CHANGES HIS ANGELS INTO WINDS, AND HIS MINISTERING SERVANTS INTO A FLAME OF FIRE." ⁸ But of His Son, He says, "THY THRONE, O GOD, IS FOR EVER AND FOR EVER, AND THE SCEPTRE OF THY KINGDOM IS A SCEPTRE OF ABSOLUTE JUSTICE.

⁷ "To the minister of the Church at Philadelphia write as follows: "'This is what the holy One and the true says--He who has the key of David--He who opens and no one shall shut, and shuts and no one shall open.

⁶ Not however that God's word has failed; for all who have sprung from Israel do not count as Israel,

²⁴ Later on, comes the End, when He is to surrender the Kingship to God, the Father, when He shall have overthrown all other government and all other authority and power. ²⁵ For He must continue King until He shall have put all His enemies under His feet.

²⁹ And if you belong to Christ, then you are indeed true descendants of Abraham, and are heirs in fulfilment of the promise.

¹⁶ And all who shall regulate their lives by this principle--may peace and mercy be given to them--and to the true Israel of God.

³ For we are the true circumcision--we who render to God a spiritual worship and make our boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in outward ceremonies:

⁸ But of His Son, He says, "THY THRONE, O GOD, IS FOR EVER AND FOR EVER, AND THE SCEPTRE OF THY KINGDOM IS A SCEPTRE OF ABSOLUTE JUSTICE.

¹⁵ The seventh angel blew his trumpet; and there followed loud voices in Heaven which said, "The sovereignty of the world now belongs to our Lord and His Christ; and He will be King until the Ages of the Ages."

⁴ And I saw thrones, and some who were seated on them, to whom judgment was entrusted. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded on account of the testimony that they had borne to Jesus and on account of God's Message, and also the souls of those who had not worshipped the Wild Beast or his statue, nor received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands; and they came to Life and were kings with Christ for a thousand years. ⁵ No one else who was dead rose to Life until the thousand years were at an end. This is the First Resurrection. ⁶ Blessed and holy are those who share in the First Resurrection. The Second Death has no power over them, but they shall be priests to God and to Christ, and shall be kings with Christ for the thousand years.

³ "In future there will be no curse," he said, "but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in that city. And His servants will render Him holy service and will see His face, ⁴ and His name will be on their foreheads. ⁵ And there will be no night there; and they have no need of lamplight or sunlight, for the Lord God will shine upon them, and they will be kings until the Ages of the Ages."

⁶ "But rise and go to the city, and you will be told what you are to do.

²⁰ But while he was contemplating this step, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to bring home your wife Mary, for she is with child through the Holy Spirit.

³ So the Tempter came and said, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to turn into loaves."

³³ and the men on board fell down before him and said, "You are indeed God's Son."

⁶³ Jesus however remained silent. Again the High Priest addressed Him. "In the name of the ever-living God," he said, "I now put you on your oath. Tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God." ⁶⁴ "I am He," replied Jesus. "But I tell you that, later on, you will see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND of Omnipotence, AND COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY."

⁵⁴ As for the Captain and the soldiers who were with Him keeping guard over Jesus, when they witnessed the earthquake and the other occurrences they were filled with terror, and exclaimed, "Assuredly he was God's Son."

²⁴ "What have you to do with us, Jesus the Nazarene? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--God's Holy One."

³¹ You will conceive in your womb and bear a son; and you are to call His name JESUS. ³² He will be great and He will be called 'Son of the Most High.' And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His forefather David;

⁴⁹ "Rabbi," cried Nathanael, "you are the Son of God, you are Israel's King!"

³⁶ So they proceeded on their way till they came to some water; and the eunuch exclaimed, "See, here is water; what is there to prevent my being baptized?"

²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ that lives in me; and the life which I now live in the body I live through faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up to death on my behalf.

³ Among them all of us also formerly passed our lives, governed by the inclinations of our lower natures, indulging the cravings of those natures and of our own thoughts, and were in our original state deserving of anger like all others.

¹⁵ For we have not a High Priest who is unable to feel for us in our weaknesses, but one who was tempted in every respect just as we are tempted, and yet did not sin.

²⁶ Moreover we needed just such a High Priest as this--holy, guileless, undefiled, far removed from sinful men and exalted above the heavens; ²⁷ who, unlike other High Priests, is not under the necessity of offering up sacrifices day after day, first for His own sins, and afterwards for those of the people; for this latter thing He did once for all when He offered up Himself. ²⁸ For the Law constitutes men High Priests--men with all their infirmity--but the utterance of the oath, which came later than the Law, constitutes High Priest a Son who has been made for ever perfect.

²⁶ Jesus looked at them and said, "With men this is impossible, but with God everything is possible."

²⁷ Jesus looking on them said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for everything is possible with God."

²⁷ "Things impossible with man," He replied, "are possible with God."

²¹ who, in the exercise of the power which He has even to subject all things to Himself, will transform this body of our humiliation until it resembles His own glorious body.

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.

⁶⁵ And all who lived round about them were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judaea reports of all these things were spread abroad.

⁴⁴ For, the moment your greeting reached my ears, the babe within me leapt for joy.

⁶⁷ And Zechariah his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke in a rapture of praise.

¹ Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led about by the Spirit in the Desert for forty days,

⁸ Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he replied, "Rulers and Elders of the people,

³ Therefore, brethren, pick out from among yourselves seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, and we will appoint them to undertake this duty.

⁵⁵ But, full of the Holy Spirit and looking up to Heaven, Stephen saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God's right hand.

¹⁰ In the Spirit I found myself present on the day of the Lord, and I heard behind me a loud voice which resembled the blast of a trumpet.

⁴⁸ Because He has not turned from His maidservant in her lowly position; For from this time forward all generations will account me happy,

³⁸ "BLESSED IS the King," they cried, "WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD: in Heaven peace, and glory in the highest realms."

²⁶ FOR THIS REASON MY HEART IS GLAD AND MY TONGUE EXULTS. MY BODY ALSO SHALL REST IN HOPE. ²⁷ FOR THOU WILT NOT LEAVE ME IN THE UNSEEN WORLD FORSAKEN, NOR GIVE UP THY HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY. ²⁸ THOU HAST MADE KNOWN TO ME THE WAYS OF LIFE: THOU WILT FILL ME WITH GLADNESS IN THY PRESENCE.'

⁵ To them the Patriarchs belong, and from them in respect of His human lineage came the Christ, who is exalted above all, God blessed throughout the Ages. Amen.

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.

¹⁴ John protested. "It is I," he said, "who have need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"

¹¹ For a Saviour who is the Anointed Lord is born to you to-day, in the town of David.

⁷ and therefore I did not deem myself worthy to come to you. Only speak the word, and let my young man be cured.

⁴² Why, David himself says in the Book of Psalms, "'THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND ⁴³ UNTIL I HAVE MADE THY FOES A FOOTSTOOL UNDER THY FEET.' ⁴⁴ "David himself therefore calls Him Lord, and how can He be his son?"

⁵ Then He poured water into a basin, and proceeded to wash the feet of the disciples and to wipe them with the towel which He had put round Him. ⁶ When He came to Simon Peter, Peter objected. "Master," he said, "are *you* going to wash my feet?" ⁷ "What I am doing," answered Jesus, "for the present you do not know, but afterwards you shall know." ⁸ "Never, while the world lasts," said Peter, "shall you wash my feet." "If I do not wash you," replied Jesus, "you have no share with me."

¹³ You call me 'The Rabbi' and 'The Master,' and rightly so, for such I am.

²⁸ "My Lord and my God!" replied Thomas.

³ Do nothing in a spirit of factiousness or of vainglory, but, with true humility, let every one regard the rest as being of more account than himself;

⁸ Nay, I even reckon all things as pure loss because of the priceless privilege of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. And for His sake I have suffered the loss of everything, and reckon it all as mere refuse, in order that I may win Christ and be found in union with Him,

²⁰ And now you will be dumb and unable to speak until the day when this has taken place; because you did not believe my words--words which will be fulfilled at their appointed time."

⁴⁰ "Did I not promise you," replied Jesus, "that if you believe, you shall see the glory of God?"

²⁹ "Because you have seen me," replied Jesus, "you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

¹¹ And not only so, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now obtained that reconciliation.

³¹ in order that it may be as Scripture says, "HE WHO BOASTS--LET HIS BOAST BE IN THE LORD."

¹⁴ But to God be the thanks who in Christ ever heads our triumphal procession, and by our hands waves in every place that sweet incense, the knowledge of Him.

⁴ Always be glad in the Lord: I will repeat it, be glad.

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 Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God our Saviour and Christ Jesus our hope:

³ This is right, and is pleasing in the sight of God our Saviour,

³ And at the appointed time He clearly made known His Message in the preaching with which I was entrusted by the command of God our Saviour:

¹⁰ but manifesting perfect fidelity and kind feeling, in order to bring honour to the teaching of our Saviour, God, in all things.

¹³ in expectation of the fulfilment of our blessed hope--the Appearing in glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ;

⁴ But when the goodness of God our Saviour, and His love to man, dawned upon us, not in consequence of things which we, ⁵ as righteous men, had done, but as the result of His own mercy He saved us by means of the bath of regeneration and the renewal of our natures by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ which He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

²⁵ to the only God our Saviour--through Jesus Christ our Lord, be ascribed glory, majesty, might, and authority, as it was before all time, is now, and shall be to all the Ages! Amen.

²⁷ As He thus spoke a woman in the crowd called out in a loud voice, "Blessed is the mother who carried you, and the breasts that you have sucked."

²⁶ For consider, brethren, God's call to you. Not many who are wise with merely human wisdom, not many of position and influence, not many of noble birth have been called. ²⁷ But God has chosen the things which the world regards as foolish, in order to put its wise men to shame; and God has chosen the things which the world regards as destitute of influence, in order to put its powerful things to shame; ²⁸ and the things which the world regards as base, and those which it sets utterly at nought--things that have no existence--God has chosen in order to reduce to nothing things that do exist;

⁵ Listen, my dearly-loved brethren. Has not God chosen those whom the world regards as poor to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which He has promised to those that love Him? ⁶ But *you* have put dishonour upon the poor man. Yet is it not the rich who grind you down? Are not they the very people who drag you into the Law courts? --

¹³ He gave them leave; and the foul spirits came out and entered into the swine, and the herd--about 2,000 in number--rushed headlong down the cliff into the Lake and were drowned in the Lake.

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--

⁸ And each of the four living creatures had six wings, and in every direction, and within, are full of eyes; and day after day, and night after night, they never cease saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God, the Ruler of all, who wast and art and evermore shalt be."

⁴ Who shall not be afraid, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? For Thou alone art holy. All nations shall come and shall worship Thee, because the righteousness of all that Thou hast done has been made manifest."

⁵ And from the throne there came a voice which said, "Praise our God, all you His bondservants--you who fear Him, both the small and the great."

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.

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;

⁵ In the same way you younger men must submit to your elders; and all of you must gird yourselves with humility towards one another, for God sets Himself against the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

⁸ "For this reason calamities shall come thick upon her on a single day--death and sorrow and famine--and she shall be burned to the ground. For strong is the Lord God who has judged her.

³ Is not this the carpenter, Mary's son, the brother of James and Joses, Jude and Simon? And do not his sisters live here among us?" So they turned angrily away.

¹⁴ "I tell you that this man went home more thoroughly absolved from guilt than the other; for every one who uplifts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be uplifted."

⁹ Let a brother in humble life rejoice when raised to a higher position; ¹⁰ but a rich man should rejoice in being brought low, for like flowers among the herbage rich men will pass away.

¹⁰ Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

⁶ "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be completely satisfied.

²¹ "Blessed are you who hunger now, because your hunger shall be satisfied. "Blessed are you who now weep aloud, because you shall laugh.

²⁴ "But alas for you rich men, because you already have your consolation!

¹⁶ And He spoke a parable to them. "A certain rich man's lands," He said, "yielded abundant crops, ¹⁷ and he debated within himself, saying, "'What am I to do? for I have no place in which to store my crops.' ¹⁸ "And he said to himself, "'This is what I will do: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and in them I will store up all my harvest and my wealth; 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?' ²¹ "So is it with him who amasses treasure for himself, but has no riches in God."

¹⁹ "There was once a rich man who habitually arrayed himself in purple and fine linen, and enjoyed a splendid banquet every day, ²⁰ while at his outer door there lay a beggar, Lazarus by name, ²¹ covered with sores and longing to make a full meal off the scraps flung on the floor from the rich man's table. Nay, the dogs, too, used to come and lick his sores. ²² "But in course of time the beggar died; and he was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died, and had a funeral. ²³ And in Hades, being in torment, he looked and saw Abraham in the far distance, and Lazarus resting in his arms. ²⁴ So he cried aloud, and said, "'Father Abraham, take pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.' 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.

¹¹ The Pharisee, standing erect, prayed as follows by himself: "'O God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people--I am not a thief nor a cheat nor an adulterer, nor do I even resemble this tax-gatherer. ¹² I fast twice a week. I pay the tithe on all my gains.' ¹³ "But the tax-gatherer, standing far back, would not so much as lift his eyes to Heaven, but kept beating his breast and saying, "'O God, be reconciled to me, sinner that I am.' ¹⁴ "I tell you that this man went home more thoroughly absolved from guilt than the other; for every one who uplifts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be uplifted."

²⁴ Jesus saw his sorrow, and said, "With how hard a struggle do the possessors of riches ever enter the Kingdom of God! ²⁵ Why, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God."

¹¹ Then Jesus took the loaves, and after giving thanks He distributed them to those who were resting on the ground; and also the fish in like manner--as much as they desired. ¹² When all were fully satisfied, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the broken portions that remain over, so that nothing be lost." ¹³ Accordingly they gathered them up; and with the fragments of the five barley loaves--the broken portions that remained over after they had done eating--they filled twelve baskets.

³⁵ "I am the bread of Life," replied Jesus; "he who comes to me shall never hunger, and he who believes in me shall never, never thirst.

²⁶ For consider, brethren, God's call to you. Not many who are wise with merely human wisdom, not many of position and influence, not many of noble birth have been called.

⁸ Every one of you already has all that heart can desire; already you have grown rich; without waiting for us, you have ascended your thrones! Yes indeed, would to God that you had ascended your thrones, that we also might reign with you!

¹ Come, you rich men, weep aloud and howl for your sorrows which will soon be upon you. ² Your treasures have rotted, and your piles of clothing are moth-eaten; ³ your gold and your silver have become covered with rust, and the rust on them will give evidence against you, and will eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded up wealth in these last days. ⁴ I tell you that the pay of the labourers who have gathered in your crops--pay which you are keeping back--is calling out against you; and the outcries of those who have been your reapers have entered into the ears of the Lord of the armies of Heaven. 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. ⁶ You have condemned--you have murdered-- the righteous man: he offers no resistance.

¹⁷ You say, I am rich, and have wealth stored up, and I stand in need of nothing; and you do not know that if there is a wretched creature it is *you* --pitiable, poor, blind, naked. 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.

¹⁶ They will never again be hungry or thirsty, and never again will the sun or any scorching heat trouble them. ¹⁷ For the Lamb who is in front of the throne will be their Shepherd, and will guide them to watersprings of Life, and God will wipe every tear from their eyes."

⁷⁰ As He has spoken from all time by the lips of His holy Prophets-- ⁷¹ To deliver us from our foes and from the power of all who hate us. ⁷² He dealt pitifully with our forefathers, And remembered His holy covenant, ⁷³ The oath which He swore to Abraham our forefather, ⁷⁴ To grant us to be rescued from the power of our foes And so render worship to Him free from fear, ⁷⁵ In piety and uprightness before Him all our days.

²⁸ In relation to the Good News, the Jews are God's enemies for your sakes; but in relation to God's choice they are dearly loved for the sake of their forefathers. ²⁹ For God does not repent of His free gifts nor of His call;

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 I mean that the Covenant which God had already formally made is not abrogated by the Law which was given four hundred and thirty years later--so as to annul the promise.

⁶ But while they were there, her full time came, ⁷ and she gave birth to her first-born son, and wrapped Him round, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

¹⁴ Gladness and exultant joy shall be yours, and many will rejoice over his birth.

²⁵ "Thus has the Lord dealt with me," she said, "now that He has graciously taken away my reproach among men."

¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.

²⁶ And if one part is suffering, every other part suffers with it; or if one part is receiving special honor, every other part shares in the joy.

⁸ "Then He gave him the Covenant of circumcision, and under this Covenant he became the father of Isaac--whom he circumcised on the eighth day. Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve Patriarchs.

⁵ circumcised, as I was, on the eighth day, a member of the race of Israel and of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew sprung from Hebrews; as to the Law a Pharisee;

⁶³ So he asked for a writing-tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And they all wondered.

⁶⁰ His mother, however, said, "No, he is to be called John."

³³ When the demon was expelled, the dumb man could speak. And the crowds exclaimed in astonishment, "Never was such a thing seen in Israel."

³² Here they brought to Him a deaf man that stammered, on whom they begged Him to lay His hands. ³³ So Jesus taking him aside, apart from the crowd, put His fingers into his ears, and spat, and moistened his tongue; ³⁴ and looking up to Heaven He sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha!" (that is, "Open!") ³⁵ And the man's ears were opened, and his tongue became untied, and he began to speak perfectly. ³⁶ Then Jesus charged them to tell no one; but the more He charged them, all the more did they spread the news far and wide. ³⁷ The amazement was extreme. "He succeeds in everything he attempts," they exclaimed; "he even makes deaf men hear and dumb men speak!"

³⁹ Not long after this, Mary rose up and went in haste into the hill country to a town in Judah.

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."

⁴³ Fear came upon every one, and many marvels and signs were done by the Apostles.

⁵ Upon hearing these words Ananias fell down dead, and all who heard the words were awe-struck.

¹¹ This incident struck terror into the whole Church, and into the hearts of all who heard of it.

¹⁷ All the people of Ephesus, Jews as well as Greeks, came to know of this. There was widespread terror, and they began to hold the name of the Lord Jesus in high honour.

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.

⁸⁰ And the child grew and became strong in character, and lived in the Desert till the time came for him to appear publicly to Israel.

⁴⁰ And the child grew and became strong and full of wisdom, and the favour of God rested upon Him.

⁴⁴ "As for you, store these my sayings in your memory; for, before long, the Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of men."

²¹ The power of the Lord was with them, and there were a vast number who believed and turned to the Lord.

⁴¹ and as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the babe leapt within her. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,

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

³⁸ And coming up just at that moment, she gave thanks to God, and spoke about the child to all who were expecting the deliverance of Jerusalem.

⁴⁴ And they will dash thee to the ground and thy children within thee, and will not leave one stone upon another within thee; because thou hast not recognized the time of thy visitation."

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has crowned us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ;

⁷ It is in Him, and through the shedding of His blood, that we have our deliverance--the forgiveness of our offences--so abundant was God's grace,

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in His great mercy has begotten us anew to an ever-living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

¹⁰ Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our forefather David! GOD IN THE HIGHEST HEAVENS SAVE HIM!"

² which God had already promised through His Prophets in Holy Writ, concerning His Son, ³ who, as regards His human descent, belonged to the posterity of David,

¹⁶ "I Jesus have sent My angel for him solemnly to declare these things to you among the Churches. I am the Root and the offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.

³⁶ David himself said, taught by the Holy Spirit, "'THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I HAVE MADE THY FOES A FOOTSTOOL UNDER THY FEET.'

²⁶ Was there not a necessity for the Christ thus to suffer, and then enter into His glory?" ²⁷ And, beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them the passages in Scripture which refer to Himself.

⁴⁴ And He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you--that everything must be fulfilled that is written in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and the Psalms concerning me."

²¹ Heaven must receive Him until those times of which God has spoken from the earliest ages through the lips of His holy Prophets--the times of the reconstitution of all things. ²² Moses declared, "'THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL RAISE UP A PROPHET FOR YOU FROM AMONG YOUR BRETHREN AS HE HAS RAISED ME. IN ALL THAT HE SAYS TO YOU, YOU MUST LISTEN TO HIM. ²³ AND EVERY ONE, WITHOUT EXCEPTION, WHO REFUSES TO LISTEN TO THAT PROPHET SHALL BE UTTERLY DESTROYED FROM AMONG THE PEOPLE.' ²⁴ Yes, and all the Prophets, from Samuel onwards--all who have spoken--have also announced the coming of this present time.

²⁵ Unable to agree among themselves, they at last left him, but not before Paul had spoken a parting word to them, saying, "Right well did the Holy Spirit say to your forefathers through the Prophet Isaiah:

² which God had already promised through His Prophets in Holy Writ, concerning His Son,

⁷ For this reason--as the Holy Spirit warns us, "TO-DAY, IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE,

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.

¹⁰ Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he exclaimed, "Oh, do not do that. I am a fellow bondservant of yours and a fellow bondservant of your brethren who have borne testimony to Jesus. Worship God." Testimony to Jesus is the spirit which underlies Prophecy.

⁷⁴ To grant us to be rescued from the power of our foes And so render worship to Him free from fear,

⁸ He who is habitually guilty of sin is a child of the Devil, because the Devil has been a sinner from the very beginning. The Son of God appeared for the purpose of undoing the work of the Devil.

⁵⁴ His servant Israel He has helped, Remembering His compassion-- ⁵⁵ In fulfillment of His promises to our forefathers--For Abraham and his posterity for ever."

²⁵ "You are the heirs of the Prophets, and of the Covenant which God made with your forefathers when He said to Abraham, 'AND THROUGH YOUR POSTERITY ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE WORLD SHALL BE BLESSED.' ²⁶ It is to you first that God, after raising His Servant from the grave, has sent Him to bless you, by causing every one of you to turn from your wickedness."

²⁸ In relation to the Good News, the Jews are God's enemies for your sakes; but in relation to God's choice they are dearly loved for the sake of their forefathers.

¹⁵ Brethren, even a covenant made by a man--to borrow an illustration from daily life--when once formally sanctioned is not liable to be set aside or added to.

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. ¹⁶ For men swear by what is greater than themselves; and with them an oath in confirmation of a statement always puts an end to a dispute. 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, 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.

¹³ For when God gave the promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself,

¹⁶ For men swear by what is greater than themselves; and with them an oath in confirmation of a statement always puts an end to a dispute. 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,

⁷¹ To deliver us from our foes and from the power of all who hate us.

²² But now that you have been set free from the tyranny of Sin, and have become the bondservants of God, you have your reward in being made holy, and you have the Life of the Ages as the final result.

¹⁵ You have not for the second time acquired the consciousness of being--a consciousness which fills you with terror. But you have acquired a deep inward conviction of having been adopted as sons--a conviction which prompts us to cry aloud, "Abba! our Father!"

⁷ For the Spirit which God has given us is not a spirit of cowardice, but one of power and of love and of sound judgement.

¹⁵ and might set at liberty all those who through fear of death had been subject to lifelong slavery.

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?

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 even as, in His love, He chose us as His own in Christ before the creation of the world, that we might be holy and without blemish in His presence.

¹⁰ For we are God's own handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for good works which He has pre-destined us to practise.

²⁴ with that new and better self which has been created to resemble God in the righteousness and holiness which come from the truth.

¹ Moreover, brethren, as you learnt from our lips the lives which you ought to live, and do live, so as to please God, we beg and exhort you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live them more and more truly.

⁷ God has not called us to an unclean life, but to one of purity.

¹³ And from us thanks are always due to God on your behalf--brethren whom the Lord loves--because God from the beginning has chosen you for salvation through the Spirit's sanctifying influence and your belief in the truth.

⁹ For He saved us and called us with a holy call, not in accordance with our desserts, but in accordance with His own purpose and the free grace which He bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before the commencement of the Ages,

¹⁴ And, since you delight in obedience, do not shape your lives by the cravings which used to dominate you in the time of your ignorance, ¹⁵ but--in imitation of the holy One who has called you--you also must be holy in all your habits of life. ¹⁶ Because it stands written, "YOU ARE TO BE HOLY, BECAUSE I AM HOLY."

⁴ It is by means of these that He has granted us His precious and wondrous promises, in order that through them you may, one and all, become sharers in the very nature of God, having completely escaped the corruption which exists in the world through earthly cravings. 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; ⁶ along with knowledge, self-control; along with self-control, power of endurance; ⁷ along with power of endurance, godliness; along with godliness, brotherly affection; and along with brotherly affection, love. ⁸ If these things exist in you, and continually increase, they prevent your being either idle or unfruitful in advancing towards a full knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

³ He it is who was spoken of through the Prophet Isaiah when he said, "THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING ALOUD, 'IN THE DESERT PREPARE YE A ROAD FOR THE LORD: MAKE HIS HIGHWAY STRAIGHT.'"

⁹ But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet. ¹⁰ This is he of whom it is written, "'SEE I AM SENDING MY MESSENGER BEFORE THY FACE, AND HE WILL MAKE THY ROAD READY BEFORE THEE.'

⁵ And he would have liked to put him to death, but was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a Prophet.

²⁶ and if we say 'a human origin' we have the people to fear, for they all hold John to have been a Prophet."

² As it is written in Isaiah the Prophet, "SEE, I AM SENDING MY MESSENGER BEFORE THEE, WHO WILL PREPARE THY WAY"; ³ "THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING ALOUD: 'IN THE DESERT PREPARE A ROAD FOR THE LORD: MAKE HIS HIGHWAYS STRAIGHT.'"

³² Or should we say, 'human?'" They were afraid of the people; for all agreed in holding John to have been really a Prophet.

¹⁶ Many of the descendants of Israel will he turn to the Lord their God; ¹⁷ and he will be His forerunner in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn fathers' hearts to the children, and cause the rebellious to walk in the wisdom of the upright, to make a people perfectly ready for the lord."

³² He will be great and He will be called 'Son of the Most High.' And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His forefather David;

⁴ as it is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah, "THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING ALOUD! 'IN THE DESERT PREPARE YE A ROAD FOR THE LORD: MAKE HIS HIGHWAY STRAIGHT. ⁵ EVERY RAVINE SHALL BE FILLED UP, AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL LEVELLED DOWN, THE CROOKED PLACES SHALL BE TURNED INTO STRAIGHT ROADS, AND THE RUGGED WAYS INTO SMOOTH; ⁶ AND THEN SHALL ALL MANKIND SEE GOD'S SALVATION.'"

²⁷ John is the man about whom it is written, 'SEE, I AM SENDING MY MESSENGER BEFORE THY FACE, AND HE SHALL MAKE READY THY WAY BEFORE THEE.' ²⁸ "I tell you that among all of women born there is not one greater than John. Yet one who is of lower rank in the Kingdom of God is greater than he.

²³ "I am THE VOICE," he replied, "OF ONE CRYING ALOUD, 'MAKE STRAIGHT THE LORD'S WAY IN THE DESERT,' fulfilling the words of the Prophet Isaiah."

²⁷ He who is to come after me, and whose sandal-strap I am not worthy to unfasten."

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.'

³ "THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING ALOUD: 'IN THE DESERT PREPARE A ROAD FOR THE LORD: MAKE HIS HIGHWAYS STRAIGHT.'" ⁴ So John the Baptizer came, and was in the Desert proclaiming a baptism of the penitent for forgiveness of sins.

³ John went into all the district about the Jordan proclaiming a baptism of the penitent for the forgiveness of sins;

⁶ AND THEN SHALL ALL MANKIND SEE GOD'S SALVATION.'"

⁴⁷ This is the reason why I tell you that her sins, her many sins, are forgiven--because she has loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little." ⁴⁸ And He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." ⁴⁹ Then the other guests began to say to themselves, "Who can this man be who even forgives sins?" ⁵⁰ But He said to the woman, "Your faith has cured you: go, and be at peace."

⁷ He came as a witness, in order that he might give testimony concerning the Light--so that all might believe through him. ⁸ He was not the Light, but he existed that he might give testimony concerning the Light. ⁹ The true Light was that which illumines every man by its coming into the world.

¹⁵ John gave testimony concerning Him and cried aloud, saying, "This is He of whom I said, 'He who is coming after me has been put before me,' for He was before me." ¹⁶ For He it is from whose fulness we have all received, and grace upon grace. ¹⁷ For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

²⁹ The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him and exclaimed, "Look, that is the Lamb of God who is to take away the sin of the world!

²⁷ "A man cannot obtain anything," replied John, "unless it has been granted to him from Heaven. ²⁸ You yourselves can bear witness to my having said, 'I am not the Christ,' but 'I am His appointed forerunner.' ²⁹ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; and the bridegroom's friend who stands by his side and listens to him, rejoices heartily on account of the bridegroom's happiness. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. ³⁰ He must grow greater, but I must grow less. ³¹ He who comes from above is above all. He whose origin is from the earth is not only himself from the earth, his teaching also is from the earth. He who comes from Heaven is above all. ³² What He has seen and heard, to that He bears witness; but His testimony no one receives. ³³ Any man who has received His testimony has solemnly declared that God is true. ³⁴ For He whom God has sent speaks God's words; for God does not give the Spirit with limitations."

³⁸ "Repent," replied Peter, "and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, with a view to the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

¹⁹ Repent, therefore, and reform your lives, so that the record of your sins may be cancelled, and that there may come seasons of revival from the Lord,

³¹ God has exalted Him to His right hand as Chief Leader and as Saviour, to give Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.

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."

³⁸ "Understand therefore, brethren, that through this Jesus forgiveness of sins is announced to you; ³⁹ and in Him every believer is absolved from all offences, from which you could not be absolved under the Law of Moses.

⁴ "John," he said, "administered a baptism of repentance, bidding the people believe on One who was to come after him; namely, on Jesus."

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--

⁶ In this way David also tells of the blessedness of the man to whose credit God places righteousness, apart from his actions. ⁷ "BLESSED," he says, "ARE THOSE WHOSE INIQUITIES HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED OVER. ⁸ BLESSED IS THE MAN OF WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE ACCOUNT."

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.

⁴ But God, being rich in mercy, because of the intense love which He bestowed on us, ⁵ caused us, dead though we were through our offences, to live with Christ--it is by grace that you have been saved--

¹⁴ For this reason it is said, "Rise, sleeper; rise from among the dead, and Christ will shed light upon you."

⁸ For God is my witness how I yearn over all of you with tender Christian affection.

¹ If then I can appeal to you as the followers of Christ, if there is any persuasive power in love and any common sharing of the Spirit, or if you have any tender-heartedness and compassion, make my joy complete by being of one mind,

¹² Clothe yourselves therefore, as God's own people holy and dearly loved, with tender-heartedness, kindness, lowliness of mind, meekness, long-suffering;

¹⁹ And in the written word of prophecy we have something more permanent; to which you do well to pay attention--as to a lamp shining in a dimly-lighted place--until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

¹⁷ But if any one has this world's wealth and sees that his brother man is in need, and yet hardens his heart against him--how can such a one continue to love God?

⁹ God's love for us has been manifested in that He has sent His only Son into the world so that we may have Life through Him. ¹⁰ This is love indeed--we did not love God, but He loved us and sent His Son to be an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

¹⁶ THE PEOPLE WHO WERE DWELLING IN DARKNESS HAVE SEEN A BRILLIANT LIGHT; AND ON THOSE WHO WERE DWELLING IN THE REGION OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, ON THEM LIGHT HAS DAWNED."

²⁸ "Come to me, all you toiling and burdened ones, and *I* will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

³² A light to shine upon the Gentiles, And the glory of Thy people Israel."

⁹ The true Light was that which illumines every man by its coming into the world.

¹² Once more Jesus addressed them. "I am the Light of the world," He said; "the man who follows me shall certainly not walk in the dark, but shall have the light of Life."

⁵ When I am in the world, I am the Light of the world."

⁴⁶ I have come like light into the world, in order that no one who believes in me may remain in the dark.

¹⁸ that they may turn from darkness to light and from the obedience to Satan to God, in order to receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified through faith in Me.'

¹⁷ AND THE WAY TO PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN."

⁸ There was a time when you were nothing but darkness. Now, as Christians, you are Light itself.

⁴ But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that daylight should surprise you like a thief; ⁵ for all of you are sons of Light and sons of the day. We belong neither to the night nor to darkness.

⁵ This is the Message which we have heard from the Lord Jesus and now deliver to you--God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness. ⁶ If, while we are living in darkness, we profess to have fellowship with Him, we speak falsely and are not adhering to the truth. ⁷ But if we live in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.

¹ About this time John the Baptist made his appearance, preaching in the Desert of Judaea.

⁷ When the messengers had taken their leave, Jesus proceeded to say to the multitude concerning John, "What did you go out into the Desert to gaze at? A reed waving in the wind?

⁵² And as Jesus grew older He gained in both wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

³¹ I did not yet know Him; but that He may be openly shown to Israel is the reason why I have come baptizing in water."