The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.Abraham begot Isaac, and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brethren.And Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram.And Ram begot Amminadab, and Amminadab begot Naasson, and Naasson begot Salmon.And Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, and Obed begot Jesse,and Jesse begot David the king, and David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah.And Solomon begot Rehoboam, and Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa.And Asa begot Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah,And Uzziah begot Jotham, and Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah.And Hezekiah begot Manasseh, and Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah.And Josiah begot Jechoniah and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon.And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechoniah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel.And Zerubbabel begot Abiud, and Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor.And Azor begot Zadoc, and Zadoc begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud.And Eliud begot Eleazar, and Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob.And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the carrying away into Babylon to Christ are fourteen generations.Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this: After His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child from the Holy Spirit.Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privately.But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, fear not to take to yourself Mary your wife: For that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.And she shall bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS: For He shall save His people from their sins."Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel," which being interpreted is, "God with us."Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and took to himself his wife:And knew her not until she had brought forth her firstborn Son: And he called His name JESUS.Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,saying, "Where is He that has been born King of the Jews?  For we have seen His star in the east, and have come to worship Him."When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.And they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea: For thus it is written by the prophet,'And you Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the princes of Judah: For out of you shall come a Governor, that shall rule My people Israel.' "Then Herod, when he had privately called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, "Go and search diligently for the young Child; and when you have found Him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship Him also."When they heard the king, they departed; and lo, the star which they saw in the east went before them, until it came and stood over where the young Child was.When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshiped Him: And when they had opened their treasures, they presented to Him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh.And being warned by God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.Now when they had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee into Egypt, and remain there until I bring you word: For Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him."When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night, and departed into Egypt:And was there until the death of Herod: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I have called My Son."Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly wroth, and sent forth, and killed all the children that were in Bethlehem, and inside all its borders, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying,"In Ramah there was a voice heard, lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are no more."But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,saying, "Arise, and take the young Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel: For those who sought the young Child's life are dead."And he arose, and took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in the place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there: Nevertheless, being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into part of Galilee:And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene."In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,and saying, "Repent: For the kingdom of heaven is at hand."For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way of the LORD, make His paths straight.' "And the same John had his clothing from camel's hair, with a leather girdle around his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey.Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him,and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come?Therefore bring forth fruits suitable for repentance:And do not think to say within yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father': For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.And even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees: Therefore every tree which does not bring forth good fruit is hewed down, and cast into the fire.I indeed baptize you with water as to repentance: But He that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry: He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire:Whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the granary; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.But John forbade Him, saying, "I have need to be baptized by You, and You come to me?"And Jesus answering said to him, "Let it be so now: For thus it befits us to fulfill all righteousness."  Then he let Him.And when Jesus was baptized, He immediately went up out of the water: And lo, the heavens were opened to Him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him:And behold a voice from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.And when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread."But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.' "Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, and set Him on a pinnacle of the temple,and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down: For it is written, 'He shall give His angels charge concerning You'; and, 'In their hands they shall bear You up, lest at any time You dash Your foot against a stone.' "Jesus said to him, "It is written again, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.' "Again, the devil took Him up into an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;and said to Him, "I will give You all these things, if You will fall down and worship me."Then Jesus said to Him, "Get away from here, Satan: For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only shall you serve.' "Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, He departed into Galilee;and leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, inside the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali:That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying,"The land of Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;the people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to those that sat in the region and shadow of death, light has sprung up."From that time <FI>on<Fi> Jesus began to preach, and to say, "Repent: For the kingdom of heaven is at hand."And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: For they were fishermen.And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."And they immediately left their nets, and followed Him.And going on from there, He saw two other brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them.And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed Him.Then Jesus went all around Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all sorts of disease among the people.And His fame went throughout all Syria: And they brought to Him all sick people that were taken with diverse diseases and torments, and those who were possessed with devils, and those who were lunatics, and those that had the palsy; and He healed them.And large multitudes of people followed Him from Galilee, from Decapolis, from Jerusalem, from Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.And seeing the multitudes, He went up into a mountain: And when He was set, His disciples came to Him:Then He opened His mouth, and taught them, saying,"Blessed are the poor in spirit: For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are those who mourn: For they shall be comforted.Blessed are the meek: For they shall inherit the earth.Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness: For they shall be filled.Blessed are the merciful: For they shall obtain mercy.Blessed are the pure in heart: For they shall see God.Blessed are the peacemakers: For they shall be called the children of God.Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake: For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are you when men revile you, persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake.Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: For great is your reward in heaven: For in like manner they persecuted the prophets which were before you.You all are the salt of the earth: But if the salt has lost his savor, with what shall it be salted?  It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden underfoot by men.You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel <FI>basket<Fi>, but on a candlestick; and it gives light to all who are in the house.Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.Do not think that I have come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I did not come to destroy, but to fulfill.For truly I say to you, Until heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall by no means pass from the law, until all is fulfilled.Whoever therefore breaks one of these least commandments, and teaches men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: But whoever does and teaches them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.For I say to you, That unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.You have heard that it was said by those of old times, 'You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be in danger of the judgment':But I say to you, That whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: And whoever shall say to his brother, 'You vain fellow' shall be in danger of the council: But whoever says, 'You fool', shall be in danger of hell fire.Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you;leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him; lest at any time your adversary deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison.Truly I say to you, You shall by no means come out of there, until you have paid the uttermost one fourth copper coin.You have heard that it was said by those of old times, 'You shall not commit adultery':But I say to you that whoever looks upon a woman, to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.And if your right eye causes you to offend, pluck it out, and cast it from you: For it is better for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into hell.And if your right hand causes you to offend, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is better for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body be cast into hell.It has been said, 'Whoever puts away his wife, let him give her a <FI>formal notice<Fi> of divorce':But I say to you, That whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of fornication, causes her to commit adultery: And whoever marries her that is divorced commits adultery.Again, you have heard that it has been said by those of old times, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord your oaths':But I say to you, Do not swear at all; neither by heaven, for it is God's throne:Nor by the earth, for it is His footstool: Neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.Neither shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.But let your communication be, 'yes', 'yes'; <FI>or<Fi> 'no', 'no': For whatever is more than these comes from evil.You have heard that it has been said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth':But I say to you, That you are not to resist evil: But whoever smites you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.And if any man will sue you at the <FI>court of<Fi> law, and take away your coat, let him have your cloak also.And whoever compels you to go a mile, go with him two.Give to him that asks you, and from him that would desire to borrow from you do not turn away.You have heard that it has been said, 'You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.'But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless those that curse you, do good to those that hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you, and persecute you;that you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: For He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?  Do not even the publicans do the same?And if you salute your brethren only, what do you do more than others?  Do not even publicans do so?Therefore be perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds in front of men, to be seen by them: Otherwise you have no reward from your Father which is in heaven.Therefore, when you do your charitable deeds, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men.  Truly I say to you, They have their reward.But when you do charitable deeds, do not let your left hand know what your right hand does:That your charitable deeds may be in secret: And your Father which sees in secret shall Himself reward you openly.And when you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites are: For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men.  Truly I say to you, They have their reward.But you, when you pray, enter into your closet, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father which is in secret: And your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly.But when you pray, do not use vain repetitions, as the heathen do: For they think that they shall be heard because of their many words.Therefore, do not be like them: For your Father knows what things you have need of, before you ask Him.In this manner, therefore, pray: 'Our Father which is in heaven, hallowed be Your name.Your kingdom come.  Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread.And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.  Amen.'For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.Moreover, when you fast, do not be as the hypocrites, with a sad countenance: For they disfigure their faces, that they may appear to men to be fasting.  Truly I say to you, They have their reward.But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face;so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but <FI>fast<Fi> to your Father which is in secret: And your Father, which sees in secret, shall reward you openly.Do not store up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust corrupts, and where thieves break in and steal:But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupts, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.The light of the body is the eye: If therefore your eye is single, your whole body shall be full of light.But if your eye is evil, your whole body shall be full of darkness.  If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!No one can serve two masters: For either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and mammon.Therefore I say to you, Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor even for your body, what you shall put on.  Is not the life more than food, and the body more than clothing?Behold the birds of the air: For they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much better than they?Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit to his stature?<RF>1 Roman cubit is approximately 17.4 inches, or 44.2 centimeters.<Rf>"So why do you worry about clothing?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: They neither toil nor spin;And yet I say to you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?Therefore take no thought, saying, 'What shall we eat?'  or, 'What shall we drink?'  or, 'With what shall we be clothed?'(For the Gentiles seek after all these things:)  For your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things.But you, seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.Therefore take no thought concerning tomorrow: For tomorrow shall take thought for the things of itself.  Sufficient for the day is the evil of it."Judge not, that you be not judged.For with the judgment you judge, you shall be judged: And with what measure you use to measure, it shall be measured to you again.And why do you behold the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank that is in your own eye?Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye'; and behold, a plank is in your own eye?You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye; and then you shall see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.Do not give that which is holy to the dogs, nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and tear you to pieces.Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you:For everyone that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.Or what man is there among you, who if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him?Therefore, whatever things all of you would like that men should do to you, all you do so even to them: For this is the Law and the prophets.Enter in at the narrow gate: For wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in through it:Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the pathway which leads to life, and there are few that find it.Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.You shall know them by their fruits.  Do men gather grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?Likewise, every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit.A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.Every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.Therefore by their fruits you shall know them.Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father which is in heaven.Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name?  And in Your name have cast out devils?  And in Your name done many wonderful works?'And then I will profess to them, 'I never knew you: Depart from me, you that work iniquity.'Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house upon a rock:And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it did not fall: For it was founded upon a rock.And everyone that hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, shall be likened to a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand:And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: And great was the fall of it."And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at His doctrine:For He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.When He had come down from the mountain, large multitudes followed Him.And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if you are willing, You can make me clean."And Jesus put forth His hand, and touched him, saying, "I will: You, be clean."  And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.And Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no man; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony to them."Now when Jesus had entered into Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, beseeching Him,saying, "Lord, my servant lays at home sick from the palsy, grievously tormented.And Jesus said to Him, "I will come and heal him."The centurion answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof: But only speak the word, and my servant shall be healed.For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: And I say to this man, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, "Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel.And I say to you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."And Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way; and as you have believed, so be it done to you."  And his servant was healed that same hour.Now when Jesus had come into Peter's house, He saw his wife's mother laying down, and sick with a fever.So He touched her hand, and the fever left her: And she arose, and ministered to them.When the evening had come, they brought to Him many who were possessed with devils: And He cast out the spirits with His word, and healed all who were sick:That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, "He Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses."Now when Jesus saw large multitudes around Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side.Then a certain scribe came, and said to him, "Master, I will follow You wherever You go."And Jesus said to Him, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."And another of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, permit me to first go and bury my father."But Jesus said to him, "Follow Me; and let the dead bury their dead."Then when He entered onto a ship, His disciples followed Him.And behold, there arose a large tempest in the sea, so that the ship was covered with the waves: But He was asleep.And His disciples came to Him, and awoke Him, saying, "Lord, save us: We perish."But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?"  Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.So the men marveled, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"And when He had come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there two possessed with devils met him, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.And behold, they cried out, saying, "What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God?  Have You come here to torment us before the time?And a good ways off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding.So the devils implored Him, saying, "If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine."And He said to them, "Go."  And when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine: And behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.And those that kept them fled, and <FI>they<Fi> went their ways into the city, and told everything, and what had happened to the<FI>m<Fi> possessed with the devils.And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: And when they saw Him, they implored Him that He would depart out of their borders.Therefore He entered onto a ship, and sailed over, and came into His own city.Then behold, they brought to Him a man sick from the palsy, lying on a bed: And Jesus seeing their faith said to the <FI>one<Fi> sick from the palsy, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you."And behold, certain <FI>ones<Fi> of the scribes said within themselves, "This Man blasphemes."But Jesus knowing their thoughts said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you'; or to say, 'Arise, and walk'?But that you may know that the Son of Man has power upon earth to forgive sins," then He said to the <FI>one<Fi> sick from the palsy, "Arise, take up your bed, and go your way into your house."And he arose, and departed to his house.Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled, and glorified God, which had given such power to men.And as Jesus departed from there, He saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of customs: And He said to him, "Follow Me."  And he arose, and followed Him.And it came to pass, as Jesus sat <FI>to eat<Fi> in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, "Why does your Master eat with publicans and sinners?"But when Jesus heard that, He said to them, "Those that are whole have no need of the physician, but <FI>rather<Fi> those that are sick.But go and learn what this means: 'I will have mercy, and not sacrifice': For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?"And Jesus said to them, "Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them?  But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then they shall fast.No man puts a piece of new cloth on to an old garment, for that which is put on to fill it in takes <FI>material<Fi> from the garment, and the tear is made worse.Neither do men put new wine into old leather vessels: Otherwise the leather vessels break, and the wine spills out, and the leather vessels perish: But they put new wine into new leather vessels, and both are preserved."While He spoke these things to them, behold, a certain ruler came, and worshiped Him, saying, "My daughter is even now dead: But come and lay Your hand upon her, and she shall live."Therefore Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did His disciples.And behold, a woman who was diseased with an issue of blood for twelve years came from behind Him, and touched the hem of His garment:For she said within herself, "If I may only touch His garment, I shall be whole."But Jesus turned himself around, and when He saw her, He said, "Daughter, be of good comfort; your faith has made you whole."  And the woman was made whole from that hour.And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the musicians and the people making a noise,He said to them, "Give place: For the girl is not dead, but sleeps."  And they laughed Him to scorn.But when the people were put out, He went in, and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.And the fame of this spread abroad into all that land.And when Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying, and saying, "You, Son of David, have mercy on us."And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him: And Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?"  They said to Him, "Yes, Lord."Then He touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it <FI>done<Fi> to you."And their eyes were opened; and Jesus strictly charged them, saying, "See that no man knows it."But when they were departed, they spread abroad His fame in all that country.As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a mute man possessed with a devil.And when the devil was cast out, the mute spoke: And the multitudes marveled, saying, "It was never so seen in Israel."But the Pharisees said, "He casts out devils through the prince of the devils."Then Jesus went around all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they fainted, and were scattered widely, as sheep having no shepherd.And He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few:Therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest."And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, "Do not go onto the highway of the Gentiles, and do not enter into any city of the Samaritans:But rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: Freely you have received, freely give.Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your money pouch,nor bag for your journey, nor two coats, neither shoes, nor even <FI>walking<Fi> staffs: For the workman is worthy of his food.Also, whatever city or town you enter into, inquire who in it is worthy, and there abide until you depart out of it.And when you come into a house, salute it.And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it: But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.And whoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when you depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.Truly I say to you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.But beware of men: For they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;and you shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.But when they deliver you up, take no thought on how or what you shall speak: For it shall be given to you in that same hour what you shall speak.For it is not you who speaks, but the Spirit of your Father which speaks in you.And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: And the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.And you shall be hated by all people for My name's sake: But he who endures to the end shall be saved.But when they persecute you in this city, flee into another: For truly I say to you, You shall not finish going through the cities of Israel, until the Son of Man comes.The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord.  If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call those of his household?Therefore do not fear them: For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.What I tell you in darkness, that speak in light: And what you hear in the ear, that preach upon the housetops.And do not fear those which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: But rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin?  And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.Fear not therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father which is in heaven.But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father which is in heaven.Do not think that I came to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.For I have come to 'set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.'And 'a man's foes shall be those of his own household.'He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.And he who does not take up his cross, and follow after Me, is not worthy of Me.He who finds his life shall lose it: And he who loses his life for My sake shall find it.He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.And whoever shall give one of these little ones only a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, truly I say to you, He shall in no case lose his reward."And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding His twelve disciples, He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.Now when John had heard in the prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,and said to Him, "Are You He that should come?  Or should we look for another?"Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and show John again those things which you hear and see:The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.And blessed is he who shall not be offended in Me."And as they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see?  A reed shaken with the wind?But what did you go out to see?  A man clothed in soft apparel?  Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.But what did you go out to see?  A prophet?  Yes, I say to you, And more than a prophet.For this is he, of whom it is written, 'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, which shall prepare Your way before You.'"Truly I say to you, Among them that are born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist: But he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than him.And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.And if you will receive it, this is Elijah, who was to come beforehand.He who has ears to hear, let him hear.But to what shall I liken this generation?  It is likened to children sitting in the marketplaces, and calling to their friends,and saying: 'We have piped to you, and you have not danced; we have mourned to you, and you have not lamented.'For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a devil.'The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold a gluttonous man, and a wine drinker, a friend of publicans and sinners.'  But wisdom is justified by her children."Then He began to reproach the cities where most of His mighty works were done, because they did not repent:Woe to you, Chorazin!  Woe to you, Bethsaida!  For if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.But I say to you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment, than for you.And you, Capernaum, which are exalted to heaven, shall be brought down to hell: For if the mighty works which have been done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.But I say to you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you."At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them to babes.Even so, Father: For thus it seemed good in Your sight.All things are delivered to Me from My Father: And no man knows the Son, except the Father; neither does any man know the Father, except the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal Him.Come to Me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: And you shall find rest for your souls.For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath day; and His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck the heads of grain, and to eat.But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, "Behold, Your disciples do that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath day."But He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him;how he entered into the house of God, and ate the showbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?Or have you not read in the law, how on the Sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless?But I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple.But if you had known what this means, 'I will have mercy, and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless.For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath day"And when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue:And behold, there was a man who had his hand withered.  And they asked Him, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath days?"  That they might accuse Him.And He said to them, "What man shall there be among you, that has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?How much better then is a man than a sheep?  Therefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days."Then He said to the man, "Stretch forth your hand."  And he stretched it forth, and it was restored whole, like the other.Then the Pharisees went out and held a council against Him, how they might destroy Him.But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew Himself from there: And large multitudes followed Him; and He healed them all;And commanded them that they should not make Him known,That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying,"Behold My Servant, whom I have chosen; My beloved, in whom My soul is well pleased: I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He shall show judgment to the Gentiles.He shall not strive, nor cry out; neither shall any man hear His voice in the streets.A bruised reed He shall not break, and smoking flax He shall not quench, until He sends forth judgment to victory.And in His name shall the Gentiles trust."Then someone was brought to Him who was possessed with a devil, blind, and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute both spoke and saw.And all the people were amazed, and said, "Is this not the Son of David?"But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "This fellow does not cast out devils, except by Beelzebub the prince of the devils."And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand?And if I cast out devils through Beelzebub, by whom do your children cast them out?  Therefore they shall be your judges.But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except <FI>if<Fi> he first binds the strong man?  And then he shall spoil his house.He that is not with Me is against Me; and he that does not gather with Me scatters abroad.Therefore I say to you, All forms of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men: But the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven men.And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him: But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in the world to come.Either make the tree good, and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad, and its fruit bad: Because the tree is known by its fruit.O generation of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things?  For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.A good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings forth good things: And an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.But I say to you that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account of it in the day of judgment.For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned."Then certain <FI>ones<Fi> of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, "Master, we desire to see a sign from You."But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there shall be no sign given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah:For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and will condemn it: Because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, one greater than Jonah is here.The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: For she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, one greater than Solomon is here.When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walks through dry places seeking rest, and finds none.Then he says, 'I will return into my house from which I came out'; and when he has come, he finds it empty, swept, and garnished.Then he goes, and takes with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: And the last state of that man is worse than the first.  Even so it shall also be to this wicked generation."While He yet talked to the people, behold, His mother and His brothers stood outside, desiring to speak with Him.Then one said to Him, "Behold, Your mother and Your brothers stand outside, desiring to speak with You."But He answered and said to him who told Him, "Who is My mother?  And who are My brothers?And He stretched forth His hand toward His disciples, and said, "Behold My mother and My brothers!For whoever does the will of My Father which is in heaven, the same is My brother, and sister, and mother."That same day Jesus went out of the house, and sat by the sea side.And large multitudes were gathered together to Him, therefore He went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, "Behold, a sower went forth to sow;and when he sowed, some seeds fell by the roadside, and the fowls came and devoured them up:Some fell upon stony places, where they did not have much earth: And immediately they sprang up, because they had no deepness of earth:And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:But others fell into good ground, and bore fruit: Some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.He who has ears to hear, let him hear."And the disciples came, and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?"He answered and said to them, "Because it is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: But whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.Therefore I speak to them in parables: Because seeing they do not see; and hearing they do not hear, neither do they understand.And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says, 'By hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you shall see, and shall not perceive:For this people's heart is waxed over, and their ears are dull of hearing, and they have closed their eyes; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.'But blessed are your eyes, for they see: And your ears, for they hear.For truly I say to you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which you see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which you hear, and have not heard them.Therefore all of you, hear the parable of the sower.When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes, and takes away that which was sown in his heart.  This is he which received seed by the wayside.But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that hears the word, and immediately receives it with joy;yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while: Then when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he is offended.He that received seed among the thorns is also he that hears the word; and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.But he that received seed into the good ground is he that hears the word, and understands it; which also bears fruit, and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."He put forth another parable to them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field:But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.But when the stalk sprang up, and brought forth fruit, then the tares appeared also.So the servants of the householder came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field?  How then does it have tares?'He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.'  The servants said to him, 'Do you then desire that we go and gather them up?'But he said, 'No; lest while you gather up the tares, you also uproot the wheat with them.Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn." 'He put forth another parable to them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is likened to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:Which indeed is the least of all seeds: But when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches."He spoke another parable to them: "The kingdom of heaven is likened to leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of grain-meal, until the whole <FI>mass<Fi> was leavened."<RF>The word for dry <FI>measure<Fi> in the Greek contains nearly a [UK] peck and a half, short by just over a [UK] pint.  Thus <FI>3 measures<Fi> equates to approximately 165 [US] cups, or ~156 [metric] cups.<Rf>Jesus spoke all these things to the multitudes in parables; and He did not speak to them without a parable:That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world."Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Declare to us <FI>plainly<Fi> the parable of the tares of the field."He answered and said to them, "He that sows the good seed is the Son of Man;the field is the world; the good seeds are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.Therefore, as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so it shall be at the end of this world.The Son of Man shall send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those which do iniquity;and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.Then the righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.  He who has ears to hear, let him hear.Again, the kingdom of heaven is likened to treasure hid in a field; which when a man has found it, he hides it, and out of joy over it he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.Again, the kingdom of heaven is likened to a merchant man, seeking better <FI>quality<Fi> pearls:Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.Again, the kingdom of heaven is likened to a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.So shall it be at the end of the world: The angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."Jesus said to them, "Have you understood all these things?"  They said to Him, "Yes, Lord."Then He said to them, "Therefore every scribe which is instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a man who is a householder, who brings forth out of his treasure things new and old."And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, He departed from that place.And when He had come into His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, "How does this Man have this wisdom, and these mighty works?Is this not the carpenter's son?  Is not His mother called Mary?  And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?And His sisters, are they not all with us?  How then does this Man have all these things?"And they were offended at Him.  But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and in his own house."Therefore He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus,and said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works show forth themselves in him."For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife.Because John said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.Upon that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she would ask.And she, being instructed beforehand by her mother, said, "Give me John the Baptist's head here on a platter."And the king was grieved: Nevertheless because of the oath's sake, and those who sat with him at the table, he commanded it to be given to her.So he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.And his head was brought on a platter, and given to the damsel: And she brought it to her mother.Then his disciples came, and took away the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.When Jesus heard about it, He departed from there by ship into a deserted place apart: But when the people heard of it, they followed Him on foot out of the cities.And Jesus went forth, and saw a large crowd, and was moved with compassion toward them, and He healed their sick.Moreover when it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, "This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy food for themselves."But Jesus said to them, "They need not depart; you give them something to eat."And they said to Him, "We have here only five loaves, and two fish."He said, "Bring them here to Me."Then He commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed, and broke, and gave the loaves to His disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.Then they all ate, and were filled: And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.And immediately Jesus compelled His disciples to get into a ship, and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up into a mountain apart to pray: And when evening came, He was there alone.But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed by the waves: For the wind was contrary.And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a spirit"; and they cried out for fear.But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer; it is I; do not be afraid."And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."And He said, "Come."  And when Peter had come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.But when he saw the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me."And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"And when they came into the ship, the wind ceased.Then those who were in the ship came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God."And when they had sailed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.And when the men of that place had knowledge of Him, they sent out into all that surrounding country, and brought to Him all who were diseased;and implored Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment: And as many as touched it were made perfectly whole.Then the scribes and Pharisees came to Jesus, which were of Jerusalem, saying,"Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?  For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread."And He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and mother': And, 'He that curses father or mother, let him die the death.'But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or his mother, "Whatever you might be profited by me, it is a gift";and does not honor his father or his mother, <FI>thinking<Fi> he shall be exempt.'  Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.You hypocrites, Isaiah prophesied well concerning you, saying:'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me.But in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' "Then He called the multitude, and said to them, "Hear and understand:That which goes into the mouth does not defile a man; but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."Then His disciples came, and said to Him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?"But He answered and said, "Every plant, which My heavenly Father has not planted, shall be plucked up by the root.Leave them alone: They are blind leaders of the blind.  And if the blind leads the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."Then Peter answered and said to Him, "Declare this parable <FI>plainly<Fi> to us."And Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding?Do you not yet understand that whatever enters in at the mouth goes into the belly, and is cast out into the drain?But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.For out of the heart proceeds evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:These are the things which defile a man: But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."Then Jesus went from that place, and departed into the borders of Tyre and Sidon.And behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same borders, and cried to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil."But He did not answer her a word.  And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, "Send her away; for she cries out after us."But He answered and said, "I am not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me."But He answered and said, "It is not proper to take the children's bread, and throw it to dogs."And she said, "True, Lord: Yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith: Be it to you even as you intend."  And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.Then Jesus departed from that place, and came near to the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.And large multitudes came to Him, having with them those that were lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and He healed them:So that the multitude wondered, when they saw the mute to speak, the maimed be made whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: And they glorified the God of Israel.Then Jesus called His disciples to Himself, and said, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have continued with Me for three days now, and have nothing to eat: And I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint on the road."And His disciples said to Him, "How should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so large a multitude?"And Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?"  And they said, "Seven, and a few small fish."And He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.And He took the seven loaves and the fish, and gave thanks, then broke them, and gave to His disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.And they all ate, and were filled: And they took up seven full baskets of the fragments that were left.Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.And He sent away the multitude, entered onto a ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala.The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting Him <FI>they<Fi> asked that He would show them a sign from heaven.He answered and said to them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather: For the sky is red.'And in the morning, 'It will be foul weather today: For the sky is red and dark.'  O all you hypocrites, you all can discern the face of the sky; but can't all you discern the signs of the times?A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there shall be no sign given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah."  And He left them, and departed.And when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.Then Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees."And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "It is because we have taken no bread."Which when Jesus perceived, He said to them, "O all you of little faith, why do all of you reason among yourselves, because you all have brought no bread?Do you not yet understand, nor remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up?Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets you took up?How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread, <FI>rather<Fi> that you should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?"Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.When Jesus came inside the borders of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?"And they said, "Some say that You are John the Baptist: Some Elijah; and others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets."He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"And Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."And Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah: For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father which is in heaven.And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon the Rock <FI>you just declared<Fi> I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: And whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: And whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."Then He charged His disciples that they should tell no man that He was Jesus the Christ.From that time forward Jesus began to show to His disciples how He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised again the third day.Then Peter took Him <FI>aside<Fi>, and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord: This shall not befall You."But He turned, and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan: You are an offense to Me: For you do not savor the things that are of God, but those that are of men."Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.For whoever will save his life shall lose it: And whoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.For what is a man profited, if he gains the whole world, and lose his own soul?  Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works.Truly I say to you, There are some standing here who shall not taste death, until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.Then after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain apart,and was transfigured before them: And His face shined as the sun, and His clothes were white as the light.And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them there, talking with Him.Then Peter answered, and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here: If you are willing, let us make three tabernacles here; one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."While he still spoke, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: And behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear Him."And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces, and were greatly afraid.Then Jesus came and touched them, and said, "Arise, and do not be afraid."And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, except Jesus only.Then as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, "Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of Man is risen again from the dead."And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"And Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly Elijah shall come first, and restore all things.But I say to you, That Elijah has come already, and they did not know him, but have done to him whatever they intended.  Likewise the Son of Man shall also suffer <FI>because<Fi> of them."Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them about John the Baptist.And when they had come to the multitude, a certain man came to Him, kneeling down to Him, and saying,"Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic, and sorely vexed: For he often falls into the fire, and often into the water.And I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him."Then Jesus answered and said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you?  How long shall I endure you?  Bring him here to Me."And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: And the child was cured from that very hour.Then the disciples came to Jesus apart, and said, "Why could we not cast him out?"And Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief: For truly I say to you, If you all have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you all shall say to this mountain, 'Remove from here to yonder place', and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you.Nevertheless, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:And they shall kill Him, and the third day He shall be raised again."  And they were exceedingly sorrowful.And when they had come to Capernaum, those who received tribute money came to Peter, and said, "Does not your Master pay tribute?"He said, "Yes."  And when he had come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, "What do you think, Simon?  From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or tribute?  From their own children, or from strangers?"Peter said to Him, "From strangers."  Jesus said to him, "Then the children are free.Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go to the sea, and cast a hook, and take up the fish that first comes up; and when you have opened his mouth, you shall find a piece of money: Take that, and give it to them for Me and you."At the same time the disciples came to Jesus asking, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"And Jesus called a little child to Him, and set him in the midst of them,and said, "Truly I say to you, Unless you are converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.And whoever receives one such little child in My name receives Me.But whoever offends one of these little ones who believes in Me, it would be better for him that a millstone were hung around his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.Woe to the world because of offenses!  For offenses must come; but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!For which reason if your hand or your foot causes you to offend, cut them off, and cast them away from you: It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.And if your eye causes you to offend, pluck it out, and throw it away from you: It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I say to you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven.For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.What do you think?  If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine, and go into the mountains, and seek that which has gone astray?And if it so happens that he finds it, truly I say to you, He rejoices more over that sheep, than over the ninety-nine which did not go astray.Likewise, it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.Moreover, if your brother trespasses against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone: If he hears you, you have gained your brother.But if he will not hear you, then take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.'And if he neglects to hear them, tell it to the church: But if he refuses even to listen to the church, let him be to you as a heathen man and a publican.Truly I say to you, Whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: And whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.Again I say to you, That if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven.For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there I am in the midst of them."Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?  Until seven times?"Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, Until seven times; but until seventy times seven.Therefore the kingdom of heaven is likened to a certain king, who would take account of his servants.And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him, who owed him ten thousand talents.<RF>1 talent is 750 ounces of silver; hence 10000 talents is ~212.6 metric tons of silver.<Rf>But since he did not have it to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.Therefore the servant fell down, and worshiped him, saying, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you all of it.'Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt."But the same servant went out and found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred silver coins: And he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'Then his fellow-servant fell down at his feet, and implored him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all of it.'And he would not: But went and cast him into prison, until he should pay the debt.So when his fellow-servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told all that was done to their lord.Then his lord, after he had called him, said to him, 'O you wicked servant; I forgave you all that debt, because you desired me <FI>to<Fi>:Should you not have also had compassion on your fellow-servant, even as I had pity on you?'And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors until he should pay all that was due to him.So likewise my heavenly Father shall also do to you, if each one of you do not forgive from your hearts his brother their trespasses."And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, that He departed from Galilee, and came inside the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan;And large multitudes followed Him; and He healed them there.The Pharisees also came to Him, tempting Him, and saying to Him, "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?"And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read, that He which made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,'and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: And those two shall be one flesh?'For which reason they are no longer two, but one flesh.  Therefore, what God has joined together, let not man separate."They said to Him, "Why then did Moses command to give a <FI>formal notice<Fi> of divorce, and to put her away?"He said to them, "Moses permitted you to put away your wives because of the hardness of your hearts: But from the beginning it was not so.And I say to you, Whoever puts away his wife, except <FI>if<Fi> it be for fornication, and marries another, commits adultery: And whoever marries her that is put away commits adultery."His disciples said to Him, "If this is the case for a man with his wife, it is not good to marry."But He said to them, "Not all men can receive this saying, except those to whom it is given.For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: And there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs by men: And there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake.  He that is able to receive it, let him receive it."Then little children were brought to Him, that He should put His hands on them, and pray: And the disciples rebuked them.But Jesus said, "Permit little children to come to Me, and do not forbid them: For of such is the kingdom of heaven."And He laid His hands on them, and departed from there.And behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Master, what good thing should I do, that I may have eternal life?"And He said to him, "Why do you call Me good?  There are none good except One, that is, God: But if you desire to enter into life, keep the commandments."He said to Him, "Which ones?"  Jesus said, " 'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,''Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' "The young man said to Him, "I have kept all these things from my youth on up: What do I still lack?"Jesus said to Him, "If you desire to be perfect, go and sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: And come and follow Me."But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: For he had many possessions.Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Truly I say to you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.And again I say to you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."When His disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, "Who then can be saved?"But Jesus beheld them, and said to them, "With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."Then Peter answered and said to Him, "Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed You; what shall we therefore have?"And Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you, That in the regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me shall also sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.And everyone who has forsaken houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.""For the kingdom of heaven is likened to a man who is a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard.And when he had agreed with the laborers for a silver coin a day, he sent them into his vineyard.And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,and said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.'  And they went their way.Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?'They said to him, 'Because no man has hired us.'  He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard; and whatever is right, that you shall receive.'So when evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his steward, 'Call the laborers, and give them their wages, beginning from the last to the first.'And when those who were hired about the eleventh hour came, every man received a silver coin.But when the first came, they supposed that they should receive more; and they likewise received a silver coin each.And when they received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,saying, 'These last have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have carried the burden and heat of the day.'But he answered one of them, and said, 'Friend, I do you no wrong: Did you not agree with me for a silver coin?Take what is yours, and go your way: I will give to this last, even as to you.Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own?  Is your eye evil because I am good?'So the last shall be first, and the first last: For many are called, but few chosen.Then Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples aside on the way, and said to them,"Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man shall be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes, and they shall condemn Him to death,and shall deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify Him: And the third day He shall rise again."Then the mother of Zebedee's children came to Him with her sons, worshiping Him, and desiring a certain thing from Him.And He said to her, "What do you desire?"  She said to Him, "Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, the one on Your right hand, and the other on the left, in Your kingdom."And Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you ask.  Are you able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?"  They said to Him, "We are able."And He said to them, "You shall indeed drink of My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: But to sit on My right hand, and on My left, is not Mine to give, but it shall be given to those for whom it is prepared by My Father."And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.But Jesus called them to Him, and said, "You know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and those that are great exercise authority upon them.But it shall not be so among you: But whoever desires to be great among you, let him be your minister.And whoever desires to be chief among you, let him be your servant:Even as the Son of Man did not come to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many."And as they departed from Jericho, a large multitude followed Him.And behold, two blind men sitting by the roadside, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David."And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: But they cried out all the more, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David."Then Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, "What do you will that I do to you?"They said to Him, "Lord, that our eyes may be opened."So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.And when they drew near to Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, to the mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,saying to them, "Go into the village before you, and immediately you shall find a donkey tied, and a colt with her: Loose them, and bring them to Me.And if any man says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them'; and he will immediately send them."All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,"Tell the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your King comes to you, meek, and sitting upon a donkey, and a colt the foal of a donkey.' "And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,and brought the donkey, and the colt, put their clothes on them, and they set Him upon them.And a very large multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees, and strew them on the road.And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried out, saying: "Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest."And when He came into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, "Who is this?"Moreover the multitude said, "This is Jesus the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee."And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all those who sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of those who sold doves,and said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called the house of prayer'; But you have made it a 'den of thieves.' "Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple; and He healed them.But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David"; they were intensely displeased,and said to Him, "Do You hear what these say?"  And Jesus said to them, "Yes; have you never read, 'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise'?"Then He left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and He lodged there.Now in the morning as He returned to the city, He was hungry.And when He saw a fig tree beside the road, He came to it, and found nothing on it except leaves only, and said to it, "Let no fruit grow on you from this time forward forever."  And immediately the fig tree withered away.So when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, "How soon the fig tree is withered away!"Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly I say to you, If you have faith, and do not doubt, you shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if you shall say to this mountain, 'Be removed, and be cast into the sea'; it shall be done.And all things, whatever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive."And when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to Him as He was teaching, and said, "By what authority do you do these things?  And who gave You this authority?"And Jesus answered and said to them, "I will also ask you one thing, which if you tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things.The baptism of John, where was it from?  From heaven, or from men?"  And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven'; He will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?'But if we say, 'From men'; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet."Therefore they answered Jesus, and said, "We cannot tell."  And He said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.But what do you think?  A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, 'Son, go work today in my vineyard.'He answered and said, 'I will not': But afterward he repented, and went.Then he came to the second, and said likewise.  And he answered and said, 'I will go, sir': And did not go.Which of those two did the will of his father?"  They said to Him, "The first."  Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him: But the publicans and the harlots believed him: And you, when you had seen it, did not repent afterward, that you might believe him.Hear another parable: There was a certain householder who planted a vineyard, and hedged it all around, and dug a winepress in it, and built a tower, and leased it out to vinedressers, and went into a far country:Now when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive the fruit of it.But the vinedressers took his servants, and beat one, killed another, and stoned <FI>yet<Fi> another.Again, he sent other servants more than the first: And they did likewise to them.But last of all he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will reverence my son.'But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.'And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.Therefore when the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?They said to Him, "He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will lease out his vineyard to other vinedressers, which shall give him the fruits in their seasons."Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: 'The stone which the builders rejected, the same has become the head of the corner: This is the LORD'S doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?Therefore I say to you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits of it.And whoever falls on this stone shall be broken: But on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder."And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard His parables, they perceived that He spoke about them.But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitude, because they <FI>held<Fi> Him as a prophet.And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables, and said,"The kingdom of heaven is likened to a certain king who made a marriage for his son,and sent forth his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding: And they would not come.Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: Come to the marriage." 'But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:And the rest took his servants, treated them spitefully, and slew them.But when the king heard about it, he was wroth: And he sent forth his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you shall find, invite to the marriage.'So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together as many as they all found, both bad and good: And the wedding was furnished with guests.But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment:And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here not having a wedding garment?'  And he was speechless.Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'For many are called, but few are chosen."Then the Pharisees went, and took counsel how they might entangle Him in His speech.And they sent out to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, "Master, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; neither do you care for any man: For You do not regard the person of men.Tell us therefore, what do You think?  Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?"But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you tempt Me, you hypocrites?Show Me the tribute money."  And they brought to Him a silver coin.And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?"They said to Him, "Caesar's."  Then He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's."When they heard these words, they marveled, and left Him, and went their way.The same day the Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him,saying, "Master, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed to his brother.Now there were with us seven brothers: After the first had married a wife, he died, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother:Likewise the second also, and the third, until the seventh.And last of all, the woman died also.Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of the seven shall she be?  For they all had her."Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read that which was spoken to you by God, saying,'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'?  God is not the God of the dead, but of the living."And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at His doctrine.But when the Pharisees heard that He had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.Then one of them, who was a lawyer, asked Him a question, tempting Him, and saying,"Master, which is the greatest commandment in the law?"Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'This is the first and great commandment.And the second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'On these two commandments hang all the Law and the prophets."While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,saying, "What do you think of Christ?  Whose Son is He?"  They said to Him, "The Son of David."He said to them, "How then does David in the Spirit call Him 'Lord,' saying:"The LORD said to my Lord, 'sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies Your footstool?' "If David then calls Him 'Lord,' how is He his Son?"And no man was able to answer Him a word, neither did any man ask Him any more questions from that day forward.Then Jesus spoke to the multitude, and to His disciples,saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, everything, that observe and do; but do not do according to their works: For they talk, but don't do.For they bind heavy burdens, grievous to carry, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.But they do all their works to be seen by men: They make their phylacteries broad, and enlarge the borders of their garments.And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, the chief seats in the synagogues,greetings in the markets, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.'But you, do not be called 'Rabbi': Because One is your Master, the Christ; and you are all brothers.And do not call any man your father upon the earth: For One is your Father, which is in heaven.Neither be called masters; For One is your Master, even Christ.But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.And whoever exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: For you neither go in yourselves, nor do you permit those who are entering to go in.Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you devour widows' houses, and for a show make long prayers: Therefore you shall receive the greater damnation.Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, you make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.Woe to you, you blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obligated!'You fools and blind: For which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold?And, 'Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is upon it, he is bound.'You fools and blind: For which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift?Therefore whoever shall swear by the altar, swears by it, and by all things upon it.And whoever shall swear by the temple, swears by it, and by Him that dwells in it.And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by Him that sits upon it.Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  Because you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law: Judgment, mercy, and faith.  You should have done these, without leaving the others undone.You blind guides, who strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel."Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you clean the outside of the cup and the platter, but inside they are full of extortion and excess.You blind Pharisee, first cleanse that which is inside the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you are similar to whitened sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  Because you build the tombs of the prophets, and adorn the sepulchers of the righteous,and say, 'If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.'Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves, that you are the children of those who killed the prophets.Fill up then the measure of your fathers.You serpents, you generation of vipers, how can you escape the damnation of hell?Therefore, behold, I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes: And some of them you shall kill and crucify; and some of them you shall scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom you slew between the temple and the altar.Truly I say to you, All these things shall come upon this generation.O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets, and stone those which are sent to you; how often I would have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!Behold, your house is left to you desolate.For I say to you, You shall not see me from this time forward, until you say, 'Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord.' "Then Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: And His disciples came to Him to show Him the buildings of the temple.And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things?  Truly I say to you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down."And as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when shall these things happen?  And what shall be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the world?"And Jesus answered and said to them, "Take heed that no man deceive you.For many shall come in My name, saying, 'I am Christ'; and shall deceive many.And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: See that you are not troubled: For all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And there shall be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes, in diverse places.All these are the beginning of sorrows.Then they shall deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: And you shall be hated by all nations for My name's sake.And then many shall be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.Then many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.But he who endures to the end, the same shall be saved.And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations; and then the end shall come."Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place," (whoever reads, let him understand):Then let those who are in Judea flee into the mountains:Let him who is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house:Neither let him who is in the field return back to take his clothes.But woe to those who are <FI>pregnant<Fi> with child, and to those who are breastfeeding in those days!But pray that your flight is not in the winter, nor on the Sabbath day:For then shall be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.And unless those days are shortened, no flesh would be saved: But for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.Then if any man says to you, 'Look, here is Christ,' or 'There'; do not believe it.For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; so that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.Behold, I have told you beforehand."Therefore if they say to you, 'Behold, He is in the desert'; do not go forth: Or 'Behold, He is in the secret chambers'; do not believe it.For as the lightning comes out of the east, and flashes even to the west; so also shall the coming of the Son of Man be.For wherever the carcase is, there the eagles will be gathered together.Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:And then the sign of the Son of Man shall appear in heaven: And then all the tribes of the earth shall mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.Now learn a parable of the fig tree; when its branch is still tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near:So you likewise, when you see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.Truly I say to you, This generation shall not pass, until all these things are fulfilled.Heaven and earth shall pass away: But My words shall not pass away.But of that day and hour no man knows, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only.But as the days of Noah were, so also shall the coming of the Son of Man be.For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark,and did not know until the flood came, and took them all away; so also shall the coming of the Son of Man be.Then two will be in the field: The one will be taken and the other left.Two women will be grinding at the mill: One will be taken and the other left.Watch therefore: For you do not know what hour your Lord comes.Moreover know this, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have let his house be broken through.Therefore you also be ready: For the Son of Man comes at such an hour that you do not think.Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?Blessed is that servant, whom his lord shall find so doing when he comes.Truly I say to you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My lord delays his coming';and begins to smite his fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;the lord of that servant shall come <FI>on<Fi> a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour that he is not aware of,and shall cut him apart, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.Those who were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.And at midnight a cry was made, 'Behold, the bridegroom comes; go out to meet him.'Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; for our lamps have gone out.'But the wise answered, saying, 'Not so, lest there not be enough for us and you: But rather go to those that sell, and buy for yourselves.'And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage: And the door was shut.Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us.'But he answered and said, 'Truly I say to you, I do not know you.'Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man comes.For the kingdom of heaven is like a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered his goods to them.And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his distinct ability; and immediately took his journey.<RF>1 talent is 750 ounces of silver; hence five talents is ~234.4 pounds of silver, two talents is ~93.8 pounds of silver, and one talent is ~46.9 pounds of silver.<Rf>Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made with them another five talents.And likewise he who had received two, he also gained another two.But he who had received one went and dug in the earth, and hid his lord's money.After a long time the lord of those servants came, and settled accounts with them.And so he who had received five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents: Behold, I have gained five more talents besides them.His lord said to him, 'Well done, you good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: Enter into the joy of your lord.'He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents: Behold, I have gained two other talents besides them.'His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: Enter into the joy of your lord.'Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed:And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the earth: Look, there you have what is yours.'His lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and slothful servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed:Therefore you ought to have put my money with the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received back my own with interest.Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.For to everyone that has, more shall be given, and he shall have abundance: But from him who does not have, even that which he has shall be taken away.And cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He shall sit upon the throne of His glory:And all nations shall be gathered before Him: And He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats:And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.Then the King shall say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:For I was hungry, and you gave Me food: I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink: I was a stranger, and you took Me in:Naked, and you clothed Me: I was sick, and you visited Me: I was in prison, and you came to Me.'Then the righteous shall answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You?  Or thirsty, and gave You a drink?'When did we see You a stranger, and take You in?  Or naked, and clothe You?Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and came to You?'And the King shall answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these My brethren, you have done it to Me.'Then He shall say also to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:For I was hungry, and you gave Me no food: I was thirsty, and you gave Me no drink:I was a stranger, and you did not take Me in: Naked, and you did not clothe Me: Sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.'Then they also shall answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to You?'Then He shall answer them, saying, 'Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: But the righteous into life eternal."And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, He said to His disciples,"You know that after two days is the Feast of the Passover, and the Son of Man is betrayed to be crucified."Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled together at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,and consulted that they might take Jesus through cunning, and kill Him.But they said, "Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people."Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,there a woman came to Him having an alabaster box of very precious fragrant ointment, and poured it on His head, as He sat <FI>to eat<Fi>.But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, "For what purpose is this waste?For this fragrant ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor."When Jesus understood this, He said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman?  For she has done a good work upon Me."For you always have the poor with you; but Me you do not have always.For as she has poured this fragrant ointment on My body, she did it for My burial.Truly I say to you, Wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, there also shall be told what this woman has done, as a memorial of her."Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests,and said to them, "What will you give me, and I will deliver Him to you?"  And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.Therefore, from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, "Where would you like that we prepare for You to eat the Passover?"And He said, "Go into the city to such a man, and say to him, 'The Master says, "My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples." ' "Then the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the Passover.Now when the evening had come, He sat down with the twelve.And as they were eating, He said, "Truly I say to you, That one of you shall betray me."And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and every one of them began to say to Him, "Lord, is it I?"And He answered and said, "He who dips his hand with Me in the dish, the same shall betray Me.The Son of Man goes as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!  It would have been good for that man if he had not been born."Then Judas, who betrayed Him, answered and said, "Master, is it I?"  He said to him, "You have said it."And as they ate, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body."Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you;for this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from this time forward, until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.Then Jesus said to them, "All of you shall be offended because of Me this night: For it is written, 'I will smite the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.'But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee."Peter answered and said to Him, "Though all men shall be offended because of You, yet I will never be offended."Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you, That this night, before the rooster crows, you shall deny Me three times."Peter said to Him, "Even if I must die with You, yet I will not deny You."  All the disciples also said likewise.Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, "Sit here, while I go and pray over there."And He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with Him, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.And He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death: Tarry here, and watch with Me."And He went a little further, fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me: Nevertheless not as I will, but as You will."Then He came to the disciples, and found them asleep, and said to Peter, "What, could you not watch with Me one hour?Watch and pray, that you do not enter into temptation: The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if this cup may not pass away from Me, unless I drink it, Your will be done."And He came and found them asleep again; for their eyes were heavy.So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.Then He came to His disciples, and said to them, "Sleep on now, and take your rest: Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.Rise, let us be going: Behold, he who betrays Me is at hand."And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a large multitude with swords and <FI>wooden<Fi> staffs, from the chief priests and elders of the people.Now he who betrayed Him gave them a sign, saying, "Whomever I kiss, that same is He: Take Him."And immediately he came to Jesus, and said, "Hail, Master"; and kissed Him.And Jesus said to him, "Friend, why have you come?"  Then they came, and laid hands on Jesus, and took Him.And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and cut off his ear.Then Jesus said to him, "Put back your sword into its place: For all those who take the sword shall perish by the sword.Do you not think that I can now pray to My Father, and He shall give Me more than twelve legions of angels at this time?But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen in this manner?"In that same hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come out as against a thief with swords and <FI>wooden<Fi> staffs to take Me?  I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and you did not lay hold of Me.But all this was done that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled."  Then all the disciples forsook Him, and fled.And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.But Peter followed Him afar off to the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.Now the chief priests, elders, and all the council sought false witness against Jesus, to put Him to death;but found none: Yes, though many false witnesses came, yet they found none.  Finally two false witnesses came,and said, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.' "And the high priest arose, and said to Him, "Do You answer nothing?  What is it which these witness against You?"But Jesus held his peace.  And the high priest answered and said to Him, "I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God."Jesus said to Him, "You have said it: Nevertheless I say to you all, in time to come you shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven."Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, "He has spoken blasphemy; what need do we have of any further witnesses?  Behold, now you have heard His blasphemy.What do you think?"  They answered and said, "He is guilty of death."Then they spat in His face, and buffeted Him; and others smote Him with the palms of their hands,saying, "Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is he that smote You?"Now Peter sat outside in the palace: And a damsel came to him, saying, You also were with Jesus of Galilee.But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are saying."And when he had gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said to those that were there, "This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth."But again he denied with an oath, "I do not know the Man."And after a while those who stood by came to him, and said to Peter, "Surely you also are one of them; for your speech betrays you."And he began to curse and to swear, saying, "I do not know the Man."  And immediately the rooster crowed.And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, who said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you shall deny Me three times."  Then he went out, and wept bitterly.When the morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death:And when they had bound Him, they led Him away, and delivered Him to the governor Pontius Pilate.Then Judas, who had betrayed Him, when he saw that He was condemned, repented himself, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders,saying, "I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood."  And they said, "What is that to us?  You see to that."Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hung himself.And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because it is the price for blood."And they took counsel, and bought the potter's field with the <FI>silver pieces<Fi>, to bury strangers in.Therefore that field was called 'The field of blood', even to this day.Then that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of Him that was valued, whom those of the children of Israel did value;and gave them for the potter's field, as the LORD appointed me."Now Jesus stood before the governor: And the governor asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?"  And Jesus said to him, "You said it."And when He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they witness against You?"But He never answered a word to him; therefore the governor marveled greatly.Now at that feast the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner to the people, whoever they desired.And at that time they had a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Who would you rather that I release to you?  Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?"For he knew that they had delivered Him out of envy.While he was sitting down on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man: For I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of Him."But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two would you rather that I release to you?"  They said, "Barabbas."Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?"  They all said to him, "Let Him be crucified."And the governor said, "Why, what evil has He done?"  But they cried out all the more, saying, "Let Him be crucified."When Pilate saw that he could prevail in nothing, but rather that a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person: You see to it."Then all the people answered, and said, "His blood be on us, and on our children."Then he released Barabbas to them: And when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered the whole band of soldiers to Him.And they stripped Him, and put a scarlet robe on Him.And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right hand: And they bowed the knee before Him, and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"Then they spat upon Him, and took the reed, and smote Him on the head.And after they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: They compelled him to carry His cross.And when they came to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a Skull,they gave Him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: But when He had tasted of it, He would not drink.And they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: "They divided My garments among them, and upon my vesture they cast lots."And sitting down they watched Him there;and set up over His head His accusation written as: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.At that time there were two thieves crucified with Him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.And those that passed by reviled Him, wagging their heads,and saying, "You that destroy the temple, and build it in three days, save Yourself.  If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross."Likewise the chief priests also mocking Him, with the scribes and elders, said,"He saved others; He cannot save Himself.  If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him.He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him: For He said, 'I am the Son of God.' "The thieves also, which were crucified with Him, cast the same in His teeth.Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?"  That is to say, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, "This Man calls for Elijah."And immediately one of them ran, took a sponge, filled it with vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave Him it to drink.The rest said, "Let Him be; let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him."Jesus, when He had cried out again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks fissured open;and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,and came out of the graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared to many.Now when the centurion, and those who were with him, all watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God."And many women were there beholding afar off, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him:Among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.When the evening had come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who himself was also Jesus' disciple:He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.  Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: And he rolled a large stone to the doorway of the sepulcher, and departed.And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting before the sepulcher.Now the next day, which followed the Day of the Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together to Pilate,saying, "Sir, we remember that while He was still alive, that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.'Command therefore that the sepulcher be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night, and steal Him away, and say to the people, 'He is risen from the dead': So the last error shall be worse than the first."Pilate said to them, "You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you can."So they went, and made the sepulcher secure, sealing the stone, and setting a guard.In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the sepulcher.And behold, there was a large earthquake; for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:And the keepers shook in fear of him, and became as dead men.And the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not fear: For I know that you seek Jesus, which was crucified.He is not here: For He is risen, as He said.  Come, see the place where the Lord lay.And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead; and behold, He goes before you into Galilee; there you shall see Him: Look, I have told you."Then they departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great joy; and ran to bring His disciples word.And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "All hail."  And they came and held Him by the feet, and worshiped Him.Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid: Go tell My brethren to go into Galilee, and there they shall see Me."Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and reported to the chief priests all the things that were done.And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave a large amount of money to the soldiers,saying, "You say, 'His disciples came by night, and stole Him away while we slept.'And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you."So they took the money, and did as they were instructed: And this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All power is given to Me in heaven and on earth.Go therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you: And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world."  Amen.The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;as it is written in the prophets: "Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, which shall prepare Your way before You.The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way of the LORD, make His paths straight.' "John baptized in the wilderness, and preached the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.And all the land of Judea went out to him, and those of Jerusalem, and were all baptized by him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.Now John was clothed with camel's hair, and a girdle of a skin around his loins; and he ate locusts and wild honey;and he preached, saying, "There comes one mightier than I after me, the strap of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.I indeed have baptized you with water, but He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit."And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.And immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him:And there came a voice from heaven, saying, "You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."And immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness.And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: Repent, and believe the gospel."Now as He walked by the sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: For they were fishers.And Jesus said to them, "Follow after Me, and I will make you become fishers of men."And immediately they forsook their nets, and followed Him.And when He had gone a little further from that place, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.And immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after Him.Then they went into Capernaum; and without delay on the Sabbath day He entered into the synagogue, and taught.And they were astonished at His doctrine: For He taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.And there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,saying, "Let us alone; what have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth?  Have You come to destroy us?  I know who You are, the Holy One of God."Then Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Hold your peace, and come out of him."And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him.Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What thing is this?  What new doctrine is this?  For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him."And immediately His fame spread abroad throughout all the region around Galilee.And immediately, when they came out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.But Simon's wife's mother lay sick from a fever, and they immediately told Him about her.Therefore He came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered to them.And at evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick, and those who were possessed with devils.And the entire city was gathered together at the door.And He healed many that were sick with diverse diseases, and cast out many devils; and He did not permit the devils to speak, because they knew Him.Then in the morning, rising up a long while before daylight, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and prayed there.And Simon and those that were with Him followed after Him.And when they had found Him, they said to Him, "All men seek for You."And He said to them, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: For this purpose I have come forth."And He preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.And a leper came to Him, beseeching Him, kneeling down to Him, and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean."Now Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth His hand, and touched him, and said to him, "I will: You, be clean."And as soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.And He strictly instructed him, and soon sent him away;and said to him, "See that you say nothing to any man: But go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony to them."But he went out, and began to proclaim it often, and to spread the matter abroad, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter into the city, but was outside in deserted places: And they came to Him from every quarter.And after some days He entered again into Capernaum; and it was spread by report that He was in the house.And immediately many were gathered together, so that there was no room to receive them, no, not even near the door: And He preached the word to them.Then they came to Him, bringing one sick of the palsy, who was carried by four <FI>men<Fi>.And when they could not come near to Him because of the crowd of people, they uncovered the roof where He was: And when they had broken it up, they let down the bed on which the <FI>one<Fi> sick from the palsy laid.When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the <FI>one<Fi> sick from the palsy, "Son, your sins are forgiven you."But there were certain <FI>ones<Fi> of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,"Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this?  Who can forgive sins but God only?"But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned like this within themselves, He said to them, "Why do you reason these things in your hearts?Which is easier, to say to the <FI>one<Fi> sick from the palsy, 'Your sins are forgiven you'; or to say, 'Arise, take up your bed, and walk'?But that you may know that the Son of Man has power upon earth to forgive sins," He said to the <FI>one<Fi> sick from the palsy,"I say to you, Arise, take up your bed, and go your way into your house."And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; so that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything done in this fashion."Then He went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude accompanied Him, and He taught them.And as He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of customs, and said to him, "Follow Me."  And he arose and followed Him.And it came to pass, that as Jesus sat at a meal in Levi's house, many publicans and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples: For there were many, and they followed Him.And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eat with publicans and sinners, they said to His disciples, "Why is it that He eats and drinks with publicans and sinners?"When Jesus heard it, He said to them, "Those that are whole have no need of the physician, but <FI>rather<Fi> those that are sick: I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: And they came and said to Him, "Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?"Then Jesus said to them, "Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?  As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then they shall fast in those days.Also no man sews a piece of new cloth on an old garment; or else the new piece that filled it in rips up from the old, and the tear is made worse.And no man puts new wine into old leather vessels: Or else the new wine bursts the leather vessels, and the wine is spilled, and the leather vessels shall be destroyed: But new wine must be put into new leather vessels."And it came to pass, that He went through the grain-fields on the Sabbath day; and His disciples began to pluck the ears of grain as they went.And the Pharisees said to Him, "Behold, why on the Sabbath day do they do that which is not lawful?"And He said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he had need, and was hungry; he and those that were with him?How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?"And He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath:Therefore the Son of Man is Lord also of the Sabbath."And He entered into the synagogue again; and a man was there who had a withered hand.Therefore they watched Him, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath day; that they might accuse Him.And He said to the man who had the withered hand, "Stand forth."And He said to them, "Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath days, or to do evil?  To save life, or to kill?"  But they held their peace.And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved because of the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, "Stretch forth your hand."  And he stretched it out; and his hand was restored whole like the other.Then the Pharisees went out, and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.But Jesus withdrew Himself with His disciples to the sea: And a large multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judea,also from Jerusalem, and Idumea, and from beyond the Jordan; and those around Tyre and Sidon, when they had heard what great things He did, a large multitude came to Him.Then He told His disciples that a small ship should wait on Him because of the multitude, lest they should swarm Him.For He had healed many; therefore as many as had plagues pressed upon Him to touch Him.And unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him, and cried out, saying, "You are the Son of God."Therefore He strictly charged them that they should not make Him known.And He went up into a mountain, and called to Him those whom He wished: And they came to Him.Then He ordained twelve, that they should be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach,and to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:And Simon He surnamed Peter;And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and He surnamed them Boanerges, which is, "The sons of thunder";and Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananite,and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him: And they went into a house.And the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.Then when His friends heard about it, they went out to lay hold on Him: For they said, "He is beside Himself."And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebub," and "By the prince of the devils He casts out devils."Then He called them to Him, and said to them in parables: "How can Satan cast out Satan?And if a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.And if Satan rises up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end.No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, unless he first binds the strong man; and then he shall spoil his house.Truly I say to you, All sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whichever blasphemies they shall blaspheme:But he that blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation":Because they said, "He has an unclean spirit."Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him.And the multitude sat around Him, and they said to Him, "Behold, Your mother and Your brethren outside seek You."But He answered them, saying, "Who is My mother, or My brothers?"And He looked around at those who sat about Him, and said, "Behold My mother and My brothers!For whoever does the will of God, the same is My brother, and My sister, and mother."And He began again to teach by the sea side: And there was a large multitude gathered to Him, so that He entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His doctrine,"Hearken; behold, a sower went out to sow:And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the wayside, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.And some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.But the other fell on good ground, and yielded fruit that sprang up, increased, and produced: Some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."And He said to them, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."And when He was alone, those who were around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable.And He said to them, "To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: But to those that are outside, all these things are done in parables:That 'Seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.' "And He said to them, "Do you not know this parable?  And how then will you know all parables?The sower sows the word.And these are those by the wayside, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan comes immediately, and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.And likewise, these are they which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;but have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time: Afterward, when affliction or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,but the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.But these are they which are sown on good ground, those who hear the word, receive it, and bear fruit: Some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."And He said to them, "Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed?  Is it not to be set on a candlestick?For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was anything kept secret, but that it should come abroad.If any man has ears to hear, let him hear."And He said to them, "Take heed what you hear: With the same measure you use, it shall be measured to you: And to you who hear, more shall be given.For he that has, to him <FI>more<Fi> shall be given: And he that does not have, from him shall be taken even that which he has."And He said, "So is the kingdom of God, as if a man casts seed into the ground;and sleeps, and rises night and day, and the seed springs and grows up, he does not know how.For the earth yields crops from itself: First the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head.But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come."And He said, "To what shall we liken the kingdom of God?  Or with what comparison shall we compare it?It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is smaller than all the seeds that are in the earth:But when it is sown, it grows up, and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches; so that the birds of the air may lodge under its shadow."And with many such parables He spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it.But He did not speak to them without a parable: And when they were alone, He expounded all things to His disciples.And the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us pass over to the other side."And when they had sent away the multitude, they took Him even as He was in the ship.  And there were also with Him other little ships.Then there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.And He was in the back part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: And they awoke Him, and said to Him, "Master, do You not care that we perish?"Then He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still."  And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.And He said to them, "Why are you so fearful?  How is it that you have no faith?"And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "What sort of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?"Then they came over to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.And when He had come out of the ship, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:Because he had often been bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: Neither could any man tame him.And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshiped Him,and cried out with a loud voice, and said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, You Son of the Most High God?  I adjure You by God, that You do not torment me."For He said to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit."Also He asked him, "What is your name?"  And he answered, saying, "My name is Legion: For we are many."And he implored Him greatly that He would not send them away out of the country.Now there was a large herd of swine feeding there near the mountains.And all the devils implored Him, saying, "Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them."And immediately Jesus gave them leave.  Then the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: And the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (there were about two thousand); and choked in the sea.And those who fed the swine fled, and went and told it in the city, and in the country.  And they went out to see what it was that was done.Then they came to Jesus, and saw him who was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: And they were afraid.And those who saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.Then they began to beseech Him to depart out from their coasts.And when He came into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil implored Him that he might be with Him.Nevertheless, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and has had compassion on you."And he departed, and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him: And all men marveled.And when Jesus had sailed over again by ship to the other side, many people gathered to Him; and He was near the sea.And behold, there came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw Him, he fell at His feet,and implored Him greatly, saying, "My little daughter lies at the point of death: I beseech you, come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live."Then Jesus went with him; and many people followed Him, and crowded Him.And a certain woman, who had a flow of blood for twelve years,and had suffered many things from many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and nothing was better, but rather grew worse,When she had heard of Jesus, came up behind Him within the multitude, and touched His garment.For she said, "If I may only touch His garment, I shall be whole."And immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that virtue had gone out of Him, turned himself around in the multitude, and said, "Who touched My clothes?"And His disciples said to Him, "You see the multitude crowding You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?' "And He looked around to see her who had done this thing.But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before Him, and told Him all the truth.And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you whole; go in peace, and be whole of your plague."While He yet spoke, there came certain ones from the ruler of the synagogue's house who said, "Your daughter is dead.  Why trouble the Master any further?"As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not be afraid, only believe."And He permitted no man to follow Him, except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw the tumult, and those who wept and wailed greatly.And when He came in, He said to them, "Why make this ado, and weep?  The damsel is not dead, but sleeps."And they laughed Him to scorn.  But when He had put them all out, He took the father and the mother of the damsel, and those who were with Him, and entered in where the damsel was lying.Then He took the damsel by the hand, and said to her, "Talitha cumi"; which being interpreted is, "Damsel, I say to you, Arise."And immediately the damsel arose, and walked; for she was twelve years of age.  And they were astonished with a great astonishment.And He charged them strictly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.Then He went out from there, and came into His own country; and His disciples follow Him.And when the Sabbath day had come, He began to teach in the synagogue: And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, "From what source does this Man obtain these things?  And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that even such mighty works are performed by His hands?Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, the brother of James, Joses, Juda, and Simon?  And are not His sisters here with us?"  And they were offended at Him.But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, among his own blood relatives, and in his own house."And He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands upon a few sick people, and healed them.And He marveled because of their unbelief.  Then He went all around the villages, teaching.And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them forth two by two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a staff; no bag, no bread, no money in their money pouch:But be shod with sandals; and do not put on two coats.And He said to them, "In whatever place where you enter into a house, abide there until you depart from that place.And whoever does not receive you, nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them.  Truly I say to you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city."Then they went out, and preached that people should repent.And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.And King Herod heard of Him; (for His name was spread abroad): And he said, "that John the Baptist had risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works show forth themselves in him."Others said, "It is Elijah."  And others said, "It is a prophet, or like one of the prophets."But when Herod heard of it, he said, "This is John, whom I beheaded; he has risen from the dead."For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife; for he had married her.For John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.Then when a convenient day came, Herod made a supper on his birthday to his lords, high captains, and chief estate <FI>owners<Fi> of Galilee;And when Herodias' daughter came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the damsel, "Ask of me whatever you desire, and I will give it to you."He even swore to her, "Whatever you shall ask of me, I will give it to you, up to half of my kingdom."Now she went forth, and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?"  And she said, "The head of John the Baptist."And she came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked <FI>it<Fi>, saying, "I desire that without delay you give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter."And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for the sakes of those who sat with him, he would not reject her <FI>request<Fi>.Therefore the king immediately sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought; and he went and beheaded him in the prison,brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the damsel: And the damsel gave it to her mother.And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took away his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.Then the apostles gathered themselves together to Jesus, and told Him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.And He said to them, "Come out by yourselves into a deserted place, and rest a while": For there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure time even so much as to eat.Therefore they departed into a deserted place by ship privately.But the people saw them departing, and many knew Him, and ran there on foot out of all the cities, passed them, and came together to Him.And Jesus, when He came out, saw many people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: And He began to teach them many things.And when the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him, and said, "This is a deserted place, and now the time is far passed:Send them away, that they may go into the country all around, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: For they have nothing to eat."He answered and said to them, "You give them something to eat."  And they said to Him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred silver coins worth of bread, and give them it to eat?"He said to them, "How many loaves do you have?  Go and see."  And when they knew, they said, "Five, and two fish."Then He commanded them to make everyone sit down by companies upon the green grass.Then they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all.Yet they all ate, and were filled.And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fish.And those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men.And immediately He compelled His disciples to get into the ship, and go before Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He sent away the people.And when He had sent them away, He departed into a mountain to pray.Then when evening came, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and He alone was on the land.And He saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary to them: And about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.But when they saw Him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:For they all saw Him, and were troubled.  Then immediately He talked with them, and said to them, "Be of good cheer: It is I; do not be afraid."Then He went up to them into the ship; and the wind ceased: And they were exceedingly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.For they did not consider the miracle of the loaves: For their heart was hardened.And when they had sailed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.And when they came out of the ship, immediately they knew Him,And ran through that whole region all around, and began to carry about in beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was.And whatever place He entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and implored Him that they might touch but the hem of His garment: And as many as touched Him were made whole.Then the Pharisees and certain <FI>ones<Fi> of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem.And when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashed hands, they found fault.For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands often, holding the tradition of the elders.And when they come from the market, they do not eat unless they wash.  And there are many other things which they have received to keep, like the washing of cups, pots, brazen vessels, and of tables.Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, "Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?"He answered and said to them, "Isaiah has prophesied well of you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.Moreover they worship Me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men, like with the washing of pots and cups; and many other such things you do."And He said to them, "Full well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your own tradition.For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'Whoever curses father or mother, let him die the death':But you say, 'If a man says to his father or mother, "Whatever you might be profited through me is Corban" ', that is to say, a gift; he shall be free <FI>of obligation<Fi>.And you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother;making the Word of God of no effect through your tradition, which you have passed down: And many such similar things you do."And when He had called all the people to Himself, He said to them, "Hearken to Me, everyone of you, and understand:There is nothing from outside a man, which entering into him can defile him: But the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile the man.If any man has ears to hear, let him hear."And when He had entered into the house <FI>away<Fi> from the people, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable.And He said to them, "Are you likewise without understanding also?  Do you not perceive, that whatever thing from outside which enters into the man, it cannot defile him;because it does not enter into his heart, but into the belly, and goes out into the drain, purging all foods?"And He said, "That which comes out of the man, that defiles the man.For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."And from there He arose, and went inside the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into a house, and would have had no man know it; but He could not be hid.For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of Him, and came and fell at His feet:The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nationality; and she implored Him that He would cast the devil out of her daughter.But Jesus said to her, "Let the children first be filled: For it is not proper to take the children's bread, and to cast it to the dogs."And she answered and said to Him, "Yes, Lord: Yet the dogs under the table eat from the children's crumbs."Then He said to her, "Because of this saying go your way; the devil has gone out of your daughter."And when she had come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter lying upon the bed.And again, departing out of the borders of Tyre and Sidon, He came to the Sea of Galilee, through the midst of the Decapolis.Then they brought to Him one who was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they implored Him to put His hand upon him.And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers into his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue;And looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened."And immediately his ears were opened, and the <FI>muscle<Fi> string of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly.Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it.and they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well: He makes both the deaf to hear, and the mute to speak."In those days, the multitude being very large, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Himself, and said to them,"I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with Me three days, and have nothing to eat:And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint on the way: For some of them came from afar."And His disciples answered Him, "From where can a man satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?"Therefore He asked them, "How many loaves do you have?"  And they said, "Seven."Then He commanded the people to sit down on the ground: And He took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the people.And they had a few small fish: And he blessed <FI>them<Fi>, and also commanded to set <FI>the fish<Fi> before them.So they ate, and were filled: And they took up seven baskets of the leftover food fragments.Now those who had eaten were about four thousand: And He sent them away.And immediately He entered into a ship with His disciples, and came into the coast of Dalmanutha.And the Pharisees came forth, and began questioning with Him, seeking a sign from heaven of Him, tempting Him.Then He sighed deeply in His spirit, and said, "Why does this generation seek after a sign?  Truly I say to you, There shall be no sign given to this generation."And He left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither did they have more than one loaf in the ship with them.And He charged them, saying, "Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod."And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "It is because we have no bread."Then when Jesus knew it, He said to them, "Why do you reason, because you have no bread?  Do you not yet perceive, neither understand?  Do you still have your heart hardened?Having eyes, do you not see?  And having ears, do you not hear?  And do you not remember?When I broke the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?"  They said to Him, "Twelve.""Also, when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?"  And they said, "Seven."And He said to them, "How is it that you do not understand?"Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and implored Him to touch him.And He took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when He had spat on his eyes, and put His hands upon him, He asked him if he saw anything.And he looked up, and said, "I see men like trees, walking."After that He put His hands upon his eyes again, and made him look up: And he was restored, and saw everyone clearly.Then He sent him away to his house, saying, "Neither go into the town, nor tell it to anyone in the town."And Jesus went out, and His disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: And by the road He asked His disciples, saying to them, "Who do men say that I am?"Now they answered, "John the Baptist: But some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets."And He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"  And Peter answered and said to Him, "You are the Christ."Then He strictly instructed them that they should tell no one about Him.And He began to teach them, that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, and by the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.And He spoke that <FI>insight<Fi> openly.  Then Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him.But when He had turned around and looked upon His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, "Get behind Me, Satan: For you do not savor the things that are of God, but the things that are of men."And when He had called the people to Him with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever is willing to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.For whoever intends to save his life shall lose it; but whoever shall lose his life for My sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.For what shall it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?For whoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation; the Son of Man shall also be ashamed of him, when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."And He said to them, "Truly I say to you, That there are some of those who stand here, which shall not taste of death, until they have seen the kingdom of God come with power."And after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John with Him, and led them up into a high mountain apart by themselves: And He was transfigured before them.Then His clothes became shining, exceedingly white as snow; such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses: And they were talking with Jesus.Then Peter answered, and said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here: And let us make three tabernacles; one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."For he did not know what to say; because they were severely afraid.And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son: Hear Him."Then suddenly, when they had looked all around, they saw no man anymore, except Jesus only with themselves.Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.And they kept that matter to themselves, questioning with one another what the <FI>Son of Man<Fi> rising from the dead should mean.And they asked Him, saying, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"And He answered and told them, "Elijah truly comes first, and restores all things; and how it is written <FI>concerning<Fi> the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things, and be disregarded as nothing.But I say to you, That Elijah has indeed come, and they have done to him whatever they intended, as it is written of him."And when He came to His disciples, He saw a large multitude around them, and the scribes questioning with them.And when all the people beheld Him, immediately they were greatly amazed, and <FI>while<Fi> running to Him saluted Him.And He asked the scribes, "What are you questioning with them?"Then one of the multitude answered and said, "Master, I brought my son to You, who has a mute spirit;and wherever it takes him, it dashes him: And he foams, gnashes with his teeth, and withers away: Therefore I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out; but they could not."He answered him, and said, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you?  How long shall I bear with you?  Bring him to Me."Then they brought him to Him: And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit dashed him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.So He asked his father, "How long ago was it since this came to him?"  And he said, "From childhood.And oftentimes it has cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: But if You can do anything, have compassion on us, and help us."Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes."And immediately the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the fowl spirit, saying to it: "You dumb and deaf spirit, I charge you, come out of him, and enter no more into him."Then the spirit cried out, tore him sore, and came out of him: And he was as <FI>if<Fi> one dead; to the <FI>extent<Fi> that many said, "He is dead."But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, "Why couldn't we cast <FI>it<Fi> out?"And He said to them, "This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting."Then they departed from there, and passed through Galilee; and He did not intend that anyone should know it.For He taught His disciples, and said to them, "The Son of Man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill Him; then after He is killed, He shall rise the third day."But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.Then He came to Capernaum: And being in the house He asked them, "What was it that you disputed among yourselves by the road?"But they held their peace: For by the road they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If any man desires to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all."Then He took a child, and set him in the midst of them: And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them,"Whoever receives one such of these children in My name, receives Me: And whoever receives Me, receives not Me, but Him that sent Me."And John answered Him, saying, "Master, we saw someone casting out devils in Your name, and he does not follow us: Therefore we forbade him, because he does not follow us."But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him: For there is no man who does a miracle in My name, that can quickly afterward speak evil of Me.For he who is not against us is on our side.For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, truly I say to you, He shall not lose his reward.But whoever offends one of these little ones that believe in Me, it would be better for him that a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were cast into the sea.And if your hand causes you to offend, cut it off: It is better for you to enter into life maimed, than to go into hell having two hands, into the fire that shall never be quenched:Where 'Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'And if your foot causes you to offend, cut it off: It is better for you to enter into life crippled, than to be cast into hell having two feet, into the fire that shall never be quenched:Where 'Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'And if your eye causes you to offend, pluck it out: It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than to be cast into hell fire having two eyes:Where 'Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'For everyone shall be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice shall be seasoned with salt.Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its saltiness, with what will you season it?  Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another."And He arose from that place, and came into the borders of Judea by the far side of the Jordan: And the people went with Him again; and as He was accustomed to, He taught them <FI>with repetition<Fi>.Then the Pharisees came to Him, and asked Him, "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife?" testing Him.And He answered and said to them, "What did Moses command you?"And they said, "Moses permitted to write a <FI>formal notice<Fi> of divorce, and to put her away."And Jesus answered and said to them, "For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.But from the beginning of the creation God 'made them male and female.'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;and the two shall be one flesh: So then they are no longer two, but one flesh.Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."And in the house His disciples asked Him again about the same matter.And He said to them, "Whoever puts away his wife, and marries another, commits adultery against her.And if a woman puts away her husband, and marries another, she commits adultery."Then they brought young children to Him, that He should touch them; and His disciples rebuked those who brought them.But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased, and said to them, "Permit the little children to come to Me, and do not forbid them: For of such is the kingdom of God.Truly I say to you, Whoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter into it."And He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them.And when He had gone forth into the roadway, there came one running, and he kneeled to Him, and asked Him, "Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?"And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good?  There is none good, except One, that is, God.You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not kill,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Do not defraud,' 'Honor your father and your mother.' "And he answered and said to Him, "Master, I have observed all these from my youth."Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: And come, take up the cross, and follow Me."And he was sad at that word, and went away grieved: For he had great possessions.Then Jesus looked around, and said to His disciples, "How hardly shall those that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!"And the disciples were astonished at His words.  But Jesus answered again, and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."And they were exceedingly astonished, saying among themselves, "Who then can be saved?"Now Jesus looking upon them said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God: For with God all things are possible."Then Peter began to say to Him, "Look, we have left all, and have followed You."And Jesus answered and said, "Truly I say to you, There is no man who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My sake, and the gospel's,but he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.But many that are first shall be last; and the last first."Now they were on the road going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: And they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid.  Then He took the twelve again, and began to tell them what things would happen to Him,saying, "Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man shall be delivered to the chief priests, and to the scribes; and they shall condemn Him to death, and shall deliver Him to the Gentiles:And they shall mock Him, and shall scourge Him, and shall spit upon Him, and shall kill Him: And the third day He shall rise again."Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, "Master, we would <FI>like<Fi> that You do for us whatever we desire."And He said to them, "What do you will that I should do for you?"They said to Him, "Grant to us that we may sit, one on Your right hand, and the other on Your left hand, in Your glory."But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you ask: Can you drink of the cup that I drink of?  And be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?"And they said to Him, "We can."  And Jesus said to them, "You shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and you shall be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with:But to sit on My right hand and on My left hand is not Mine to give; but it shall be given to those for whom it is prepared."And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John.But Jesus called them to Him, and said to them, "You know that those who are deemed to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.But it shall not be so among you: Indeed whoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:And whoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.For even the Son of Man did not come to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many."And they came to Jericho: Then as He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a large number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the side of the highway begging.And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me."And many charged him that he should hold his peace: But he cried out a great deal more, "Son of David, have mercy on me."Then Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called.  And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Be of good comfort, rise; He calls <FI>for<Fi> you."And casting away his garment, he rose, and came to Jesus.And Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you will that I should do to you?"  The blind man said to Him, "Lord, that I may receive my sight."Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you whole."  And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus on the road.Then when they came near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent forth two of His disciples,and said to them, "Go your way into the village before you: And as soon as you all have entered into it, you all shall find a colt tied, upon which no man ever sat; loose him, and bring him.And if anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?'  say that, 'The Lord has need of him'; and immediately he will send him here."And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside in a place where two roads met; and they loosed him.Then some of them that stood there said to them, "What are you doing, loosing the colt?"And they said to them according to how Jesus had commanded: And they let them go.Then they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and He sat upon him.And many spread their clothes on the road: And others cut down branches off the trees, and spread them on the road.Also those who went before, and those who followed, cried out, saying, "Hosanna; 'Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord':Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that comes in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest."And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: And when He had looked around upon all things, and already the evening had come, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.Then the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry:And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, He moved towards it, if perhaps He might find anything upon it: And when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.And Jesus answered and said to it, "No man eat fruit from you any longer forever."  And His disciples heard it.Then they came to Jerusalem: And Jesus went into the temple, and began to drive out those who sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of those who sold doves;and would not permit any man to carry any vessel through the temple.Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called the house of prayer of all nations'?  But you have made it a 'den of thieves.' "And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy Him: For they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His doctrine.And when evening had come, He went out of the city.Then in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.And Peter, remembering, said to Him, "Master, behold, the fig tree which You cursed is withered away."And Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God.For truly, I say to you, that whoever shall say to this mountain, 'Be removed, and be cast into the sea'; and shall not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things which he says shall come to pass; he shall have whatever he says.Therefore I say to you, Whatever things you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them.And when you all stand praying, if you all have anything against anyone, forgive: That your Father which is in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses."Then they came again to Jerusalem: And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him,And they said to Him, "By what authority do you do these things?  And who gave You this authority to do these things?"And Jesus answered and said to them, "I will also ask you one question, and answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men?  Answer Me."And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven'; He will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'But if we say, 'From men' "; they feared the people: For all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.Therefore they answered and said to Jesus, "We cannot tell."  And Jesus answered and said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."Then He began to speak to them in parables.  "A certain man planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat, and built a tower; and he leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country.And when the season came he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the vinedressers.And they took him, and beat him, and sent him away empty handed.Yet again he sent another servant to them; and they cast stones at him, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated.And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.Therefore still having one son, his well-beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, 'They will reverence my son.'But those vinedressers said among themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.'Then they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.Therefore what shall the lord of the vineyard do?  He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and will give the vineyard to others.And have you not read this scripture; 'The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner:This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'? "And they sought to lay hold of Him, but feared the people: For they knew that He had spoken the parable against them: And they left Him, and went their way.Then they sent to Him certain <FI>ones<Fi> of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch Him in His words.Moreover when they had come, they said to Him, "Master, we know that You are true, and revere no man; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?Should we give, or should we not give?"  But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, "Why do you tempt Me?  Bring Me a silver coin, that I may see it."And they brought it.  And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?"  They said to Him, "Caesar's."And Jesus answering said to them , "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."  And they marveled at Him.Then the Sadducees came to Him, who say there is no resurrection; and they asked Him, saying,"Master, Moses wrote to us that if any man's brother dies, and leaves his wife behind, and leaves no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed to his brother.Now there were seven brothers: And the first took a wife; and dying left no seed.And the second took her, and died, and he did not leave any seed either: And the third likewise.Even all seven had her, and left no seed: Last of all the woman died also.Therefore, in the resurrection when they rise, whose wife shall she be of them?  For all seven had her as wife."Jesus answering said to them, "Are you not therefore in error, because you do not know the scriptures, nor the power of God?For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.And concerning the dead, that they rise: Have you not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spoke to him, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'?He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: Therefore you error greatly."Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, "Which is the first commandment of all?"And Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is, 'Hear, O Israel; the LORD our God is one LORD:And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength': This is the first commandment.And the second is alike, namely this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'  There is no other commandment greater than these."Therefore the scribe said to Him, "Well <FI>said<Fi>, Master, You have spoken the truth: For there is one God; and there is no other but He:And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."Then when Jesus saw that he answered prudently, He said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."  And after that no man dared ask Him any question.Then Jesus answered, while He taught in the temple, and said, "How come the scribes say that Christ is the Son of David?For David himself said by the Holy Spirit, 'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies Your footstool." 'Therefore David himself calls Him 'Lord'; how then is He his Son?"  And the common people heard Him gladly.Then He said to them in His doctrine, "Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, love salutations in the marketplaces,the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: These shall receive greater damnation."And Jesus sat before the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: And many who were rich cast in much.Then a certain poor widow came, and she threw in two small bronze coins, which make half a silver coin.<RF>two small bronze coins: In KJV, two mites; which were each equivalent to 1/8'th of an assarius "as" coin during Roman times.<Rf><RF>half a silver coin: In KJV, farthing; which was equivalent to 1/4 of an English/British penny.<Rf>Then He called His disciples to Him, and said to them, "Truly I say to you, That this poor widow has cast more in, than all those who have cast into the treasury:For they all cast in out of their abundance; but she out of her need cast in all that she had, even all her <FI>means of<Fi> living."Then, as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, "Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!"And Jesus answering said to him, "Do you see these great buildings?  There shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down."And as He sat upon the Mount of Olives before the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately,"Tell us, when shall these things be?  And what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?"And Jesus answering them began to say, "Take heed lest any man deceive you:For many shall come in My name, saying, 'I am Christ'; and shall deceive many.And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled: For such things must come to pass; but the end shall not be yet.For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And there shall be earthquakes in diverse places, and there shall be famines and troubles: These are the beginnings of sorrows.But take heed to yourselves: For they shall deliver you up to councils; and you shall be beaten in the synagogues: And you shall be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them.And the gospel must first be published among all nations.But when they lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what you shall speak, neither shall you premeditate: But whatever is given you in that hour, you speak that: For it is not you that speaks, but the Holy Spirit.Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.And you shall be hated by all people for My name's sake: But he who endures to the end, the same shall be saved."But when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not" (let him that reads understand), "Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains:And let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter in that place, to take anything out of his house:And let him who is in the field not turn back again to pick up his garment.But woe to those who are <FI>pregnant<Fi> with child, and to those who are breastfeeding in those days!And pray that your flight not be in the winter.For in those days there shall be affliction, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor shall be <FI>again<Fi>.And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved: But for the elect's sake, whom He has chosen, He has shortened the days.Then also if any man says to you, 'Look, here is Christ'; or, 'Look, He is there'; do not believe him:For false christs and false prophets shall rise and show signs and wonders to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.But take heed: Behold, I have foretold you all things.But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,and the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.And then they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.And then He shall send His angels, and shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.Now learn a parable of the fig tree; when its branch is yet tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near:So you in like manner, when you see these things come to pass, know that it is near, even at the doors.Truly I say to you, That this generation shall not pass, until all these things are done.Heaven and earth shall pass away: But My words shall not pass away.But of that day and that hour no man knows, no, not the angels which are in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father.Take heed, watch and pray: For you do not know when the time is.For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.Watch therefore: For you do not know when the master of the house comes, in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning:Lest coming suddenly, he find you sleeping.And what I say to you I say to all, Watch."After two days it was the Feast of the Passover, and of Unleavened Bread: And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by craftiness, and put Him to death.But they said, "Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people."And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at a meal, there came a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment of spikenard; and she broke the box, and poured it on His head.<RF>spikenard; the oil of balsam obtained from a plant of the genus Nardus.<Rf>And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, "Why was this waste of the fragrant ointment made?For it might have been sold for more than three hundred silver coins, and have been given to the poor."  And they murmured against her.And Jesus said, "Leave her alone; why do you trouble her?  She has done a good work on Me.For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you choose you may do them good: But Me you do not always have.She has done what she could: She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial.Truly I say to you, Wherever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this which she has done shall also be spoken of for a memorial of her."Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them.And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money.  Therefore he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.Then on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover, His disciples said to Him, "Where would you like that we go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?"And He sent forth two of His disciples, and said to them, "Go into the city, and a man shall meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him.And wherever he goes in, say to the goodman of the house, 'The Master says, "Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the Passover with My disciples?" 'Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared: There make ready for us."Then His disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found it just as He had said to them: And they made ready the Passover.In the evening He came with the twelve.And as they sat and ate, Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, One of you who eats with Me shall betray Me."And they began to be sorrowful, and to say to Him one by one, "Is it I?"  And another said, "Is it I?"He answered and said to them, "It is one of the twelve, who dips with Me in the dish.The Son of Man indeed goes as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!  It would have been good for that man if he had never been born."And as they ate, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave to them, and said "Take, eat; this is My body."Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them: And they all drank of it.And He said to them, "This is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.Truly I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.Then Jesus said to them, "All of you shall be offended because of Me this night: For it is written, 'I will smite the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.'But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee."But Peter said to Him, "Although all shall be offended, yet I will not be."Jesus said to him, "Truly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you shall deny Me three times."But he spoke more vehemently, "If I need to die with You, I will not in any case deny You."  They all also said likewise.Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: And He said to His disciples, "You sit here, while I pray."And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and began to be greatly alarmed, and to be very heavy;And He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death: Tarry here, and watch."He went forward a little <FI>farther<Fi>, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him.And He said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for You; take away this cup from Me: Nevertheless not what I will, but what You will."Then He came, and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "Simon, do you sleep?  Could you not watch one hour?Watch and pray, all of you, lest you enter into temptation.  Truly the spirit is ready, but the flesh is weak."And He went away again, and prayed, and spoke the same words.And when He returned, He found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy); neither did they know what to answer Him.Then He came the third time, and said to them, "Sleep on now, and take your rest: It is enough, the hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.Rise up, let us go; look, he who betrays Me is at hand."And immediately, while He was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a large multitude with swords and <FI>wooden<Fi> staffs, from the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders.Moreover he who betrayed Him gave them a sign, saying, "Whomever I kiss, that same is He: Take Him, and lead Him away safely."And as soon as he had come, he immediately went to Him, and said, "Master, Master"; and kissed Him.And they laid their hands on Him, and took Him.And one of those who stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest's, and cut off his ear.Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Have you come out, as against a thief, with swords and with <FI>wooden<Fi> staffs to take Me?I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not lay hold of Me: But the scriptures must be fulfilled."Then they all forsook Him, and fled.And a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth flung around his naked body; and the young men laid hold of him:And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.And they led Jesus away to the high priest; and with him were assembled all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes.But Peter followed Him afar off, even into the palace courtyard of the high priest: And he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.And the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death; but found none.For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree together.Then certain ones arose, and bore false witness against Him, saying,"We heard Him say, 'I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.' "But not even then did their testimony agree together.And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, "Do You answer nothing?  What is it which these people witness against You?"But He held his peace, and answered nothing.  Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?"And Jesus said, "I am: And you shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven."Then the high priest tore his clothes, and said, "What need do we have of any further witnesses?You have heard the blasphemy: What do you think?"  And they all condemned Him to be guilty of death.Then some began to spit on Him, and to cover His face, and to buffet Him, and to say to Him, "Prophesy": And the servants struck Him with the palms of their hands.And as Peter was down beneath in the palace, there came one of the maids of the high priest:And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, "You also were with Jesus of Nazareth."But he denied it, saying, "I do not know, neither do I understand what you are saying."  And he went out into the porch; and the rooster crowed.And the maid saw him again, and began to say to those who stood by, "This is one of them."But he denied it again.  And a little later those who stood by said to Peter again, "Surely you are one of them: For you are a Galilean, and your speech agrees with this."And he began to curse and to swear, saying, "I do not know this Man of whom you speak."And the rooster crowed for the second time.  Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you shall deny Me three times."  And when he thought upon that, he wept.Then in the morning without delay, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, carried Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate.And Pilate asked Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?"  And He answering said to them, "You said it."And the chief priests accused Him of many things: But He answered nothing.Moreover Pilate asked Him again, <FI>inquiring<Fi>, "Do You answer nothing?  Behold how many things they witness against You."But Jesus still answered nothing; so that Pilate marveled.Now at that feast he released one prisoner to them, whomever they desired.And there was one named Barabbas, who lay bound with those who made an insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.Then the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do like he had always done for them.But Pilate answered them, saying, "Are you willing that I release to you the King of the Jews?"For he knew that the chief priests had delivered Him because of envy.But the chief priests stirred up the people, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them.And Pilate answered and said again to them, "What then would you rather that I do to Him whom you call the King of the Jews?"Moreover they cried out again, "Crucify Him."Then Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has He done?"  And they exceedingly cried out <FI>all<Fi> the more, "Crucify Him."And so Pilate, willing to please the people, released Barabbas to them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged Him, to be crucified.And the soldiers led Him away into the hall, called Praetorium, and they called together the whole band of soldiers.Then they clothed Him with purple, platted a crown of thorns, and put it around His head,and began to salute Him, "Hail, King of the Jews!"Then they smote Him on the head with a reed, and spat on Him, and bowing their knees worshiped Him.And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off of Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.Then they compelled one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry His cross.And they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which being interpreted is, The Place of a Skull.Then they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink: But He did not take it.And when they crucified Him, they divided His clothes, casting lots for them, to determine what every man should take.Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him.And the superscription of His accusation was written over Him, THE KING OF THE JEWS.And with Him they crucified two thieves; one on His right hand, and the other on His left.Therefore the scripture was fulfilled, which says, "And He was numbered with the transgressors."And those who passed by railed at Him, wagging their heads, and saying, "Ah, You that destroy the temple, and rebuild it in three days,save Yourself, and come down from the cross."Likewise also the chief priests mocking, said among themselves with the scribes, "He saved others; He cannot save Himself.Let Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe."  Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him.And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.Then at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"  which being interpreted is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"And when they heard it, some of those who stood by said, "Behold, He calls Elijah."And someone ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave it to Him to drink, saying, "Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to take Him down."And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom.And when the centurion, who stood facing against Him, saw that He cried out in this manner, and gave up the ghost, he said, "Truly this Man was the Son of God."There were also women looking on from afar: Among whom was Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome;(who also followed Him when He was in Galilee, and ministered to Him); and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.Then when evening had come, because it was the Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath,Joseph of Arimathea, an honorable counsellor, who also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly to Pilate, and earnestly begged the body of Jesus.Moreover Pilate marveled that He was already dead: And calling the centurion to him, he asked him whether He had been dead for a while.Then when he was sure of it from the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.He even bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen, and laid Him in a sepulcher which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone to the door of the sepulcher.And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where He was laid.Then when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint Him.And very early in the morning on the first day of the week, they came to the sepulcher at the rising of the sun.And they said among themselves, "Who shall roll away the stone from the door of the sepulcher for us?"Then when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: For it was very large.And entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were frightened.Moreover he said to them, "Do not be affrightened: You seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: He is risen; He is not here: Behold the place where they laid Him.But go your way, tell His disciples and Peter, that He goes before you into Galilee: There you shall see Him, as He said to you."Therefore they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulcher; for they trembled and were amazed: Neither did they say anything to anyone; for they were afraid.Now when Jesus was risen early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven devils.And she went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept.And when they heard that He was alive, and had been seen by her, they did not believe.After that, He appeared in another form to two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.And they went and told it to the rest: Yet they did not believe them either.Afterward He appeared to the eleven as they sat at a meal, and reproved them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He was risen.And He said to them, "Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.He who believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he who does not believe shall be damned.And these signs shall follow those who believe; in My name they shall cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."So then after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.  Amen.Inasmuch as many have gone about to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,even as they delivered them to us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the beginning, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus,that you might know the certainty of those things, in which you have been instructed.There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: And his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.Yet they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they were both now well advanced in years.And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the time of incense.Moreover there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.But the angel said to him, "Do not fear, Zacharias: For your prayer is heard; and your wife Elisabeth shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.And you shall have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.And he shall turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.For He shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."And Zacharias said to the angel, "By what shall I know this?  For I am an old man, and my wife well advanced in years."And the angel answering said to him, "I am Gabriel, that stands in the presence of God; and am sent to speak to you, and to show you these glad tidings.Yet behold, you shall be mute, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because you did not believe my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season."And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he tarried so long in the temple.Moreover when he came out, he could not speak to them: And they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: For he beckoned to them, and remained speechless.Also it came to pass, that as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,"Thus has the Lord dealt with me in the days in which He looked on me, to take away my reproach among men."And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.And the angel came in to her, and said, "Be glad, you who are highly favored, the Lord is with you: Blessed are you among women."Now when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of salutation this was.Then the angel said to her, "Do not fear, Mary: For you have found favor with God.And behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: And the Lord God shall give to Him the throne of His father David:And He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end."Then Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, seeing I have not known a man?"And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you: Therefore that Holy One which shall be born of you shall also be called the Son of God.And behold, your cousin Elisabeth has also conceived a son in her old age: And this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.For with God nothing shall be impossible."And Mary said, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; may it be to me according to your word."  And the angel departed from her.And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah;and entered into the house of Zacharias, and greeted Elisabeth.And it came to pass, that when Elisabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit:And she spoke out with a loud voice, and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.And how is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?For see, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.And blessed is she who believed: For there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord."Then Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord,and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.For He has regarded the lowly state of His handmaiden: For behold, from this time forward all generations shall call me blessed.For He that is mighty has done great things to me; and holy is His name.And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.He has put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted those of low degree.He has filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He has sent away empty.He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy;as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to His seed forever."Moreover Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.And her neighbors and her cousins heard how the Lord had shown great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.But his mother answered and said, "Not so; but he shall be called John."And they said to her, "There is none of your kindred who is called by this name."And they made signs to his father, what he would have him called.And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, "His name is John."  Therefore they all marveled.And His mouth was immediately opened, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, and praised God.Then fear came on all who dwelt around them: And all these words were spread abroad throughout all the hill country of Judea.And all those who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What sort of child shall this be?"  And the hand of the Lord was with him.Also his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He has visited and redeemed His people,and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been since the world began:That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us;to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant;the oath which He swore to our father Abraham,that He would grant to us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve Him without fear,in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life.And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Highest: For you shall go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways;to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins,through the tender mercy of our God; by which the Dayspring from on high has visited us,to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts until the day of his presentation to Israel.And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David):To be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife, who was great with child.And so it was, that while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered.And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.Also in the same country there were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone all around them: And they were exceedingly afraid.Then the angel said to them, "Do not fear: For behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.And this shall be a sign to you; you shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."Then suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."And it came to pass, after the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us even now travel to Bethlehem, and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us."And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.Moreover when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this Child.And all those who heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told to them.And when eight days were fulfilled for the circumcising of the Child, His name was called JESUS, as named by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.Then when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought Him to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord;(as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord");and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and this same man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel: And the Holy Spirit was upon him.And it was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.And he came by the Spirit into the temple: And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him after the custom of the law,then he took Him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,"Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word:For my eyes have seen Your salvation,which You have prepared before the face of all people;a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel."And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken about Him.Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;(yes, a sword shall pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."Also there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher: She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;and she was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.And coming in that instant, she likewise gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.Then after they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.And the Child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: And the grace of God was upon Him.Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast.When they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the Child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and His mother were not aware of it.But supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day's journey; and they sought Him among their kindred and acquaintances.Then when they did not find Him, they turned back returning again to Jerusalem, seeking Him.And it came to pass, that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors <FI>of the law<Fi>, both hearing them, and asking them questions.Moreover, all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.Therefore when they saw Him, they were amazed: And His mother said to Him, "Son, why have you dealt like this with us?  Behold, Your father and I have sought You sorrowing."He said to them, "Why is it that you sought Me?  Were you not aware that I must be about My Father's business?"Yet they did not understand the saying which He spoke to them.Then He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them: But His mother kept all these sayings in her heart.And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,<RF>tetrarch; or, governor of four provinces<Rf>Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the Word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness.And he came into all the country around the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked place will be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.' "Then he said to the multitude that came forth to be baptized by him, "O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come?Therefore bring forth fruits suitable for repentance: And do not begin to say within yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father': For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.And even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees: Every tree therefore which does not bring forth good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire."Therefore the people asked him, saying, "What shall we do then?"He answered and said to them, "He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise."Then publicans also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Master, what shall we do?"And he said to them, "Require no more than that which is appointed to you."Likewise the soldiers demanded of him, saying, "And what shall we do?"  And he said to them, "Do violence to no man, nor accuse anyone falsely; and be content with your wages."And as the people were in expectation, and all men thought deeply about John in their hearts, whether he was the Christ, or not;John answered, saying to them all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I comes, the strap of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire:Whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and will gather the wheat into His granary; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire."And in His exhortation he preached many other things to the people.But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him over Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,yet above all added this, that he shut up John in prison.Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus was also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased."And Jesus Himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, who was the son<FI>-in-law<Fi> of Heli,<RF>Heli; or, Eli<Rf>who was the son of Matthat, who was the son of Levi, who was the son of Melchi, who was the son of Janna, who was the son of Joseph,who was the son of Mattathias, who was the son of Amos, who was the son of Nahum, who was the son of Esli, who was the son of Naggai,who was the son of Maath, who was the son of Mattathias, who was the son of Semei, who was the son of Joseph, who was the son of Judah,who was the son of Joannas, who was the son of Rhesa, who was the son of Zorobabel, who was the son of Salathiel, who was the son of Neri,who was the son of Melchi, who was the son of Addi, who was the son of Cosam, who was the son of Elmodam, who was the son of Er,who was the son of Jose, who was the son of Eliezer, who was the son of Jorim, who was the son of Matthat, who was the son of Levi,who was the son of Simeon, who was the son of Judah, who was the son of Joseph, who was the son of Jonan, who was the son of Eliakim,who was the son of Melea, who was the son of Menan, who was the son of Mattatha, who was the son of Nathan, who was the son of David,who was the son of Jesse, who was the son of Obed, who was the son of Boaz, who was the son of Salmon, who was the son of Naasson,who was the son of Amminadab, who was the son of Aram, who was the son of Esrom, who was the son of Phares, who was the son of Juda,who was the son of Jacob, who was the son of Isaac, who was the son of Abraham, who was the son of Terah, who was the son of Nachor,who was the son of Saruch, who was the son of Ragau, who was the son of Phalek, who was the son of Heber, who was the son of Sala,who was the son of Cainan, who was the son of Arphaxad, who was the son of Shem, who was the son of Noah, who was the son of Lamech,who was the son of Methusala, who was the son of Enoch, who was the son of Jared, who was the son of Maleleel, who was the son of Cainan,who was the son of Enos, who was the son of Seth, who was the son of Adam, who was the son of God.Moreover, Jesus being full of the Holy Spirit returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,being tempted forty days by the devil.  And in those days He ate nothing: And when they were ended, afterward He hungered.And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread."And Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written that, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.' "Then the devil, taking Him up onto a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.And the devil said to Him, "I will give You all this power, and the glory of them: For that is delivered to me; and I give it to whomever I desire.Therefore, if You will worship me, all shall be Yours."And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan: For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only shall you serve.' "Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here:For it is written, 'He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep You':and, 'In their hands they shall bear You up, lest at any time You dash Your foot against a stone.' "And Jesus answering said to him, "It is said, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.' "And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from Him for a season.Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: And a fame of Him went out through the region all around.And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.Then He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.And the book of the prophet Isaiah was delivered to Him.  And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written,"The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are bruised,to preach the acceptable year of the LORD."Then He closed the book, and He gave it back to the minister, and sat down.  And the eyes of all of those who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.And He began to say to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your ears."Therefore all bore Him witness, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth.  And they said, "Is this not Joseph's son?"And He said to them, "You will surely say this proverb to Me, 'Physician, heal yourself: Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country.' "And He said, "Truly I say to you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.But I tell you in truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;but Elijah was not sent to any of them, except to Sarepta, a city of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them were cleansed, except Naaman the Syrian."Then all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,and rose up, and thrust Him out of the city, and led Him to the edge of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down headfirst.But passing through the midst of them He went His way,and came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the Sabbath days.And they were astonished at His doctrine: For His word was with power.Then in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,saying, "Let us alone; what have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth?  Did you come to destroy us?  I know who You are; the Holy One of God."Then Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Hold your peace, and come out of him."  And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, it came out of him, and did not hurt him.Therefore they were all amazed, and spoke among themselves, saying, "What a word this is!  For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out."And the fame of him went out into every place of the country all around.And He arose from the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house.  But Simon's wife's mother was sick with a high fever, and they beseeched Him on behalf of her.Therefore He stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: And immediately she arose and ministered to them.Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any sick with diverse diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them, and healed them.And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, "You are Christ the Son of God."  And He, rebuking them, did not permit them to speak: For they knew that He was Christ.Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place: And the people sought Him, and came to Him, and retained Him, that he should not depart from them.And He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: For this purpose I am sent."And He preached in the synagogues of Galilee.And it came to pass, that as the people pressed upon Him to hear the Word of God, He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret,and saw two ships standing by the lake: But the fishermen had gone out of them, and were washing their nets.Moreover He entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and implored him that he would thrust out a little from the land.  And He sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.Now when He had ceased speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draw."And Simon answering said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: Nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net."And when they had done this, they inclosed a great multitude of fish: And their net broke.Therefore they beckoned to their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them.  And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord."For he was astonished, and all who were with him, at the draw of the fish which they had taken:And so also were James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.  And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not fear; from this time forward you shall catch men."Therefore when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed Him.And it came to pass, when He was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: Who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."Then He put forth His hand, and touched him, saying, "I will: You, be clean."  And immediately the leprosy departed from him.And He charged him to tell no one: "But go, and show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing, according to how Moses commanded, for a testimony to them."But more and more there went a fame of Him everywhere: And large multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities.And He withdrew Himself into the wilderness, and prayed.And it came to pass on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem: And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.Also behold, men brought in a man on a bed who was taken with a palsy: And they sought a way to bring him in, and to lay him before Him.And when they could not find by what means they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his bed into the midst before Jesus.And when He saw their faith, He said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this which speaks blasphemies?  Who can forgive sins, but God alone?"But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answering said to them, "What are you reasoning in your hearts?Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you'; or to say, 'Rise up and walk'?But that you may know that the Son of Man has power upon earth to forgive sins," (He said to the man sick with the palsy), "I say to you, Arise, take up your bed, and go your way into your house."And immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen strange things today."And after these things He went forth, and saw a publican named Levi sitting at the receipt of customs: And He said to him, "Follow Me."Then he left everything, rose up, and followed Him.Levi also made Him a great feast in his own house: And there were a large number of publicans and others who sat down with them.But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against His disciples, saying, "Why do You eat and drink with publicans and sinners?"And Jesus answering said to them, "Those that are whole have no need of the physician, but <FI>rather<Fi> those that are sick.I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."Also they said to Him, "Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but Yours eat and drink?"And He said to them, "Can you make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then they shall fast in those days."Moreover He also spoke a parable to them: "No one puts a piece of a new garment upon an old; otherwise the new makes both tear, and the piece that was taken out of the new does not agree with the old.And no man puts new wine into old leather vessels: Or else the new wine will burst the leather vessels, and be spilled, and the leather vessels shall be destroyed.But new wine must be put into new leather vessels; and both are preserved.Also, no one having drunk old wine immediately desires new: For he says, 'The old is better.' "And it came to pass on the second Sabbath after the first, that He went through the grainfields; and His disciples plucked the heads of grain, and ate them, rubbing them in their hands.And certain ones of the Pharisees said to them, "Why are you doing that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath days?"And Jesus answering them said, "Have you not even read this, what David did, when he hungered, and those who were with him;How he went into the house of God, took and ate the showbread, and also gave some to those that were with him; which is not lawful to eat except for the priests alone?"And He said to them, "The Son of Man is Lord also of the Sabbath."And it came to pass also on another Sabbath, that He entered into the synagogue and taught: And there was a man whose right hand was withered.Moreover the scribes and Pharisees watched Him, whether He would heal on the Sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against Him.But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, "Rise up, and stand forth in the midst."  And he arose and stood forth.Then Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one thing; is it lawful on the Sabbath days to do good, or to do evil?  To save life, or to destroy it?"And looking around at them all, He said to the man, "Stretch forth your hand."  And he did so: And his hand was restored whole as the other.Now they were filled with madness; and communed with one another what they might do to Jesus.And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.And when it was day, He called His disciples to Him: And He chose twelve from them, whom He also named apostles;Simon, (whom He also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, who also was the traitor.And He came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of His disciples, and a large multitude of people out of all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him, and to be healed of their diseases;also those who were vexed with unclean spirits: And they were healed.And the whole multitude sought to touch Him: For there went virtue out of Him, and healed them all.Then He lifted up His eyes upon His disciples, and said, "Blessed are you poor: For yours is the kingdom of God.Blessed are you that hunger now: For you shall be filled.  Blessed are you that weep now: For you shall laugh.Blessed are you, when men hate you, and when they separate you from their company, and reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake.Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy: For behold, your reward is great in heaven: For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.But woe to you that are rich!  For you have received your consolation.Woe to you that are full!  For you shall hunger.  Woe to you that laugh now!  For you shall mourn and weep.Woe to you, when all men speak well of you!  For so their fathers did to the false prophets.But I say to you who hear; Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,bless those that curse you, and pray for those who despitefully use you.And to him that smites you on the one cheek, offer also the other; and him that takes away your cloak, do not forbid to take your coat also.Give to every man that asks of you; and from him that takes away your goods, do not ask for them back again.And as you would like that men should do to you, you also do to them likewise.For if you love those who love you, what thanks do you have?  For sinners also love those that love them.And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks do you have?  For even sinners do the same also.And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what thanks do you have?  For sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much back.But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the children of the Highest: For He is kind to the unthankful and to the evil.Therefore be merciful, as your Father also is merciful.Judge not, and you shall not be judged: Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned: Forgive, and you shall be forgiven:Give, and it shall be given to you: Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will men give into your bosom.  Because with the same measure that you use, it shall be measured back to you."And He spoke a parable to them, "Can the blind lead the blind?  Shall they not both fall into the ditch?The disciple is not above his master: But everyone who is perfect shall be as his master.And why do you behold the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the beam that is in your own eye?Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the beam that is in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the beam out of your own eye, and then you shall see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.Indeed, a good tree does not bring forth corrupt fruit; neither does a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.For every tree is known by his own fruit.  For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil: Because out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."Moreover why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings, and does them, I will show you whom he is like:He is like a man who built a house, who dug deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: For it was founded upon a rock.But he who hears, and does not do, is like a man that built a house upon the earth without a foundation; against which the stream beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great."Now when He ended all His sayings in the audience of the people, He entered into Capernaum.And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear to him, was sick, and ready to die.Now when he heard about Jesus, he sent the elders of the Jews to Him, beseeching Him that He would come and heal his servant.And when they came to Jesus, they implored Him instantly, saying that he was worthy for whom He should do this:"For he loves our nation, and he has built us a synagogue."Then Jesus went with them.  And when He was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, "Lord, do not trouble Yourself: For I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof:Therefore I neither did I count myself worthy to come to You: But say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.For I also am a man set under authority, having soldiers under me, and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned himself around, and said to the people that followed Him, "I say to you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel."And those that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.And it came to pass the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a great many people.Now when He came near the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: And a great many people from the city were with her.And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her, and said to her, "Do not weep."Then He came and touched the coffin: And those who bore him stood still.  And He said, "Young man, I say to you, Arise."Then he that was dead sat up, and began to speak.  And He delivered him to his mother.And there came a fear on everyone: And they glorified God, saying that, "A great prophet is risen up among us"; and that, "God has visited His people."And this rumor about Him went forth throughout all Judea, and throughout all the surrounding region.Then the disciples of John brought word to him about all these things.And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, "Are You He that should come?  Or should we look for another?"When the men had come to Him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, 'Are You He that should come?  Or should we look for another?' "And in that same hour He cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and from evil spirits; and to many that were blind He gave sight.Then Jesus answering said to them, "Go your way and tell John the things you have seen and heard: That the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.And blessed is he who shall not be offended in Me."And when the messengers of John were departed, He began to speak to the people concerning John, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see?  A reed shaken with the wind?But what did you go out to see?  A man clothed in soft apparel?  Behold, those who are gorgeously clothed, and live delicately, are in kings' courts.But what did you go out to see?  A prophet?  Yes, I say to you, And much more than a prophet.This is he, of whom it is written, 'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, which shall prepare Your way before You.'For I say to you, Among those who are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: But he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."And all the people who heard Him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, not being baptized by him.And the Lord said, "To what then shall I liken the men of this generation?  And to what are they like?They are like children sitting in the marketplace, and calling to one another, saying, 'We have piped to you, and you have not danced; we have mourned to you, and you have not wept.'For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and you say, 'He has a devil.'The Son of Man has come eating and drinking; and you say, 'Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!'But wisdom is justified by all her children."Moreover one of the Pharisees desired that He would eat with him.  And He went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to <FI>eat<Fi>.And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat <FI>to eat<Fi> in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of fragrant ointment,and stood at His feet behind Him weeping, and began to wash His feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head; and kissed His feet, and anointed them with the fragrant ointment.Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke within himself, saying, "This Man, if He were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that touches Him: For she is a sinner."And Jesus answering said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you."  So he said, "Master, speak on.""There was a certain creditor who had two debtors: The one owed five hundred silver coins, and the other fifty.And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both.  Tell Me therefore, which of them will love him most?"Simon answered and said, "I suppose that the one to whom he forgave most."  And He said to him, "You have rightly judged."Then He turned to the woman, and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman?  I entered into your house, you gave Me no water for My feet: But she has washed My feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.You gave Me no kiss: But this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in.You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant ointment.Therefore I say to you, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."Moreover He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."And those who sat <FI>to eat<Fi> with Him began to say within themselves, "Who is this that forgives sins also?"And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."And it came to pass afterward, that He went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: And the twelve were with Him,and certain women, who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered to Him out of their substance.And when many people were gathered together, and had come to Him out of every city, He spoke by a parable:"A sower went out to sow his seed: And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.And other fell on good ground, sprang up, and bore fruit a hundredfold."  And when He had said these things, He cried out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."And His disciples asked Him, saying, "What might this parable mean?"And He said, "To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: But to others in parables; that 'Seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.'Now the parable is this: The seed is the Word of God.Those by the wayside are those that hear; then the devil comes, and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.Those upon the rock are they which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.And that which fell among thorns are they which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.But that on the good ground are those, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.No man, when he has lit a candle, covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed; but sets it on a candlestick, that those which enter in may see the light.For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither anything hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.Therefore take heed how you hear: For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even that which he seems to have shall be taken from him."Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not draw near to Him because of the press.And it was told Him by certain <FI>individuals<Fi> who said, "Your mother and Your brothers stand outside, desiring to see You."And He answered and said to them, "My mother and My brethren are these which hear the Word of God, and do it."Now it came to pass on a certain day, that He went into a ship with His disciples: And He said to them, "Let us go over to the other side of the lake."  Then they launched out.But as they sailed He fell asleep: And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.And they came to Him, and awoke Him, saying, "Master, Master, we perish!"  Then He arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: And they ceased, and there was a calm.And He said to them, "Where is your faith?"  And they being afraid wondered, saying to one another, "What kind of man is this?  For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him."Then they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is across from Galilee.And when He went forth to land, there met Him a certain man out of the city, who had devils a long time, and wore no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God most high?  I beseech You, do not torment me."(For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man.  For oftentimes it had caught him: And he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he broke the bands, and was driven by the devil into the wilderness.)And Jesus asked him, saying, "What is your name?"  And he said, "Legion": Because many devils were entered into him.And they implored Him that He would not command them to go out into the deep.Moreover there was a herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: And they implored Him that He would permit them to enter into them.  And He permitted them.Then the devils went out of the man, and entered into the swine: And the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.When those who fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city, and in the country.Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: And they were afraid.They who saw it also told them by what means he that was possessed by the devils was healed.Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes all around implored Him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: And He went up into the ship, and returned back again.Now the man out of whom the devils had departed implored Him that he might be with Him: But Jesus sent him away, saying,"Return to your own house, and show what great things God has done to you."  And he went his way, and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done to him.And it came to pass, that when Jesus returned, the people gladly received Him: For they were all waiting for Him.And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: And he fell down at Jesus' feet, and implored Him that He would come into his house:For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay dying.  But as He went the people crowded Him.Also a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her <FI>means of<Fi> living upon physicians, neither could be healed by any,came behind Him, and touched the hem of His garment.  And immediately her flow of blood stopped.And Jesus said, "Who touched Me?"  When all denied it, Peter and those that were with him said, "Master, the multitude throngs and presses You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?' "And Jesus said, "Somebody touched Me: For I perceive that virtue has gone out of Me."Now when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before Him, she declared to Him before all the people for what cause she had touched Him, and how she was healed immediately.And He said to her, "Daughter, be of good comfort: Your faith has made you whole; go in peace."While He was still speaking, there came one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, "Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Master."But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, "Fear not: Believe only, and she shall be made whole."And when He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in, except Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother of the maiden.Moreover all wept, and mourned for her: But He said, "Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeps."And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.And He put them all out, took her by the hand, and called, saying, "Little girl, arise."Then her spirit came again, and she arose immediately: And He commanded to give her food.And her parents were astonished, but He commanded them that they should tell no one what had happened.Then He called His twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.And He sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.And He said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, neither <FI>walking<Fi> staffs, nor bag, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.And whatever house you enter into, there abide, and from there depart.And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them."And they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing everywhere.Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by Him: And he was perplexed, because it was said by some, that John was risen from the dead;and by some, that Elijah had appeared; and by others, that one of the old prophets was risen again.And Herod said, "John I have beheaded: But who is this, of whom I hear such things?"  And he desired to see Him.And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done.  And He took them, and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.Now when the people knew it, they followed Him: And He received them, and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those that had need of healing.And when the day began to wear away, then the twelve came, and said to Him, "Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country all around, and lodge, and get provisions: For we are here in a deserted place."But He said to them, "You give them something to eat."  And they said, "We have no more except five loaves and two fish; unless we should go and buy food for all these people."For there were about five thousand men.  And He said to His disciples, "Make them sit down by fifties in a company."And they did so, and made them all sit down.Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them, and broke, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude.And they ate, and were all filled: And there was taken up twelve baskets of fragments that remained to them.And it came to pass, as He was alone praying, His disciples were with Him: And He asked them, saying, "Who do the people say that I am?"They answering said, "John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again."And He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"  Peter answering said, "The Christ of God."And He strictly instructed them, and commanded them to tell this thing to no one;saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day."Moreover He said to them all, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.For whoever intends to save his life shall lose it: But whoever intends to lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it.For what is a man advantaged, if he gains the whole world, and loses himself, or is cast away?For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words, of him the Son of Man shall be ashamed, when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's <FI>glory<Fi>, and of the holy angels.But I tell you in truth, there are some standing here who shall not taste of death, until they see the kingdom of God."And it came to pass about eight days after these sayings, He took Peter, John, and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.Then, as He prayed, the fashion of His countenance was altered, and His vesture was white and glistening.And behold, two men talked with Him there, which were Moses and Elijah:Who appeared in glory, and spoke of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem.But Peter and those that were with him were heavy with sleep: And when they were awake, they saw His glory, and the two men that stood with Him.Then it came to pass, as they departed from Him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here: And let us make three tabernacles; one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah": Not knowing what he said.While he spoke this, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: And they feared as they entered into the cloud.And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son: Hear Him."Then when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone.  And they kept it close <FI>to their chests<Fi>, and told no one in those days any of those things which they had seen.And it came to pass on the next day, when they had come down from the hill, a great many people met Him.And behold, a man from the multitude cried out, saying, "Master, I beseech You, look upon my son: For he is my only child.And look, a spirit takes him, and he suddenly cries out; and it tears him that he foams afterward, and bruising him it harshly departs from him.Therefore I implored Your disciples to cast it out; but they could not."And Jesus answering said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and bear with you?  Bring your son here."And as he was still coming, the devil threw him down, and tore him.  Now Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God.  But while everyone wondered about all the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples,"Let these sayings sink down into your ears: For the Son of Man shall be delivered into the hands of men."But they did not understand this saying, and it was hid from them, such that they did not perceive it: And they feared to ask Him about that saying.Then there arose a dispute among them, which of them should be greatest.And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by Him,and said to them, "Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me: And whoever receives Me receives Him that sent Me: For he that is least among you all, the same shall be great."Moreover John answered and said, "Master, we saw someone casting out devils in Your name; and we forbade him, because he does not follow with us."But Jesus said to him, "Do not forbid him: For he that is not against us is for us."And it came to pass, when the time had come that he was to be received up, He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,and sent messengers before His face: And they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for Him.And they did not receive Him, because His face was as though He would go to Jerusalem.And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, would you like that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elijah did?"But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them."  And they went to another village.And it came to pass, that as they journeyed on the roadway, a certain man said to Him, "Lord, I will follow You wherever You go."And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."Moreover He said to another, "Follow Me."  But he said, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father."Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their dead: But you go and preach the kingdom of God."And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house."But Jesus said to him, "No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two and two before His face into every city and place, where He Himself was about to go.For this reason He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth laborers into His harvest.Go your ways: Behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.Carry neither money bag, nor satchel, nor shoes: And salute no man by the road.And whatever house you enter into, first say, 'Peace be to this house.'And if the son of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon it: If not, it shall return to you again.And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give: For the laborer is worthy of his wages.  Do not go from house to house.And whatever city you enter into, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:And heal the sick that are there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'But whatever city you enter into, and they do not receive you, go your way out into the streets of the same, and say,'Even the very dust of your city, which sticks on us, we wipe off against you: Nevertheless be sure of this, that the kingdom of God has come near to you.'But I say to you, That it shall be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom, than for that city.Woe to you, Chorazin!  Woe to you, Bethsaida!  For if the mighty works which have been done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented a long while ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you.And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, shall be thrust down to hell.He who hears you hears Me; he who despises you despises Me; and he who despises Me despises Him that sent Me."And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, "Lord, even the devils are subject to us through Your name."And He said to them, "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.Behold, I give to you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: And nothing shall by any means hurt you.Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven."In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, "I thank You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hid these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them to babes: Even so, Father; for so it seemed good in Your sight.""All things are delivered to Me from My Father: And no man knows who the Son is, except the Father; and who the Father is, except the Son, and the one to whom the Son will reveal Him."Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things that you see:For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which you see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which you hear, and have not heard them."And behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted Him, saying, "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"He said to him, "What is written in the law?  How do you read it?"And he answering said, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.' "And He said to him, "You have answered right: Do this, and you shall live."But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"And Jesus answering said, "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.Now by chance a certain priest came down that road: And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked upon him, and passed by on the other side.But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: And when he saw him, he had compassion on him,and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.And on the next day when he departed, he took out two silver coins, gave them to the host, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.'Therefore which of these three do you think was a neighbor to him that fell among the thieves?"And he said, "He that showed mercy on him."  Then Jesus said to him, "Go, and you do likewise."Now it came to pass, as they went, that He entered into a certain village: And a certain woman named Martha received Him into her house.And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard His word.But Martha was encumbered with much serving, and came to Him, and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?  Bid her therefore, so that she <FI>will<Fi> help me."And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are careful and troubled about many things:But one thing is necessary: And Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."And it came to pass as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples."And He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father which is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.  Your kingdom come.  Your will be done, as in heaven, so also on earth.Give us day by day our daily bread.And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.  And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil."And He said to them, "Which of you having a friend, will go to him at midnight, and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves;For a friend of mine on his journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him'?And from within he shall answer and say, 'Do not trouble me: The door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you.'I say to you, Though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his pressing requests he will rise and give him as much as he needs.So I say to you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.For everyone that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.If a son shall ask for bread from any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: How much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?"And He was casting out a devil, and it was mute.  And it came to pass, when the devil had gone out, the mute spoke; and the people wondered.But some of them said, "He casts out devils through Beelzebub, the chief of the devils."And others, tempting Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven.But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.If Satan also is divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand?  Because you say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.And if I cast out devils through Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out?  Therefore they shall be your judges.But if I cast out devils with the finger of God, no doubt the kingdom of God has come upon you.When a strong and armed man keeps his palace, his goods are in peace:But when one stronger than he comes upon him, and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.He who is not with Me is against Me: And he that does not gather with Me scatters.When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came out.'And when he comes, he finds it swept and furnished.Then he goes, and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: And the last state of that man is worse than the first."And it came to pass, as He spoke these things, a certain woman from the multitude lifted up her voice, and said to Him, "Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the nipples which You have sucked."But He said, "Rather, blessed are those who hear the Word of God, and keep it."And when the people were gathered thickly together, He began to say, "This is an evil generation: They seek a sign; and no sign shall be given it, except the sign of Jonah the prophet.For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also shall the Son of Man be to this generation.The queen of the South shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: For she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, one greater than Solomon is here.The men of Nineveh shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: For they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, one greater than Jonah is here.No man, when he has lit a candle, puts it in a secret place, nor under a basket, but on a candlestick, that those who come in may see the light.The light of the body is the eye: Therefore when your eye is single, your whole body is also full of light; but when your eye is evil, your body is also full of darkness.Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness.If therefore your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the complete whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle gives you light."And as He spoke, a certain Pharisee implored Him to dine with him: And He went in, and sat down to <FI>eat<Fi>.And when the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that He had not first washed before dinner.And the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.You fools, did not He that made that which is outside make that which is inside also?But rather give alms of such things as you have; and behold, all things are clean to you.But woe to you, Pharisees!  For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: These you ought to have done, and not left the others undone.Woe to you, Pharisees!  For you love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you are as graves which are not visible, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them."Then one of the lawyers answered, and said to Him, "Master, in this saying You reproach us also."And He said, "Woe to you also, you lawyers!  For you load men with burdens grievous to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.Woe to you!  For you build the sepulchers of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.Truly you bear witness that you allow the deeds of your fathers: For they indeed killed them, and you build their sepulchers.Therefore the wisdom of God also said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute':That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zacharias, who perished between the altar and the temple: Truly I say to you, It shall be required of this generation.Woe to you, lawyers!  For you have taken away the key of knowledge: You did not enter in yourselves, and you hindered those that were entering in."And as He said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to quarrel against Him vehemently, and to provoke Him to speak of many things:Lying in wait for Him, and seeking to catch something out of His mouth, that they might accuse Him.In the meantime, when there was an innumerable multitude of people gathered together, so that they trod upon one another, He began to say first of all to His disciples, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; nor hid, that shall not be known.Therefore whatever you have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which you have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.And I say to you My friends, do not be afraid of those that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.But I will forewarn you whom you shall fear: Fear Him, which after He has killed has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, Fear Him.Are not five sparrows sold for two bronze coins, and not one of them is forgotten before God?<RF>two bronze coins: In KJV, two farthings<Rf>But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear not therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.Also I say to you, Whoever shall confess Me before men, him the Son of Man shall also confess before the angels of God:But he that denies Me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him: But to him that blasphemes against the Holy Spirit it shall not be forgiven.And when they bring you to the synagogues, and to magistrates, and powers, take no thought how or what thing you shall answer, or what you shall say:For the Holy Spirit shall teach you in the same hour what you ought to say."And one from the assembly said to Him, "Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me."And He said to him, "Man, who made Me a judge or a divider over you?"And He said to them, "Take heed, and beware of covetousness: For a man's life does not subsist in the abundance of the things which he possesses."Moreover He spoke a parable to them, saying, "The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, because I have no room where to stow my fruits?'So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there I will stow all my fruits and my goods.And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have a great many goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry." 'But God said to him, 'You fool, this night your soul shall be required of you: Then whose shall those things be, which you have provided?'So is he that lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."And He said to His disciples, "Therefore I say to you, Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat; neither for the body, what you shall put on.The life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.Consider the ravens: For they neither sow nor reap; which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them: How much more are you better than the birds?And which of you with taking thought can add one cubit to his stature?<RF>1 Roman cubit is approximately 17.4 inches, or 44.2 centimeters.<Rf>If then all of you are not able to do that thing which is least, why do you take thought about the rest?Consider the lilies, how they grow: They neither toil nor spin; And yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?And seek not what you shall eat, or what you shall drink, neither be of a doubtful mind.For all these things the nations of the world seek after: And your Father knows that you have need of these things.But rather seek the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added to you.Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.Sell what you have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which do not wax old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches, neither moth corrupts.For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.Let your loins be girded around, and your lights burning;and liken yourselves to men that wait for their lord, when he shall return from the wedding; that when he comes and knocks, they may open to him immediately.Blessed are those servants, whom when the lord comes shall find watching: Truly I say to you, That he shall gird himself, and make them sit down to <FI>eat<Fi>, and will come forth and serve them.And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.Moreover know this, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have let his house be broken through.Therefore you also be ready: For the Son of Man comes at an hour you would not think."Then Peter said to Him, "Lord, do You speak this parable to us, or to all even?"And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?Blessed is that servant, whom his lord shall find so doing when he comes.Truly, I say to you, That he will make him ruler over all that he has.But then, if that servant says in his heart, 'My lord delays his coming'; and begins to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and be drunk;the lord of that servant shall come <FI>on<Fi> a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and did not prepare himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.But he that did not know, and committed things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with a few stripes.  For to whomever much is given, from him much shall be required: And to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask <FI>all<Fi> the more.I have come to send fire on the earth; and what will I <FI>do<Fi>, if it is already kindled?But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how pressed I am until it is accomplished!Do you suppose that I have come to give peace on earth?  I tell you, no; but rather division:For from this time forward there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."Moreover He also said to the people, "When you see a cloud rise out of the west, immediately you say, 'There comes a shower'; and so it is.And when you see the south wind blow, you say, 'There will be heat'; and it comes to pass.You hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that you do not discern this time?Yes, and why do you not judge what is right, even of yourselves?When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, as you are on the road, give diligence that you may be delivered from him; lest he haul you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer cast you into prison.I tell you, you shall not depart from that place, until you have paid the very last small bronze coin."<RF>small bronze coin: In KJV, mite; which was equivalent to 1/8'th of an assarius "as" coin during Roman times.<Rf>There were present in that season some that told Him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.And Jesus answering said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were sinners more than all the other Galileans, because they suffered such things?I tell you, no: But unless you repent, you shall all likewise perish.Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, do you think that they were sinners more than all other men that dwelt in Jerusalem?I tell you, no: But unless you repent, you shall all likewise perish."He also spoke this parable: "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit on it, and found none.Then he said to the dresser of his vineyard, 'Behold, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: Cut it down; why does it encumber the ground?'And he answering said to him, 'Lord, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it, and dung it.And if it bears fruit, well: And if not, then after that you should cut it down.' "And He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and utterly could not lift herself up.And when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him, and said to her, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity."And He laid His hands on her: And immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath day, and said to the people, "There are six days in which men ought to work: Therefore come on them and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day."The Lord then answered him, and said, "You hypocrite, does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or his donkey from the stall, and lead him away to watering?And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound, see, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?"And when He had said these things, all His adversaries were ashamed: And all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.Then He said, "What is like the kingdom of God?  And to what should I liken it?It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and became a large tree: And the birds of the air lodged in its branches."And again He said, "To what shall I liken the kingdom of God?It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of grain-meal, until the whole <FI>mass<Fi> was leavened."<RF>The word for dry <FI>measure<Fi> in the Greek contains nearly a [UK] peck and a half, short by just over a [UK] pint.  Thus <FI>3 measures<Fi> equates to approximately 165 [US] cups, or ~156 [metric] cups.<Rf>And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.Then one said to Him, "Lord, are there few who are saved?"  And He said to them,"Strive to enter in at the narrow gate: For many, I say to you, will seek to enter in, and will not be able.When <FI>at<Fi> once the Master of the house is risen up, and has shut the door, and you all begin to stand outside, and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us'; and He shall answer and say to you, 'I do not know you, <FI>nor<Fi> where you all are from':Then you all shall begin to say, 'We have eaten and drank in Your presence, and You have taught in our streets.'But He shall say, 'I tell you, I do not know you, <FI>nor<Fi> what place all you are from; depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.'There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.And they shall come from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.And behold, there are last who shall be first, and there are first who shall be last."The same day there came certain <FI>ones<Fi> of the Pharisees, saying to Him, "Get out, and depart from this place: For Herod will kill You."And He said to them, "You go, and tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.'Nevertheless I must walk today, tomorrow, and the day following: For it cannot be that a prophet perish outside of Jerusalem.O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to you; how often I would have gathered your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!Behold, your house is left to you desolate: And truly I say to you, You shall not see Me, until the time comes when you shall say, 'Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord.' "And it came to pass, as He went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath day, that they watched Him.And behold, there was a certain man before Him who had the dropsy.<RF>dropsy; that is, edema<Rf>And Jesus answering spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day?"And they held their peace.  And He took him, and healed him, and let him go;then He answered them, saying, "Which of you would have a donkey or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?"And again they could not answer Him to these things.And He put forth a parable to those who were called, when He noted how they chose the uppermost rooms; saying to them,"When you are invited by anyone to a wedding, do not sit down in the highest room; lest a man more honorable than you be called by him;and he who invited you and him come and say to you, 'Give this man <FI>a<Fi> place'; and you begin with shame to take the lowest room.But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he who invited you comes, he may say to you, 'Friend, go up higher': Then you shall have honor in the presence of those who sit at food with you.For whoever exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted."Then He also said to him who invited Him, "When you make a dinner or a supper, do not call your friends, nor your brothers, neither your kinsmen, nor your rich neighbors; lest they also invite you back again, and a recompense is made to you.But when you make a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:And you shall be blessed; for they cannot recompense you: For you shall be recompensed at the resurrection of the just."Now when one of those who sat <FI>to eat<Fi> with Him heard these things, he said to Him, "Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God."Then He said to him, "A certain man made a large supper, and invited many:And sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, 'Come; for all things are now ready.'But they all in one accord began to make excuses.  The first said to him, 'I have bought a piece of ground, and I really need to go and see it: I beseech you to have me excused.'And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them: I beseech you to have me excused.'Yet another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'So that servant came, and brought word of these things to his lord.  Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring into this place the poor, and the maimed, and the lame, and the blind.'And the servant said, 'Lord, it is done as you have commanded, and yet there is room.'Then the lord said to the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.For I say to you, That none of those men who were called shall taste of my supper.' "And large multitudes went with Him: And He turned, and said to them,"If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his father, mother, wife, children, brethren, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.And whoever does not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple.For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first, and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it?Lest perhaps, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,saying, 'This man began to build, and was not able to finish.'Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first, and consult whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him that comes against him with twenty thousand?Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation, and desires conditions of peace.So likewise, whoever he is among you who does not forsake all that he has, he cannot be My disciple.Salt is good: But if the salt has lost its savor, with what shall it be seasoned?It is neither fit for the land, nor even for the dunghill; but men throw it out.  He that has ears to hear, let him hear."Then all the publicans and sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, "This Man receives sinners, and eats with them."And He spoke this parable to them, saying,"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he finds it?And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.'I say to you, That likewise more joy shall be in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine just persons, which need no repentance.Or what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she loses one piece, does not light a candle, sweep the house, and seek it diligently until she finds it?And when she has found it, she calls her friends and her neighbors together, saying, 'Rejoice with me; for I have found the silver piece which I lost.'Likewise, I say to you, There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."Moreover He said, "A certain man had two sons:And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.'  Therefore he divided to them his estate.And not many days after the younger son gathered everything together, he took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his goods with riotous living.And when he had spent all, there arose a very severe famine in that land; and he began to be in want.Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.And he would have gladly filled his belly with the husks that the swine ate: But no one gave to him.And when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have enough bread with some to spare, <FI>yet<Fi> I perish with hunger!I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before you,and am no longer worthy to be called your son: Make me as one of your hired servants." 'And he arose, and came to his father.  But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.'But the father said to his servants, 'Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:And bring here the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.'  And they began to be merry.Now his elder son was in the field: And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.Therefore he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.And he said to him, 'Your brother has come; and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.'But he was angry, and would not go in: Therefore his father came out, and implored him.And he answering said to his father, 'Look, these many years I serve you, neither have I transgressed your commandment at any time: And yet you never gave me a kid goat, that I might make merry with my friends:But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your estate with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.'And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.It was proper that we should make merry, and be glad: For your brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.' "Moreover He also said to His disciples, "There was a certain rich man which had a steward; and the same <FI>stewart<Fi> was accused to him that he had wasted his goods.Therefore he called him, and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you?  Give an account of your stewardship; for you may no longer be steward.'Then the steward said within himself, 'What shall I do?  For my lord is taking away the stewardship from me: I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg.I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.'Then he called every one of his lord's debtors to himself, and said to the first, 'How much do you owe to my lord?'And he said, 'A hundred measures of oil.'  And he said to him, 'Take your bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.'<RF>measures: The word Batus in the original Greek, contains 9 gallons, 3 quarts<Rf>Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?'  So he said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.'  And he said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.'Yet the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: For the children of this world in their generation are wiser than the children of light.And I say to you, 'Make for yourselves friends from the mammon of unrighteousness; that when all you fail, they may receive you into perpetual habitations.'He who is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: And he who is unjust in the least is also unjust in much.Therefore, if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?No servant can serve two masters: For either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and mammon."Moreover the Pharisees, who were covetous, also heard all these things: And they derided Him.And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men; but God knows your hearts: For that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.The Law and the prophets were until John: Since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presses into it.And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.Whoever puts away his wife, and marries another, commits adultery: And whoever marries her that is put away from her husband commits adultery.There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:Also there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, who was laid at his gate, full of sores,and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores.And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: The rich man also died, and was buried;And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.'But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and you are tormented.And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: So that those which would pass from this place to you cannot; neither can those which would come from that place pass to us.'Then he said, 'I beseech you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house:For I have five brothers; that he may testify to them, lest they also come into this place of torment.'Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.'And he said, 'No, father Abraham: But if one went to them from the dead, they will repent.'But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rise from the dead.' "Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible except that offenses will come: But woe to him, through whom they come!It would be better for him that a millstone were hung around his neck, and he was cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.Take heed to yourselves: If your brother trespasses against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.And if he trepasses against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent'; you shall forgive him."And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."Moreover the Lord said, "If all you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you all might say to this sycamore tree, 'Be plucked up by the root, and be planted in the sea', and it should obey you.But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding domestic beasts, will say to him as soon as he has come in from the field, 'Go and sit down to <FI>eat<Fi>'?Rather, will he not say to him, 'Make ready a supper which I may eat, and gird yourself, and serve me, until I have eaten and drunk; and afterward you shall eat and drink'?Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him?  I think not.So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants: We have done what was our duty to do.' "And it came to pass, as He went to Jerusalem, that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.Then, as He entered into a certain village, there met Him ten men that were lepers, who stood afar off.And they lifted up their voices, and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us."And when He saw them, He said to them, "Go, show yourselves to the priests."  And it came to pass, that as they went, they were cleansed.And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God,and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks: And he was a Samaritan.And Jesus responding said, "Were there not ten cleansed?  But where are the nine?There are not any found which <FI>have<Fi> returned to give glory to God, except this stranger."And said to him, "Arise, go your way: Your faith has made you whole."Also when the Pharisees demanded of Him, when the kingdom of God should come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation:Neither shall they say, 'Look here!'  or 'Look there!'  For behold, the kingdom of God is within you."Moreover He said to the disciples, "The days will come when you shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you shall not see it.And they shall say to you, 'See here'; or 'See there': Do not go after them, nor follow them.For as the lightning, that flashes out of one part under heaven, shines to the other part under heaven; so also shall the Son of Man be in His day.But first He must suffer many things, and be rejected by this generation.And as it was in the days of Noah, so also shall it be in the days of the Son of Man.They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.Likewise also, as it was in the days of Lot; they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.Even like this shall it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.In that day, he who shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: And he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.Remember Lot's wife.Whoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: The one will be taken and the other will be left.Two women will be grinding together: The one will be taken and the other left.Two men will be in the field: The one will be taken and the other left."And they answered and said to Him, "Where, Lord?"  And He said to them, "Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together."Moreover He spoke a parable to them <FI>leading<Fi> to this end, that men always ought to pray, and not to faint;saying, "There was a judge in a city, who did not fear God, nor regarded man:And there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Avenge me from my adversary.'And he would not for a while: But afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God, nor regard man;yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.' "And the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said.And shall not God avenge His own elect, who cry day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.  Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, shall He find faith on the earth?"Moreover He spoke this parable to certain <FI>ones<Fi> who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:"Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.The Pharisee stood and prayed in this manner with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.'And the publican, standing afar off, would not so much as lift up his eyes to heaven, but smote his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner.'I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: For everyone who exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted."Also they brought infants to Him, that He would touch them: But when His disciples saw it, they rebuked them.But Jesus called them to Him, and said, "Permit little children to come to Me, and do not forbid them: For of such is the kingdom of God.Truly I say to you, Whoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no case enter in there."Then a certain ruler asked Him, saying, "Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good?  There is none good, except One, that is, God.You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not kill,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Honor your father and your mother.' "And he said, "All these things I have kept from my youth up."Now when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, "You still lack one thing: Sell all that you have, and distribute to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: And come, follow Me."And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: For he was very rich.And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, He said, "How hardly shall those that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."And those who heard it said, "Who then can be saved?"And He said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."Then Peter said, "Look, we have left all, and followed You."And He said to them, "Truly I say to you, There is no man that has left house, or parents, or brothers, or wife, or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting."Then He took the twelve to Himself, and said to them, "Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man shall be accomplished.For He shall be delivered to the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully treated, and spit on:Then they shall scourge Him, and put Him to death: And the third day He shall rise again."Yet they understood none of these things: And this saying was hid from them, neither did they know the things which were spoken.Now it came to pass, that as He was coming near Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the roadside begging:And hearing the multitude passing by, he asked what it meant.And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.Then he cried out, saying, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me."And those who went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: But he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me."Now Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be brought to Him: And when he had come near, He asked him,saying, "What is your will that I should do to you?"  And he said, "Lord, that I may receive my sight."Then Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight: Your faith has saved you."And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God: And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, who was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.And he sought to see Jesus, who He was, but could not because of the pressing multitude, for he was little in stature.Therefore he ran ahead, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him: For He was to pass that way.And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at your house."Then he made haste, and came down, and received Him joyfully.Yet when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner."Now Zacchaeus stood, and said to the Lord; "Behold, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore him fourfold."And Jesus said to him, "This day salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham.For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."Now as they heard these things, He added and spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.Therefore He said, "A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.Also he called his ten servants, delivered to them ten pounds <FI>of silver<Fi>, and said to them, 'Occupy until I come.'<RF>pounds: Greek or Attic mina, here translated as pound, is estimated at ~15.2 oz or ~431 grams per Encyclopedia Britannica<Rf>But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, 'We will not have this man to reign over us.'And it came to pass, that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants to be called to him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.Then came the first, saying, 'Lord, your pound has gained ten pounds.'And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant: Because you have been faithful in a very little, you have authority over ten cities.'And the second came, saying, 'Lord, your pound has gained five pounds.'And He said likewise to him, 'You also be over five cities.'Then another came, saying, 'Lord, behold, here is your pound <FI>of silver<Fi>, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:For I feared you, because you are an austere man: You take up that which you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.'And he said to him, 'Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant.  You knew that I was an austere man, taking up that which I did not lay down, and reaping what I did not sow:Why then did you not give my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have claimed my own with interest?'And he said to those that stood by, 'Take the pound <FI>of silver<Fi> from him, and give it to him that has ten pounds.'(Then they said to him, 'Lord, he has ten pounds <FI>of silver<Fi>.')For I say to you, That to everyone who has, <FI>more<Fi> shall be given; and from him that does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.But bring here those enemies of mine, who were not willing that I reign over them, and slay them before me.' "Then after He had spoken this, He went in front, ascending up to Jerusalem.And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called The Mount of Olives, that He sent two of His disciples,saying, "Go into the village before you; in which you shall find a colt tied upon your entering, on which no one has ever sat: Loose him, and bring him here.And if anyone asks you, 'Why are you loosing him?'; this is what you shall say to him, 'Because the Lord has need of him.' "And those that were sent went their way, and found it exactly as He had said to them.Moreover, as they were loosing the colt, the owners of him said to them, "Why are you loosing the colt?"And they said, "The Lord has need of him."And they brought him to Jesus: And they cast their clothes upon the colt, and they set Jesus on him.And as He went, they spread their clothes on the road.And when He was drawing near, even now at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;saying, " 'Blessed be the King that comes in the name of the LORD': Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest."And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said to Him, "Master, rebuke Your disciples."And He answered and said to them, "I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out."And when He drew near, He beheld the city, and wept over it,saying, "If you had known, even you, at least in this day, the things which relate to your peace!  But now they are hid from your eyes.For the days shall come upon you, that your enemies shall cast a trench around you, surround you, and keep you in on every side,and shall level you even with the ground, and your children within you; and they shall not leave one stone upon another in you; because you did not know the time of your visitation."Then He went into the temple, and began to drive out those who sold in it, and those who bought;saying to them, "It is written, 'My house is the house of prayer': But you have made it a 'den of thieves.' "And He taught daily in the temple.  But the chief priests, the scribes, and the chief of the people sought to destroy Him,and could not find what they might do: For all the people were very attentive to hear Him.And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon Him with the elders,and spoke to Him, saying, "Tell us, by what authority do You do these things?  Or whom is he that gave You this authority?"And He answered and said to them, "I will also ask you one thing; and answer Me:The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men?"And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven'; He will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'But if we say, 'From men'; all the people will stone us: For they are persuaded that John was a prophet."Therefore they answered that they could not tell where it was from.And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."Then He began to tell the people this parable: "A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time.And in due season he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that they should give him some of the fruit of the vineyard: But the vinedressers beat him, and sent him away empty handed.And again he sent another servant: And they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty handed.And again he sent a third: And they wounded him also, and cast him out.Then the lord of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do?  I will send my beloved son: It may be they will reverence him when they see him.'But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.'So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him.  Therefore, what shall the lord of the vineyard do to them?He shall come and destroy those vinedressers, and shall give the vineyard to others."  And when they heard it, they said, "God forbid."Moreover He beheld them, and said, "What is this then that is written, 'The stone which the builders rejected, the same has become the head of the corner'?Whoever falls upon that stone shall be broken: But on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder."And that same hour the chief priests and the scribes sought to lay hands on Him; but they feared the people: For they perceived that He had spoken this parable against them.Therefore they watched Him, and sent forth spies, who would feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of His words, so that they might deliver Him to the power and authority of the governor.Then they asked Him, saying, "Master, we know that You say and teach rightly, neither do You revere the person of any, but teach the way of God in truth:Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?"But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, "Why do you tempt Me?Show Me a silver coin.  Whose image and inscription does it have?"  They answered and said, "Caesar's."And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."Therefore they could not take hold of His words in front of the people: And they marveled at His answer, and held their peace.Then certain Sadducees came to Him, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked Him,saying, "Master, Moses wrote to us that if any man's brother dies <FI>while still<Fi> having a wife, and he dies without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed to his brother.There were then seven brothers: And the first took a wife, and died without children.And the second took her as wife, and he died childless.Then the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: And they left no children, and died.Last of all the woman died also.Therefore, in the resurrection whose wife of them is she?  For all seven had her as wife."Then Jesus answering said to them, "The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:But those who shall be counted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:Neither can they die anymore: For they are equal to the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.Now Moses even told at the bush that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord 'the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'For He is not a God of the dead, but of the living: For all live to Him."Then certain <FI>ones<Fi> of the scribes answering said, "Master, You have spoken well."Moreover, after that they dared not ask Him any question at all.And He said to them, "How can they say that Christ is David's Son?Even David himself said in the Book of Psalms, 'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand,until I make Your enemies Your footstool." 'David therefore called Him 'Lord'; how then is He his Son?"Then, in the audience of all the people He said to His disciples,"Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;which devour widows' houses, and for a show make long prayers: The same shall receive greater damnation."And He looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.And He also saw a certain poor widow casting two small bronze coins in there.<RF>two small bronze coins: In KJV, two mites; which were each equivalent to 1/8'th of an assarius "as" coin during Roman times.<Rf>And He said, "Truly I say to you, That this poor widow has cast in more than all of them:For all these out of their abundance have cast in offerings for God: But she out of her poverty has cast in all the livelihood that she had."Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts, He said,"As for these things which you behold, the days will come, in which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down."And they asked Him, saying, "Master, but when shall these things be?  And what sign will there be, when these things shall come to pass?"And He said, "Take heed that you be not deceived: For many shall come in My name, saying, 'I am Christ'; and, 'The time has drawn near': Do not therefore go after them.But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified: For these things must first come to pass; but the end is not immediately."Then He said to them, "Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:And great earthquakes shall be in diverse places, and famines, and pestilences; and there shall be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.But before all these things, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons; being brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake.And it shall turn out for you to be a testimony.Therefore settle it in your hearts, not to meditate beforehand on what you shall answer:For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to speak against nor resist.Moreover you shall be betrayed even by parents, and brothers, and blood relatives, and friends; and they shall cause some of you to be put to death.And you shall be hated by all people for My name's sake.But not a hair of your head shall perish.In your patience you possess your souls.Moreover when you see Jerusalem compassed around with armies, then know that its desolation is near.Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let those who are in the midst of it depart out; and do not let those who are in the countries enter into it.Because these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.But woe to those who are with child, and to those who breastfeed in those days!  For there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: And Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.And there shall be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;men's hearts failing them from fear, and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth: For the powers of heaven shall be shaken.And then they shall see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.Now when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws near."He also spoke to them a parable; "Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;when they shoot forth, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near at hand.So you likewise, when you see these things come to pass, know that the kingdom of God is near at hand.Truly I say to you, This generation shall not pass away, until all is fulfilled.Heaven and earth shall pass away: But My words shall not pass away.Also take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with gluttony, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you <FI>when<Fi> unaware.For it shall come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.Watch therefore, and pray always, that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple; and at night He went out, and abode in the mount that is called The Mount of Olives.Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple, to hear Him.Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called The Passover.And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill Him; for they feared the people.Then Satan entered into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being numbered as one of the twelve.And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them.And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.Therefore he promised, and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed.And He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat."And they said to Him, "Where would you like that we prepare?"And He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered into the city, there a man shall meet you, carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he enters in.Then you shall say to the goodman of the house, 'The Master says to you, "Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the Passover with My disciples?" 'And he shall show you a large upper room <FI>already<Fi> furnished: There make ready."Moreover they went and found it just as He had said to them: And they made ready the Passover.When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him.And He said to them, "I have heartily desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer:For I say to you, I will not eat of it any more, until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this, and divide it among yourselves:For I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God has come."And He took bread, gave thanks, and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you: Do this in remembrance of Me."Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you.But behold, the hand of him who betrays Me is with Me on the table.And truly the Son of Man goes, as it was determined: But woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!"Then they began to inquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.Moreover there also was strife among them, as to which of them should be deemed the greatest.And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and those who exercise authority upon them are called 'benefactors.'But you all shall not be like this: But he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that serves.<RF>you all: In KJV, ye; hence "you all" signifies a plural "you"<Rf>For who is greater, he that sits at food, or he that serves?  Is it not he that sits at food?  But I am among you as He that serves.You all are those which have continued with Me in My temptations.<RF>You all: In KJV, Ye; hence "You all" signifies a plural "You"<Rf>And I appoint to you a kingdom, as My Father has appointed to Me;that all of you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."<RF>all of you: In KJV, ye; hence "all of you" signifies a plural "you"<Rf>And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:But I have prayed for you, that your faith does not fail: And when you are converted, strengthen your brethren."And he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both into prison, and to death."And He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day, before you shall deny three times that you know Me."And He said to them, "When I sent you without money bag, satchel, and shoes, did you lack anything?"  And they said, "Nothing."Then He said to them, "But now, he who has a money pouch, let him take it, and likewise his satchel: And he who has no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.For I say to you, That this which is written must still be accomplished in Me, 'And He was counted among the transgressors': For the things concerning Me have an end."And they said, "Lord, behold, here are two swords."  And He said to them, "It is enough."And He came out, and went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed; and His disciples also followed Him.And when He was at the place, He said to them, "Pray that you do not enter into temptation."And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down, and prayed,saying, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me: Nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."Moreover an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.And being in an agony, He prayed more earnestly: Moreover His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.And when He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping out of sorrow,And He said to them, "Why do you sleep?  Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation."And while He still spoke, behold a multitude, and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him.But Jesus said to him, "Judas, do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?"When those who were around Him saw what would follow, they said to Him, "Lord, shall we smite with the sword?"And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.And Jesus answered and said, "Allow thus far."  And He touched his ear, and healed him.Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders, which had come to Him, "Have you come out, as against a thief, with swords and <FI>wooden<Fi> staffs?When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not stretch forth any hands against Me: But this is your hour, and the power of darkness."Then they took Him, and led Him, and brought Him into the high priest's house.  And Peter followed afar off.And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and had sat down together, Peter sat down among them.But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, looked earnestly upon him, and said, "This man was also with Him."And he denied Him, saying, "Woman, I do not know Him."And after a little while another saw him, and said, "You are also of them."  But Peter said, "Man, I am not."Then after about one hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, "Truly this fellow was also with Him: For he is a Galilean."And Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about."  And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter.  Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you shall deny Me three times."Then Peter went out, and wept bitterly.And the men who held Jesus mocked Him, and smote Him.And when they had blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face, and asked Him, saying, "Prophesy, who is it that smote You?"And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him.And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led Him into their council, saying,"Are You the Christ?  Tell us."  And He said to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe:And if I also ask you, you will not answer Me, nor let Me go.In time to come the Son of Man shall sit on the right hand of the power of God."Then they all said, "Are You then the Son of God?"  And He said to them, "You say that I am."And they said, "What need do we have of any further witness?  For we ourselves have heard from His own mouth."Then the whole multitude of them arose, and led Him to Pilate.And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ a King."And Pilate asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?"  And He answered him, and said, "You say it."Then Pilate said to the chief priests and to the people, "I find no fault in this Man."But they were <FI>all<Fi> the more fierce, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place."When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man was a Galilean.And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself was also in Jerusalem at that time.Moreover when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad: For he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by Him.Then he questioned Him with many words; but He answered him nothing.And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him.Also Herod with his men of war disdained Him as nothing, mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.Moreover the same day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other: For before they were at enmity between themselves.And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people,said to them, "You have brought this Man to me, as one that perverts the people: And behold, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him:No, nor did Herod: For I sent you to him; and see, nothing worthy of death was done <FI>by<Fi> Him.I will therefore chastise Him, and release Him."(For out of necessity he must release one to them at the feast).But they cried out all at once, saying, "Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas":(Who was cast into prison for a certain insurrection made in the city, and for murder.)Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spoke to them again.But they cried out, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him."Now he said to them the third time, "Why, what evil has He done?  I have found no cause for death in Him: I will therefore chastise Him, and let Him go."But they were urgent with loud voices, requiring that He might be crucified.  And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.And he released to them him that for insurrection and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.Then as they led Him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might carry it after Jesus.And a large company of people followed Him, also women which mourned and lamented Him.But Jesus turning to them said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.For behold, the days are coming in which they shall say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the nipples which never nourished from the breast.'Then they shall begin to say to the mountains, "Fall on us"; and to the hills, "Cover us." 'For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?"And there were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death.And when they had come to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."  And they divided His clothes, and cast lots.And the people stood beholding.  And the rulers also with them ridiculed Him, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself, if He is Christ, the chosen of God."The soldiers also mocked Him, coming to Him, and offering Him vinegar,and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself."And a superscription was also written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.Moreover one of the criminals which was hanged railed at Him, saying, "If You are Christ, save Yourself and us."But the other answering rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: But this Man has done nothing amiss."Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."And Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you, Today you shall be with Me in Paradise."Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.Even the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in the middle.And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I commend My spirit' ": And having said that, He gave up the ghost.Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, "Certainly this was a righteous Man."And all the people who came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, struck their chests, and returned.But all His acquaintances, and the women that followed Him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.Also behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counselor; and he was a good man, and just:(The same had not consented to the counsel and their deed which was done;) he was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews: Who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.This man went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, in which a man was never before laid.Also that day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near.And the women also, which came with Him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how His body was laid.Then they returned, and prepared spices and fragrant ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment.Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.Moreover they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.Then they entered in, and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.And it came to pass, as they were greatly perplexed concerning that, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?He is not here, but is risen: Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee,saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.' "And they remembered His words.Then they returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest.It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women that were with them, who told these things to the apostles.And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.Then Peter arose, and ran to the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen cloths laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.And behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was about sixty furlongs from Jerusalem.<RF>60 furlongs is approximately 7.5 miles, or 12.1 kilometers.<Rf>And they talked together of all these things which had happened.And it came to pass, that while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus Himself drew near, and went with them.But their eyes were held immovably that they should not know Him.And He said to them, "What manner of communications are these that you have with one another as you walk, and are sad?"And one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said to Him, "Are You only a stranger in Jerusalem, and have not known the things which have come to pass there in these days?"And He said to them, "What things?"  And they said to Him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and have crucified Him.But we trusted that it was He which should have redeemed Israel: And besides all this, today is the third day since these things were done.Yes, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, who were at the sepulchre early;and when they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said He was alive.And certain ones of them who were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even as the women had said: But they did not see Him."Then He said to them, "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?"And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded to them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself.Then they drew near to the village where they were going: And He made out as though He would have gone farther.But they constrained Him, saying, "Abide with us: For it is nearly evening, and the day is far spent."  And He went in to tarry with them.And it came to pass, as He sat <FI>to eat<Fi> with them, that He took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave to them.Now their eyes were opened, and they knew Him; and He vanished out of their sight.And they said one to another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened to us the scriptures?"Therefore they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and those who were with them,saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon."And they told what things were done on the road, and how He was known by them in breaking of bread.Moreover, as they spoke in this manner, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace be to you."But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.And He said to them, "Why are you troubled?  And why do thoughts arise in your hearts?Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself: Handle Me, and see; for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see me have."And when He had spoken in this manner, He showed them His hands and His feet.Moreover, while they did not yet believe out of joy, and wondered, He said to them, "Have you any food here?"And they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish, and from a honeycomb.And He took it, and ate before them.And He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the Law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Me."Then He opened their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,and He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.And you are witnesses of these things.And behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you: But tarry in the city of Jerusalem, until you are endued with power from on high."And He led them out as far as to Bethany, and He lifted up His hands, and blessed them.And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was separated from them, and carried up into heaven.And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God.  Amen.In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.The same was in the beginning with God.All things were made by Him; and without Him nothing was made that was made.In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness did not comprehend it.There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.That was the true Light, which enlightens every man that comes into the world.He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, yet the world did not know Him.He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.But as many as received Him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God, even to those who believe on His name:Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.John bore witness of Him, and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I spoke, 'He that comes after me is preferred before me: For He was before me.' "And of His fullness we all have received, and grace for grace.For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"And he confessed, and did not deny; but confessed, "I am not the Christ."Therefore they asked him, "What then?  Are you Elijah?"  And he said, "I am not."  "Are you that prophet?"  And he answered, "No."Then they said to him, "Who are you?  That we may give an answer to those who sent us.  What do you say about yourself?"He said, "I am 'the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, "Make straight the way of the Lord" ', as the prophet Isaiah said.And those who were sent were of the Pharisees.And they asked him, and said to him, "Why then do you baptize, if you are not that Christ, nor Elijah, neither that prophet?"John answered them, saying, "I baptize with water: But there stands One among you, whom you do not know;it is He, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe string I am not worthy to unloose."These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.The next day John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, "Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.This is He of whom I said, 'After me comes a Man who is preferred before me: For He was before me.'And I did not know Him: But that He should be made manifest to Israel, therefore I have come baptizing with water."And John bore record, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon Him.And I did not know Him: But He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said to me, 'Upon whom you shall see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is He which baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God."Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples <FI>stood<Fi>;and looking upon Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!"And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, "What do you seek?"  They said to Him, "Rabbi," (which is to say, being interpreted, Master), "where do You dwell?"He said to them, "Come and see."  They came and saw where He dwelt, and abode with Him that day: For it was about the tenth hour.One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah", which is, being interpreted, the Christ.And he brought him to Jesus.  And when Jesus beheld him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah: You shall be called Cephas," which is by interpretation: A stone.The following day Jesus went forth into Galilee, and found Philip, and said to him, "Follow Me."Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, "We have found Him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."And Nathanael said to him, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?"  Philip said to him, "Come and see."Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!"Nathanael said to Him, "From where do You know me?"  Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel."Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe?  You shall see greater things than these."And He said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, In time to come you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."Then the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:Moreover both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine."Jesus said to her, "Woman, what do I have to do with you?  My hour has not yet come."His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it."Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the the manner of purifying of the Jews, containing one half or three-quarters of a barrel each.<RF>one half or three-quarters of a barrel: In KJV, two or three firkins; each of which was equivalent to 8 [UK] gallons.  Hence all 6 waterpots totaled approximately 115 or 173 [US] gallons; 436 or 655 liters; or, 96 or 144 [UK] gallons.<Rf>Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water."  And they filled them up to the brim.And He said to them, "Now draw out some, and bring it to the governor of the feast."  And they brought it.When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know from what source it was: (But the servants who had drawn the water knew); the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,and said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out good wine; and when men have drunk well, then <FI>sets out<Fi> that which is worse: But you have kept the good wine until now."This beginning of miracles Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth His glory; and His disciples believed on Him.After this He went down to Capernaum, He, His mother, His brothers, and His disciples: And they did not remain there many days.Then the Jews' Passover was at hand; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,and found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers sitting:And when He had made a lash of small cords, He drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;and He said to those who sold doves, "Take these things from this place; do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise."And His disciples remembered that it was written, "The zeal for Your house has eaten Me up."Then the Jews answered and said to Him, "What sign do You show to us, seeing that You do these things?"Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."Then the Jews said, "This temple was forty six years in building, and will You raise it up in three days?"But He spoke of the temple of His body.Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast day, many believed in His name when they saw the miracles which He did.But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men,and did not need from man that any should testify: For He knew what was in man.There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:The same came to Jesus by night, and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God: For no man can do these miracles that You do, unless God is with him."Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old?  Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born?"Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless a man is born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.Do not marvel that I said to you, 'All of you must be born again.'<RF>All of you: In KJV, Ye; hence "All of you" signifies a plural "you"<Rf>The wind blows where it is inclined, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell from what place it comes, and to what place it goes: So is everyone that is born of the Spirit."Nicodemus answered and said to Him, "How can these things be?"Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you a master of Israel, and do not know these things?Truly, truly, I say to you, We speak what We know, and testify what We have seen; and you all do not receive Our witness.If I have told you earthly things, and you do not believe, how shall you believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?And no man has ascended up to heaven, except He that came down from heaven, even the Son of Man which is in heaven.And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up:That whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.He that believes in Him is not condemned: But he that does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.And this is the condemnation, that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.For everyone that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.But he who does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are worked in God."After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea; and there He tarried with them, and baptized.Moreover John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was abundant water there: And they came, and were baptized.For John had not yet been cast into prison.Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.And they came to John, and said to him, "Rabbi, He that was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you bear witness, behold, the same baptizes, and all men come to Him."John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing, unless it is given to him from heaven.You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but that, 'I am sent before Him.'He that has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: This joy of mine is therefore fulfilled.He must increase, but I must decrease.He that comes from above is above all: He that is of the earth is earthly, and speaks of the earth: He that comes from heaven is above all.And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no man receives His testimony.He that has received His testimony has set to his seal that God is true.For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God: For God does not give the Spirit by <FI>limited<Fi> measure to Him.The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.He that believes in the Son has everlasting life: And he that does not believe the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him."Therefore, when the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,(though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples),He left Judea, and departed into Galilee again.Then He needed to go through Samaria.So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.Now Jacob's well was there.  Jesus therefore, being wearied with His journey, sat thus on the well: And it was about the sixth hour.There came a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus said to her, "Give Me a drink."(For His disciples had gone away to the city to buy food.)Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask for a drink from me, who am a woman of Samaria?"  For the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that says to you, 'Give Me a drink'; you would have asked of Him, and He would have given you living water."The woman said to Him, "Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: From what source then do you have that living water?Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, and his children, and his domestic beasts?"Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water shall thirst again:But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."The woman said to Him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw."Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here."The woman answered and said, "I have no husband": Jesus said to her, "You have answered honestly, 'I have no husband,'For you have had five husbands; and he whom you now have is not your husband: In that you spoke truly."The woman said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.Our fathers worshiped upon this mountain; and you all say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship."Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you shall neither upon this mountain, nor even at Jerusalem, worship the Father.You worship what you do not know: We know what we worship: For salvation is of the Jews.But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: For the Father is seeking such to worship Him.God is a Spirit: And those that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth."The woman said to Him, "I know that Messiah is coming, which is called Christ: When He comes, He will tell us all things."Jesus said to her, "I that speak to you am He."And right then His disciples came, and marveled that He talked with the woman: Yet no one said, "What do You seek?"  or, "Why are You talking with her?"The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men,"Come, see a Man which told me everything that I ever did.  Is this not the Christ?"Then they went out of the city, and came to Him.In the meanwhile His disciples implored Him, saying, "Master, eat."But He said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know of."Therefore the disciples said to one another, "Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?"Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work.Do you not say, 'There are still four months, and then comes harvest'?  Behold, I say to you, Lift up your eyes, and look upon the fields; for they are white already to harvest.And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit to life eternal: That both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.Indeed this saying is true, 'One sows, and another reaps.'I sent you to reap that which you have not bestowed any labor: Other men labored, and you have entered into their labors."And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on Him because of the words of the woman, who testified, "He told me everything that I ever did."So when the Samaritans came to Him, they implored Him that he would tarry with them: And He abode there two days.And many more believed because of His own word;Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not because of your speech: For we have heard Him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world."Now after two days He departed from there, and went into Galilee.For Jesus Himself testified, that a prophet has no honor in his own country.Then when He had come into Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things that He did in Jerusalem at the feast: For they also went to the feast.So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where He had made the water wine.  And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him, and implored Him that He would come down, and heal his son: For he was at the point of death.Then Jesus said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe."The nobleman said to Him, "Sir, come down before my child dies."Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your son lives."  And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken to him, and he went his way.And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, "Your son lives."Then he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better.  And they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him."So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your son lives": And he himself believed, and his whole house.This is the second miracle that Jesus again did, when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.Now there is a pool in Jerusalem by the sheep market, which is called Bethesda in the Hebrew tongue, having five porches.In these lay a large multitude of feeble folk, blind, crippled, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool and troubled the water: Whoever then stepped in first after the troubling of the water was made whole of whatever disease he had.Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty eight years.When Jesus saw him laying, and knew that he had now been in that state a long time, He said to him, "Are you willing to be made whole?"The feeble man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled: But while I am coming, another steps down before me."Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed, and walk."And immediately the man was made whole, took up his bed, and walked: And on the same day was the Sabbath.The Jews therefore said to him that was cured, "It is the Sabbath day: It is not lawful for you to carry your bed."He answered them, "He that made me whole, the same said to me, 'Take up your bed, and walk.' "Then they asked him, "Who is the Man that said to you, 'Take up your bed, and walk'?"But he that was healed did not know who it was: For Jesus had moved Himself away, a multitude being in that place.Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "Behold, you are made whole: Sin no more, lest a worse thing come to you."The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus that had made him whole.And therefore the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to slay Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath day.But Jesus answered them, "My Father works yet, and I work."Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only had broken the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do: For whatever things He does, the Son also does these likewise.For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does: And He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.For as the Father raises up the dead, and makes them alive; even so the Son makes alive whom He will.For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son:That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father.  He that does not honor the Son does not honor the Father which sent Him."Truly, truly, I say to you, He who hears My word, and believes on Him that sent Me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but has passed from death to life.Truly, truly, I say to you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: And those that hear shall live.For as the Father has life in Himself; so He has given to the Son to have life in Himself;and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.Do not marvel at this: For the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice,and shall come forth; those that have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those that have done evil, to the resurrection of damnation.I can of My own self do nothing: As I hear, I judge: And My judgment is just; because I do not seek My own will, but the will of the Father which has sent Me.If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.There is another that bears witness of Me; and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true.You sent to John, and he bore witness to the truth.But I do not receive testimony from man: But these things I say, that you might be saved.He was a burning and a shining light: And you were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.But I have a greater witness than that of John: For the works which the Father has given Me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.And the Father Himself, which has sent Me, has borne witness of Me.  You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape.And you do not have His word abiding in you: For whom He has sent, Him you do not believe.Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: And these are they which testify of Me.And you are not willing to come to Me, that you might have life.I do not receive honor from men.But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me: If another shall come in his own name, him you will receive.How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from God only?Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: There is one that accuses you, even Moses, in whom you trust.For had you believed Moses, you would have believed Me: For he wrote of Me.But if you do not believe his writings, how shall you believe My words?"After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.Then a large multitude followed Him, because they saw His miracles which He did on those who were diseased.And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.When Jesus then lifted up His eyes, and saw a large company of people come to Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"Moreover this He said to prove him: For He Himself knew what He would do.Philip answered Him, "Two hundred silver coins worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little."One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him,"There is a lad here that has five barley loaves and two small fish; but what are they among so many?"And Jesus said, "Make the men sit down."  Now there was a lot of grass in the place.  So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.And Jesus took the loaves; and when He had given thanks, He distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to those who were sitting down; and likewise of the fish as much as they desired.When they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing is lost."Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained left over from those who had eaten.Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, "This is truly that Prophet that should come into the world."When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take Him by force, to make Him a king, He departed again into a mountain by Himself alone.Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea,And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum.  And it was now dark, and Jesus had not come to them.Then the sea arose because of a strong wind that blew.So when they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty furlongs, they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing near to the ship: And they were afraid.<RF>25 to 30 furlongs is approximately 2.7 to 3.3 nautical miles, or very nearly 5 to 6 kilometers.<Rf>But He said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid."Then they willingly received Him into the ship: And immediately the ship was at the land to which they went.The following day, when the people that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one into which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus did not go with His disciples into the boat, but that His disciples had gone away alone;(Nevertheless, there came other boats from Tiberias near to the place where they ate bread, after that the Lord had given thanks):When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither His disciples, they also took to ships, and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, "Rabbi, when did You come to this place?"Jesus answered them, and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, You do not seek Me because you saw the miracles, but because you ate of the loaves, and were filled.Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man shall give to you: For God the Father has sealed Him."Then they said to Him, "What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?"Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe upon Him whom He has sent."Therefore they said to Him, "What sign will You show then, that we may see, and believe You?  What work will You do?Our fathers ate manna in the desert; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' "Then Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, Moses did not give you that bread from heaven; but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.For the bread of God is He which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world."Then they said to Him, "Lord, give us this bread forevermore."And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life: He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.But I said to you, That you also have seen Me, and do not believe.All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me; and he who comes to Me I will in no case cast out.For I came down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him that sent Me.And this is the Father's will which has sent Me, that of all which He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son, and believes on Him, may have everlasting life: And I will raise him up at the last day."The Jews then murmured at Him, because He said, "I am the bread which came down from heaven."And they said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?  How is it then that He says, 'I came down from heaven'?"Jesus therefore answered and said to them, "Do not murmur among yourselves.No one can come to Me, unless the Father which has sent Me draws him: And I will raise him up at the last day.It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught of God.'  Every man therefore that has heard, and has learned of the Father, comes to Me.Not that any man has seen the Father, except He which is of God, He has seen the Father.Truly, truly, I say to you, He who believes in Me has everlasting life.I am the bread of life.Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead.This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it, and not die.I am the living bread which came down from heaven: If any man eats of this bread, he shall live forever: And the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, "How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?"Then Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood, you have no life in you.Whoever eats My flesh, and drinks My blood, has eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.He who eats My flesh, and drinks My blood, dwells in Me, and I in him.As the living Father has sent Me, and I live by the Father: So he who eats Me, even he shall live by Me.This is that bread which came down from heaven: Not as your fathers ate manna, and are dead: He who eats of this bread shall live forever."These things He said in the synagogue, as He taught in Capernaum.Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying; who can understand it?"When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples murmured at it, He said to them, "Does this offend you?Then what if you shall see the Son of Man ascend up where He was before?It is the Spirit that makes alive; the flesh profits nothing: The words that I speak to you, they are spirit, and they are life.But there are some of you who do not believe."  For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that did not believe, and who would betray Him.And He said, "Therefore I said to you, that no man can come to Me, unless it was given to him by My Father."From that time many of His disciples went back, and no longer walked with Him.Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Will you also go away?"Then Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.And we believe and are sure that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."Jesus answered them, "Have I not chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?"He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon: For it was he that would betray Him, being one of the twelve.After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: For He would not walk in Jewry,<RF>Jewry; a district inhabited by Jews<Rf> because the Jews sought to kill Him.Now the Jews' Feast of Tabernacles was at hand.His brothers therefore said to Him, "Depart from this place, and go into Judea, that Your disciples may also see the works that You do.For there is no man who does anything in secret, and while he himself seeks to be known openly.  If You do these things, show Yourself to the world."For His brothers did not believe in Him.Then Jesus said to them, "My time has not yet come: But your time is always ready.The world cannot hate you; but it hates Me, because I testify of it, that the works of the world are evil.You go up to this feast: I am not yet going up to this feast; for My time has not yet fully come."When He had said these words to them, He abode still in Galilee.But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, "Where is He?"And there was much murmuring among the people concerning Him: For some said, "He is a good Man": Others said, "No; but He deceives the people."Nevertheless, no man spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.And the Jews marveled, saying, "How does this Man know letters, having never learned?"Jesus answered them, and said, "My doctrine is not Mine, but His that sent Me.If any man will do His will, he shall know about the doctrine, whether it is of God, or whether I speak of Myself.He who speaks of himself seeks his own glory: But He who seeks the glory of Him that sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keeps the law?  Why do you go about to kill Me?"The people answered and said, "You have a devil: Who goes about to kill You?"Jesus answered and said to them, "I have done one work, and you all marvel.Moses therefore gave to you circumcision; (not because it is from Moses, but from the fathers); and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath day.If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath day, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are you angry at Me, because I have made a man all together whole on the Sabbath day?Do not judge according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment."Then some of them from Jerusalem said, "Is this not He whom they seek to kill?But look, He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him.  Do the rulers know that this is indeed the true Christ?Nevertheless, we know where this Man is from: But when Christ comes, no man knows where He is from."Then Jesus cried out in the temple as He taught, saying, "You both know Me, and you know where I am from: And I have not come of Myself, but He that sent Me is true, whom you do not know.But I know Him: For I am from Him, and He has sent Me."Then they sought to take Him: But no one laid hands on Him, because His hour had not yet come.And many of the people believed on Him, and said, "When Christ comes, will He do more miracles than these which this Man has done?"The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning Him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him.Then Jesus said to them, "A little while yet I am with you, and then I go to Him that sent Me.You shall seek Me, and shall not find Me: And where I am, there you cannot come."Then the Jews said among themselves, "Where will He go, that we shall not find Him?  Will He go to the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?What manner of saying is this that He said, 'You shall seek Me, and shall not find Me: And where I am, there you cannot come'?"On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If any man thirsts, let him come to Me, and drink.He who believes in Me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."(But this He spoke about the Spirit, which those who believe in Him should receive: For the Holy Spirit was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, "Truly this is the Prophet."Others said, "This is the Christ."  But some said, "Shall Christ come out of Galilee?Has not the scripture said that Christ comes from the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?"So there was a division among the people because of Him.Moreover some of them would have taken Him; but no man laid hands on Him.Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said to them, "Why have you not brought Him?"The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this Man."Then the Pharisees answered them, "Are you also deceived?Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed on Him?But this people who does not know the law are cursed."Nicodemus (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them), said to them,"Does our law judge any man, before it hears him, and know what he does?"They answered and said to him, "Are you also from Galilee?  Search, and look: For out of Galilee no prophet has arisen."And everyone went to his own house.Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.And early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down, and taught them.Also the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,they said to Him, "Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.Now Moses in the law commanded us that such should be stoned: But what do You say?"This they said tempting Him, that they might be able to accuse Him.  But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear them.So when they continued asking Him, He lifted Himself up, and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him first throw a stone at her."And again He stooped down, and wrote on the ground.Now those which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the eldest, even to the last: And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.When Jesus had lifted Himself up, and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours?  Has no one condemned you?"She said, "No one, Lord."  And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you: Go, and sin no more."Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world: He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."The Pharisees therefore said to Him, "You bear record of Yourself; Your record is not true."Jesus answered and said to them, "Though I bear record of Myself, yet My record is true: For I know from where I came, and where I am going; but you cannot tell from where I come, and to where I go.You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.And yet if I judge, My judgment is true: For I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent Me.It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true.I am One that bears witness of Myself, and the Father which sent Me bears witness of Me."Then they said to Him, "Where is Your Father?"  Jesus answered, "You know neither Me, nor My Father: If you had known Me, you should have known My Father also."These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple: And no man laid hands on Him; for His hour had not yet come.Then Jesus said to them again, "I go My way, and you shall seek Me, and shall die in your sins: The place I go you cannot come."Then the Jews said, "Will He kill Himself?  Because He says, 'The place I go you cannot come'?"And He said to them, "You are from beneath; I am from above.  You are of this world; I am not of this world.Therefore, I said to you that you shall die in your sins: For if you do not believe that I am He, you shall die in your sins."Then they said to Him, "Who are You?"  And Jesus said to them, "Even the same which I said to you from the beginning.I have many things to say and to judge concerning you: But He that sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him."They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father.Then Jesus said to them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you shall know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father has taught Me, I speak these things.And He that sent Me is with Me: The Father has not left Me alone; for I always do those things that please Him."As He spoke these words, many believed on Him.Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed on Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are My disciples indeed;and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."They answered Him, "We are Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: How come You say, 'You shall be made free'?"Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, Whoever commits sin is the servant of sin.And the servant does not abide in the house forever: But the Son abides evermore.Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.I know that you are Abraham's seed; but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.I speak that which I have seen with My Father: And you do that which you have seen with your father."They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father."  Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham.But now you seek to kill Me, a Man that has told you the truth, which I have heard from God: Abraham did not do this.You do the deeds of your father."  Then they said to Him, "We are not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God."Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me: For I proceeded forth and came from God; neither have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.Why do you not understand My speech?  Because you cannot even hear My word.All you are of your father the devil, and you all will do the lusts of your father.  He was a murderer from the beginning, and did not abide in the truth, because there is no truth in him.  When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own <FI>character<Fi>: For he is a liar, and the father of it.And because I tell you the truth, you do not believe Me.Which of you convicts Me of sin?  And if I say the truth, why do you not believe Me?He that is of God hears God's words: Therefore you do not hear them, because you are not of God."Then the Jews answered, and said to Him, "Do we not say full well that You are a Samaritan, and have a devil?"Jesus answered, "I do not have a devil; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.And I do not seek My own glory: There is One who seeks and judges.Truly, truly, I say to you, If anyone keeps My sayings, he shall never see death."Then the Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have a devil.  Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, 'If anyone keeps My sayings, he shall never taste death.'Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead?  And the prophets are dead: Who do You make Yourself out to be?"Jesus answered, "If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing: It is My Father that honors Me; of whom you say that He is your God.Yet you have not known Him; but I know Him: And if I should say, 'I do not know Him,' I would be a liar like you: But I know Him, and keep His sayings.Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day; and he saw it, and was glad."Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?"Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, Before Abraham was, I AM."Then they took up stones to throw at Him: But Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.Then as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from his birth.And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Master, who sinned, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?"Jesus answered, "Neither this man sinned, nor his parents; but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: The night is coming, when no man can work.As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."When He had spoken in this manner, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay;and said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which by interpretation is, Sent).  Therefore he went his way, washed, and came <FI>back<Fi> seeing.Therefore the neighbors, and those who had previously seen him, that he was blind, said, "Is this not he that sat and begged?"Some said, "This is he": Others said, "He is like him": But he said, "I am he."Therefore they said to him, "How were your eyes opened?"He answered and said, "A Man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, 'Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash': And I went and washed, and I received sight."Then they said to him, "Where is He?"  He said, "I do not know."They brought him that was formerly blind to the Pharisees.Moreover, it was the Sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight.  He said to them, "He put clay upon my eyes, and I washed, and <FI>now I can<Fi> see."Therefore some of the Pharisees said, "This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath day."  Others said, "How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles?"  And there was a division among them.They said again to the blind man, "What do you say about Him because He has opened your eyes?"  He said, "He is a prophet."But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight.And they asked them, saying, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind?  How then does he now see?"His parents answered them and said, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:But by what means he now sees, we do not know; or who has opened his eyes, we do not know: He is of age; ask him: He shall speak for himself."His parents spoke these words because they feared the Jews: For the Jews had agreed already, that if any man confessed that He was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."Therefore they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, "Give God the praise: We know that this Man is a sinner."He answered and said, "Whether He is a sinner or not, I do not know.  One thing I know: That though I was blind, now I see."Then they said to him again, "What did He do to you?  How did He open your eyes?"He answered them, "I have told you already, and you did not hear: For what reason do you desire to hear it again?  Will you also be His disciples?"Then they reviled him, and said, "You are His disciple; but we are Moses' disciples.We know that God spoke to Moses: As for this fellow, we do not know where He is from."The man answered and said to them, "Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He has opened my eyes.Now we know that God does not hear sinners: But if any man is a worshiper of God, and does His will, He hears him.Since the world began it has not been heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.If this Man were not of God, He could do nothing."They answered and said to him, "You were all together born in sins, and do you teach us?"  And they cast him out.Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, "Do you believe upon the Son of God?"He answered and said, "Who is He, Lord, that I might believe upon Him?"And Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him, and it is He that talks with you."And he said, "Lord, I believe."  And he worshiped Him.And Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, that those which do not see might see; and that those which see might be made blind."Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, "Are we blind also?"Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you should have no sin: But now you say, 'We see'; therefore your sin remains.""Truly, truly, I say to you, He that does not enter by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.But he that enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.To him the doorkeeper opens; and the sheep hear his voice: And he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out.And when he brings forth his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him: For they know his voice.And they will not follow a stranger, but will flee from him: For they do not know the voice of strangers."Jesus spoke this parable to them: But they did not understand what the things were which He spoke to them.Then Jesus said to them again, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers: But the sheep did not hear them.I am the door: If by Me any man enters in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.The thief does not come, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.I am the good shepherd: The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.But he who is a hireling, and not the shepherd, of whom the sheep are not his own, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and flees: And the wolf catches them, and scatters the sheep.The hireling flees, because he is a hireling, and does not care for the sheep.I am the good shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known by Mine.As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father: And I lay down My life for the sheep.And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: Them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again.No man takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself.  I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.  This commandment I have received from My Father."Therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings.And many of them said, "He has a devil, and is mad; why give audience to Him?"Others said, "These are not the words of one who has a devil.  Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?"Moreover it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter.And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon's porch.Then the Jews came all around Him, and said to Him, "How long do You make us doubt?  If You are the Christ, tell us plainly."Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you did not believe: The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me.But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me:And I give them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.My Father, which gave them to Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand.I and My Father are one."Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him.Jesus answered them, "Many good works I have shown you from My Father; for which of those works do you stone Me?"The Jews answered Him, saying, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God."Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law, 'I said, "You are gods" '?If He called them gods, to whom the Word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;do you say of Him, whom the Father has sanctified, and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming'; because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me.But if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works: That you may know, and believe, that the Father is in Me, and I in Him."Therefore they sought again to apprehend Him: But He escaped out of their hand,and He went away again beyond the Jordan into the place where John first baptized; and there He abode.Then many resorted to Him, and said, "John did no miracle: But all things that John spoke concerning this Man were true."And many believed on Him there.Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.(It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)Therefore his sisters sent to Him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick."When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not to death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified by it."Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.When He therefore heard that he was sick, He nevertheless abode two days in the same place where He was.Then after that He said to His disciples, "Let us go to Judea again."His disciples said to Him, "Master, the Jews sought to stone You not long ago; and are You going to that place again?"Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day?  If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because there is no light in him."He said these things: And after that He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep."Then His disciples said, "Lord, if he sleeps, he shall be fine."However, Jesus spoke of his death: But they thought that He had spoken of taking rest in sleep.Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead.And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; nevertheless let us go to him."Then Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him."Then when Jesus came, He found that he had already laid in the grave four days.Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs away:<RF>15 furlongs is approximately 1.9 miles, or 3 kilometers.<Rf>And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him: But Mary sat still in the house.Then Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.But I know, that even now, whatever You will ask of God, God will give it <FI>to<Fi> You."Jesus said to her, "Your brother shall rise again."Martha said to Him, "I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day."Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection, and the life: He that believes in Me, though he were dead, he shall yet live:And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe this?"She said to Him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world."And when she had said this, she went her way, and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, "The Master has come, and calls for you."As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came to Him.Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met Him.Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw that Mary rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, "She goes to the grave to weep there."Then when Mary had come where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died."Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,and said, "Where have you laid him?"  They said to Him, "Lord, come and see."Jesus wept.Then the Jews said, "Behold how He loved him!"And some of them said, "Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, have kept even this man from dying?"Therefore Jesus again groaning in Himself came to the grave.  It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.Jesus said, "Take away the stone."  Martha, the sister of him that was dead, said to Him, "Lord, by this time he stinks: For he has been dead four days."Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe, you should see the glory of God?"Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid.  And Jesus lifted up His eyes, and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.And I know that You always hear Me: But because of the people which stand by I said this, that they may believe that You have sent Me."And when He had spoken in this manner, He cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!"And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: And his face was bound around with a handkerchief.  Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go."Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on Him.But some of them went their way to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, "What <FI>shall<Fi> we do?  For this Man does many miracles.If we let Him alone after that, all men will believe upon Him: And the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation."And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said to them, "You know nothing at all,nor do you consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish."Now this he did not speak of himself: But being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.Then, from that day forward they took counsel together with the intent to put Him to death.Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews; but went from there to a country near the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with His disciples.And the Jews' Passover was near at hand: And many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves.Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves, as they stood in the temple, "What do you think, that He will not come to the feast?"Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that if any man knew where He was, he should tell it, that they might apprehend Him.Then, six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had been dead, whom He raised from the dead.There they made Him a supper; and Martha served: But Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with Him.Then Mary took a pound of very costly ointment of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair: And the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray Him, said,"Why was this fragrant ointment not sold for three hundred silver coins, and given to the poor?"This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the money bag, and carried what was put in it.Then Jesus said, "Let her alone: She has kept this for the day of My burial.For the poor you always have with you; but Me you do not always have."A great many of the Jewish people therefore knew that He was there: And they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom He had raised from the dead.But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus to death also;because on account of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.On the next day many people who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet Him, and cried out, "Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that comes in the name of the LORD."And Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written,"Fear not, daughter of Zion: Behold, your King comes, sitting on a donkey's colt."His disciples did not understand these things at first: But when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him, and that they had done these things to Him.Therefore the people that were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bore record.For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this miracle.The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, "Do you perceive how you prevail in nothing?  Behold, the world has gone after Him."Now there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:The same then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and implored him, saying, "Sir, we would like to see Jesus."Philip came and told Andrew; and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.And Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come, that the Son of Man should be glorified.Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone: But if it dies, it brings forth much fruit.He who loves his life shall lose it; and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant shall also be: If anyone serves Me, My Father will honor him.Now My soul is troubled; and what shall I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour'?  But for this reason I came to this hour.Father, glorify Your name."  Then there came a voice from heaven, saying, "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again."Therefore the people that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: Others said, "An angel spoke to Him."Jesus answered and said, "This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sakes.Now is the judgment of this world: Now shall the prince of this world be cast out.And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Me."This He said, signifying what death He should die.The people answered Him, "We have heard out of the law that Christ abides forever: Therefore how come You say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'?  Who is this Son of Man?"Then Jesus said to them, "A little while longer the light is with you.  Walk while you have the light, lest darkness come upon you: For he who walks in darkness does not know where he goes.While you have light, believe in the light, that you may be the children of light."  These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and hid Himself from them.But though He had done so many miracles before them, yet they did not believe upon Him:That the saying of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke, "Lord, who has believed our report?  And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"Therefore they could not believe, because that Isaiah said again,"He has blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them."These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory, and spoke of Him.Nevertheless, even among the chief rulers many believed on Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes upon Me, believes not upon Me, but upon Him that sent Me.And he who sees Me sees Him that sent Me.I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes upon Me should not abide in darkness.And if anyone hears My words, and does not believe, I do not judge him: For I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has one that judges him: The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.For I have not spoken of Myself; but the Father which sent Me, He gave Me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.And I know that His commandment is life everlasting: Whatever I therefore speak, even as the Father said to Me, so I speak."Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him;Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God, and went to God;He rose from supper, and laid aside His clothes; and took a towel, and girded Himself.After that He poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.Then He came to Simon Peter: And Peter said to Him, "Lord, do You wash my feet?"Jesus answered and said to him, "What I do you do not understand now; but you shall understand in time to come."Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet."  Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me."Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head."Jesus said to him, "He that is washed needs only to wash his feet, yet is altogether clean: And you are clean, but not all of you."For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, "You are not all clean."So after He had washed their feet, taken His clothes, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you?You call Me Master and Lord: And you say well; for so I am.If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another's feet.For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.Truly, truly, I say to you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither is he that is sent greater than he that sent him.If you know these things, happy are you if you do them.I do not speak of you all: I know whom I have chosen: But that the scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.'Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He.Truly, truly, I say to you, He that receives whomever I send receives Me; and he that receives Me receives Him that sent Me."When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, That one of you shall betray Me."Then the disciples looked at one another, doubting of whom He spoke.Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it was of whom He spoke.He then lying on Jesus' breast said to Him, "Lord, who is it?"Jesus answered, "It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread, when I have dipped it."  And when he had dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.Then after the dipped bread, Satan entered into him.  Then Jesus said to him, "What you do, do quickly."Now no one at the table knew for what intent He spoke this to him.For some of them thought, because Judas had the money bag, that Jesus had said to him, "Buy those things that we have need of in preparation for the feast"; or that he should give something to the poor.He then having received the dipped bread went immediately out: And it was night.Therefore, when he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him.If God is glorified in Him, God shall also glorify Him in Himself, and shall glorify Him without delay.Little children, yet a little while I am with you.  You shall seek Me: And as I said to the Jews, 'The place I go, you cannot come'; so now I say to you.A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that also you love one another.By this all men shall know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, what place will You go to?"  Jesus answered him, "The place I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you shall follow Me afterwards."Peter said to Him, "Lord, why can I not follow You now?  I will lay down my life for Your sake."Jesus answered him, "Will you lay down your life for My sake?  Truly, truly, I say to you, The rooster shall not crow, until you have denied Me three times.""Let not your heart be troubled: You believe in God, believe also in Me.In My Father's house are many mansions: If it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.And where I go you all know, and the way you all know."Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going; therefore by what means can we know the way?"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: No man comes to the Father, except by Me."If you had known Me, you should have known My Father also: And from this time forward you know Him, and have seen Him."Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us."Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long a time, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?  He that has seen Me has seen the Father; therefore how come you say, 'Show us the Father'?Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me?  The words that I speak to you I do not speak from Myself: But the Father that dwells in Me, He does the works.Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: Or else believe Me for the sake of the very works themselves.Truly, truly, I say to you, He that believes in Me, the works that I do he shall do also; and greater works than these he shall do; because I go to My Father.And whatever you shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.If you shall ask anything in My name, I will do it.If you love Me, keep My commandments.And I will beseech the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever;even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him, nor know Him: But you know Him; for He dwells with you, and shall be in you.I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.Yet a little while, and the world sees Me no more; but you see Me: Because I live, you shall live also.<FI>On<Fi> that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.He that has My commandments, and keeps them, it is he that loves Me: And he that loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him."Judas [not Iscariot] said to Him, "Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?"Jesus answered and said to him, "If a man loves Me, he will keep My words: And My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him.He that does not love Me does not keep My sayings: And the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's that sent Me.These things I have spoken to you, still being present with you.But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you.Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you: Not as the world gives, do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.You have heard how I said to you, 'I go away, and come again to you.'  If you loved Me, you would rejoice, because I said, 'I go to the Father': For My Father is greater than I.And now I have told you before it comes to pass, that when it does come to pass, you might believe.After this I will not talk much with you: For the prince of this world comes, and has nothing in Me.But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave Me commandment, even so I do.  Arise, let us go from this place.""I am the true vine, and My Father is the <FI>vinedresser<Fi>.Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away: And every branch that bears fruit, He purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit.Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken to you.Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine; no more can you, unless you abide in Me.I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: For without Me you can do nothing.If a man does not abide in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done to you.In this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be My disciples.As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you: Continue in My love.If you keep My commandments, you shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love.These things I have spoken to you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.This is My commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you.Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.You are My friends, if you do whatever I command you.From this time forward I do not call you servants; for the servant does not know what his lord does: But I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bear forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: That whatever you shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it to you.These things I command you, that you love one another.If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.If you were of the world, the world would love his own: But because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.Remember the word that I said to you, 'The servant is not greater than his lord.'  If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My sayings, they will keep yours also.But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him that sent Me.If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have had sin: But now they have no cloke for their sin.He that hates Me hates My Father also.If I had not done among them the works which no other man did, they would not have had sin: But now they have both seen and hated both Me and My Father.But this came to pass, that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, 'They hated Me without a cause.'But when the Comforter has come, whom I will send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, He shall testify of Me:And you also shall bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.""These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be offended.They shall put you out of the synagogues: Yes, the time is coming, that whoever kills you will think that he does service to God.And these things they will do to you, because they have not known the Father, nor Me.But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.  And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.But now I go My way to Him that sent Me; and none of you asks Me, 'Where are You going?'But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: For if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.And when He has come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:Of sin, because they do not believe upon Me;of righteousness, because I go to My Father, and you see Me no more;of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.I still have many things to say to you, But you cannot bear them now.Moreover when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth: For He shall not speak of Himself; but whatever He shall hear, that shall He speak: And He will show you things to come.He shall glorify Me: For He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it to you.All things that the Father has are Mine: Therefore I said, that He shall take of Mine, and shall show it to you.A little while, and you shall not see Me: And again, a little while, and you shall see Me, because I go to the Father."Then some of His disciples said among themselves, "What is this that He says to us, 'A little while, and you shall not see Me: And again, a little while, and you shall see Me'; and, 'because I go to the Father'?"They said therefore, "What is this that He says, 'A little while'?  We cannot understand what He says."Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and said to them, "Do you inquire among yourselves about what I said, 'A little while, and you shall not see Me: And again, a little while, and you shall see Me'?Truly, truly, I say to you, That you shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: And you shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.When a woman is in labor she has sorrow, because her hour has come: But as soon as she has delivered the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a baby is born into the world.Therefore you now have sorrow: But I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and no man will take your joy from you.And in that day you shall ask Me nothing.  Truly, truly, I say to you, Whatever you shall ask the Father in My name, He will give you it.Until now you have asked nothing in My name: Ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.These things I have spoken to you in proverbs: But the time comes, when I shall no longer speak to you in proverbs, but I shall show you plainly about the Father.In that day you shall ask in My name: And I do not say to you that I will beseech the Father for you:For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came out from God.I came forth from the Father, and have come into the world: Again, I leave the world, and go to the Father."His disciples said to Him, "See, now You speak plainly, and do not speak a proverb.Now we are sure that You know all things, and need not that any man ask You: By this we believe that You came forth from God."Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe?Behold, the hour comes, yes, has now come, that you shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave Me alone: And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you might have peace.  In the world you shall have tribulation: But be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."Jesus spoke these words, and lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that Your Son may also glorify You:As you have given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.And this is life eternal, that they might know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.I have glorified You on the earth: I have finished the work which You gave Me to do.And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Your own self with the glory which I had with You before the world was.I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world: They were Yours, and You gave them to Me; and they have kept Your word.Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You.For I have given to them the words which You gave Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from You, and they have believed that You sent Me.I pray for them: I do not pray for the world, but for those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours.And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I am glorified in them.And now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You.  Holy Father, keep through Your own name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one, as We are.While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name: Those whom You gave Me I have kept, and none of them is lost, except the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.And now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have My joy fulfilled in themselves.I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil.They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.Sanctify them through Your truth: Your word is truth.As You have sent Me into the world, even so I also have sent them into the world.And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they might also be sanctified through the truth.I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who shall believe upon Me through their word;that they all may be one; as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they may also be one in Us: That the world may believe that You have sent Me.And the glory which You gave Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one:I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them, as You have loved Me.Father, I will that those whom You have given Me are also with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which You have given Me: For You loved Me before the foundation of the world.O righteous Father, the world has not known You: But I have known You, and these have known that You have sent Me.And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it: That the love with which You have loved Me may be in them, and I in them."When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, into which He and His disciples entered.And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place: For Jesus often resorted there with His disciples.Then Judas, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon Him, went forth, and said to them, "Whom do you seek?"They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth."  Jesus said to them, "I am He."  And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them.Then, as soon as He said to them, "I am He," they went backward, and fell to the ground.Then He asked them again, "Whom do you seek?"  And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."Jesus answered, "I have told you that I am He: If therefore you seek Me, let these go their way":That the saying might be fulfilled, which He spoke, "Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none."Then Simon Peter having a sword, drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear.  The servant's name was Malchus.Then Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into the sheath: The cup which My Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?"Then the band of troops, the captain, and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound Him,and they led Him away to Annas first; for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that same year.Now it was Caiaphas who gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: That disciple was known to the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.But Peter stood at the door outside.  Then that other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.Then the damsel that kept the door said to Peter, "Are you not also one of this Man's disciples?"  He said, "I am not."And the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there; for it was cold: And they warmed themselves: And Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples, and of His doctrine.Jesus answered him, "I spoke openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, where the Jews always assemble; and in secret I have said nothing.Why do you ask Me?  Ask those which heard Me what I said to them: Behold, they know what I said."And when He had spoken this, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, "Do You answer the high priest in this manner?"Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: But if well, why do you smite Me?"Now Annas had sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself.  Then they said to him, "Are you not also one of His disciples?"  He denied it, and said, "I am not."One of the servants of the high priest, being a blood relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, "Did I not see you in the garden with Him?"Peter then denied again; and immediately the rooster crowed.Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the hall of judgment: And it was early; but they themselves did not go into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; that they might yet eat the Passover.Pilate then went out to them, and said, "What accusation do you bring against this Man?"They answered and said to him, "If He were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered Him up to you."Then Pilate said to them, "You take Him, and judge Him according to your law."  Therefore the Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put any man to death":That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which He spoke, signifying what death He should die.Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, called Jesus, and said to Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?"Jesus answered him, "Do you say this thing of yourself, or did others tell it to you about Me?"Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew?  Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me: What have You done?"Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world: If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: But now My kingdom is not from here."Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?"  Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king.  For this purpose I was born, and for this cause I came into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.  Everyone that is of the truth hears My voice."Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?"  And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, "I find no fault in Him at all.But you have a custom, that I should release someone to you at the Passover: Are you therefore willing that I release to you the King of the Jews?"Then they all cried out again, saying, "Not this Man, but Barabbas."  Now Barabbas was a robber.Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged Him.And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on His head, and they put a purple robe on Him,And said, "Hail, King of the Jews!"  And they smote Him with their hands.Pilate therefore went forth again, and said to them, "Behold, I bring Him forth to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him."Then Jesus came forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe.  And Pilate said to them, "Behold the Man!"Therefore when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him."  Pilate said to them, "You take Him, and crucify Him: For I find no fault in Him."The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God."When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was <FI>all<Fi> the more afraid;and went again into the judgment hall, and said to Jesus, "Where are You from?"  But Jesus gave him no answer.Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not speak to me?  Don't You know that I have power to crucify You, and have power to release You?"Jesus answered, "You could have no power at all against Me, unless it was given you from above: Therefore he that delivered Me to you has the greater sin."And from that time Pilate sought to release Him: But the Jews cried out, saying, "If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar's friend: Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar."When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.Moreover it was the Preparation of the Passover, and about the sixth hour: And he said to the Jews, "Behold your King!"But they cried out, "Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him."  Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?"  The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar."Then he therefore delivered Him to them to be crucified.  And they took Jesus, and led Him away.And He bearing His cross went forth to a place called The Place of a Skull, which is called in the Hebrew, Golgotha:Where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the middle.Now Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross.  And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.Then many of the Jews read this title: For the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews'; but <FI>rather<Fi> that, 'He said, "I am <FI>the<Fi> King of the Jews." ' "Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written."Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His clothes, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also His coat: Now the coat was without seam, woven from the top  <FI>in one piece<Fi> throughout.Therefore they said among themselves, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be": That the scripture might be fulfilled, which says, "They divided My clothes among them, and for My vesture they cast lots."  Therefore the soldiers did these things.Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.Therefore, when Jesus saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!"Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!"  And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst."Now a vessel full of vinegar was set there: And they filled a sponge with vinegar, put it upon hyssop, and put it to His mouth.When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, "It is finished": Then He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost.The Jews therefore, because it was the Preparation, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath day, (for that Sabbath was a high day), implored Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.Then the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first, and of the other which were crucified with Him.But when they came to Jesus, and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs:But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.And he that saw it bares record, and his record is true: And he knows that he speaks truly, that you might believe.For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, "A bone of Him shall not be broken."And again another scripture says, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced."And after this Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, implored Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: And Pilate gave him permission.  He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.And there also came Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds in weight.Then they took the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, in which a man was never yet laid.They therefore laid Jesus there because of the Jews' Preparation Day; for the sepulchre was near at hand.The first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the sepulchre early, while it was still dark, and saw the stone taken away from the sepulchre.Then she ran, and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we do not know where they have laid Him."Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.So they both ran together; and the other disciple outran Peter, and came to the sepulchre first.And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes laying there; yet he did not go in.Then Simon Peter came following him, and went into the sepulchre, and saw the linen clothes lying there,and the handkerchief, that was around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but wrapped together in a place by itself.Then that other disciple went in also, who came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.For as yet they did not know the scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.Then the disciples went away again to their own home.But Mary stood outside at the sepulchre weeping: And as she wept she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,And she saw two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had laid.And they said to her, "Woman, why do you weep?"  She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."And when she had said this, she turned herself back around, and saw Jesus standing, and did not know that it was Jesus.Jesus said to her, "Woman, why do you weep?  Whom do you seek?"  She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if You have carried Him from this place, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away."Jesus said to her, "Mary."  She turned herself around, and said to Him, "Rabboni"; which is to say, Master.Jesus said to her, "Do not touch Me; for I am not yet ascended to My Father: But go to My brethren, and say to them, 'I ascend to My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God.' "Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be to you."And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side.  Then the disciples were glad, when they saw the Lord.Then Jesus said to them again, "Peace be to you: As My Father has sent Me, even so I send you."And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit:Whoever's sins you remit, they are remitted to them; and whoever's sins you retain, they are retained."But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord."  But he said to them, "Unless I see the print of the nails in His hands, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe."And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them: Then Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace be to you."Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and behold My hands; and reach your hand here, and thrust it into My side: And don't be faithless, but believing."And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God."Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed: Blessed are those that have not seen, and yet have believed."And Jesus truly did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book:But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through His name.After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias; and here is the way He showed Himself.Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other of His disciples were together.Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing."  They said to him, "We will also go with you."  They went forth, and immediately entered into a ship; and that night they caught nothing.But now when the morning had come, Jesus stood on the shore: But the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.Then Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any food?"  They answered Him, "No."And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and you shall find some."  Therefore they casted, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord."  Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his fisherman's coat (for he was naked), and cast himself into the sea.And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish.<RF>200 Roman cubits is approximately 290 feet or 88.4 meters.<Rf>Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid upon it, and bread.Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have now caught."Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of large fish, one hundred and fifty three: And although there were so many, yet the net was not broken.Jesus said to them, "Come and dine."  And none of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who are You?"  Knowing that it was the Lord.Jesus then came, and took bread, and gave to them, and fish likewise.This is now the third time that Jesus showed Himself to His disciples, after He was risen from the dead.So when they had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?"  He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You."  He said to him, "Feed My lambs."He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?"  He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You."  He said to him, "Feed My sheep."He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?"  Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?"  And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You."  Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.Truly, truly, I say to you, When you were young, you girded yourself, and walked wherever you desired: But when you are old, you shall stretch forth your hands, and another shall gird you, and carry you where you would not have gone."This He spoke, signifying by what death he should glorify God.  And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following; who also leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, "Lord, who is he that betrays You?"Peter seeing him said to Jesus, "Lord, and what shall this man do?"Jesus said to him, "If I will that he tarry until I come, what is that to you?  You follow Me."Then this saying went out among the brethren, that this disciple should not die: Yet Jesus did not say to him, he shall not die; but, "If I will that he tarry until I come, what is that to you?"This is the disciple which testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if every one was written, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.  Amen.The former treatise I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,until the day in which He was taken up, after that He gave commandments through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom He had chosen:To whom He also showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen by them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:And being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but "wait for the Promise of the Father, which," He said, "you have heard from Me.For John truly baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."When they therefore had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?"And He said to them, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put under His own power.But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit will come upon you: And you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth."And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;which also said, "You men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven?  This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen Him go into heaven."Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey.And when they had come in, they ascended into an upper room where Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James abode.These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren.And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names all together were about a hundred and twenty),"Men and brethren, this scripture needed to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit by the mouth of David spoke beforehand concerning Judas, who was a guide to those that took Jesus.For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst apart in the middle, and all his bowels gushed out.And it was known to all the dwellers at Jerusalem; therefore that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, 'The field of blood'.For it is written in the Book of Psalms, 'Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell in it'; and, 'Let another take his office as a bishop.'Therefore, of these men which have kept company with us the whole time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,beginning from the baptism of John, to that same day that He was taken up from us, one must be ordained to be a witness with us of His resurrection."And they appointed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.And they prayed, and said, "You, O Lord, which knows the hearts of all men, show which of these two You have chosen,that he may take part in this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place."And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.And when the Day of Pentecost fully came, they were all with one accord in one place.And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.Then there appeared to them cloven tongues like as of fire, and they settled upon each of them.And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.And there were Jews dwelling in Jerusalem, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because every man heard them speak in his own language.And they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Behold, are not all these who speak Galileans?And how come we hear every man in our own tongue, in which we were born?Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya around Cyrene, strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,Cretes and Arabians, we hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God."And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying to one another, "What could this mean?"Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said to them, "You men of Judea, and all you that dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and hearken to my words:For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh: And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:And on My servants and on My handmaidens I will pour out of My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy:And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke:The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the LORD comes:And it shall come to pass, that whoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be saved.'"You men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a Man approved by God among you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as you yourselves also know:Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:Whom God has raised up, having loosed the pains of death: Because it was not possible that He should be held by it.For David speaks concerning Him, 'I foresaw the LORD always before my face, for He is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; moreover my flesh also shall rest in hope:Because You will not leave my soul in hell, neither will You permit Your Holy One to see corruption.You have made known to me the ways of life; You shall make me full of joy with Your countenance.'"Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us to this day.Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, after the flesh, He would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;he foreseeing this beforehand, spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not left in hell, neither did His flesh see corruption.This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.Therefore being exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has shed forth this, which you now see and hear."For David is not ascended into the heavens: But he himself said, 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand,until I make Your enemies Your footstool." '"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this same Jesus, whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ."Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation."Then those that gladly received his word were baptized: And the same day there were about three thousand souls added to them.And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.Moreover fear came upon every soul: And many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common;and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them to all men, as every man had need.And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, ate their food with gladness and singleness of heart,praising God, and having favor with all the people.  And the Lord added to the church daily those such as should be saved.Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask charitable alms of those that entered into the temple;who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for charitable alms.And Peter, steadfastly fastening his eyes upon him with John, said "Look at us."And he gave heed to them, expecting to receive something from them.Then Peter said, "Silver and gold, I have none; but such as I have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk."And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: And immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered into the temple with them, walking, leaping, and praising God.And all the people saw him walking and praising God:And they knew it was he that sat begging for charitable alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple: Therefore they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.Now when Peter saw it, he answered to the people, "You men of Israel, why do you marvel at this?  Or why do you look so earnestly upon us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man walk?The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His Son Jesus; whom you delivered up, and denied Him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted to you;and killed the Prince of life, whom God has raised from the dead; of which we are witnesses.And His name through faith in His name has made this man strong, whom you see and know: Yes, the faith which is through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all."And now, brethren, I know that through ignorance you did it, as also did your rulers.But those things, which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that Christ should suffer, He has thus fulfilled.Therefore repent, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord shall come;and He shall send Jesus Christ, which previously was preached to you:Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.For Moses truly said to the fathers, 'The LORD your God shall raise up to you a Prophet similar to me from your brethren; you shall hear Him in all things, whatever He shall say to you.And it shall come to pass, that every soul who will not hear that Prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.'Yes, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that followed after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.You are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.'First to you, God has raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning every one of you away from his iniquities."And as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them,being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.Therefore they laid hands on them, and put them into a hold until the next day: For it was already evening.Nevertheless, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.And it came to pass on the next day that their rulers, elders, and scribes,and Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power, or by what name, have you done this?"Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "You rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,if we this day are examined for the good deed done to the feeble man, by what means he is made whole;let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him does this man stand here before you whole.This is the 'stone which was set at naught by you builders, which has become the head of the corner.'Neither is there salvation in any other: For there is no other name under heaven given among men, by which we must be saved."Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they had knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.And beholding the man who was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,saying, "What shall we do to these men?  For indeed it is apparent to all those who dwell in Jerusalem that a notable miracle has been done by them; and we cannot deny it.But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us strictly threaten them, that from this time forward they do not speak to any man in this name."Therefore they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way how they might punish them, because of the people: For all men glorified God for that which was done.For the man was over forty years old, upon whom this miracle of healing was shown.And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, "Lord, You are God, which has made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that is in them:Who by the mouth of Your servant David has said, 'Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the LORD, and against His Christ.'"For truly against Your holy Child Jesus, whom You have anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,to do whatever Your hand and Your counsel determined beforehand to be done.And now Lord, behold their threats: And grant to Your servants, that with all boldness they may speak Your word,by stretching forth Your hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of Your holy Child Jesus."And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness.Moreover the multitude of those that believed were of one heart and of one soul: Neither did any of them say that the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things in common.And with great power the apostles gave witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: And great grace was upon them all.Neither was there any among them who lacked: For as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,and laid them down at the apostles' feet: And distribution was made to every man accordingly as he had need.And Joses, who was surnamed Barnabas by the apostles (which being interpreted is, The son of Consolation), a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,and kept back part of the price paid, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part of it, and laid it at the apostles' feet.But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land?While it remained, was it not your own?  And after it was sold, was it not in your own power?  Why have you conceived this thing in your heart?  You have not lied to men, but to God."Now Ananias, hearing these words, fell down, and gave up the ghost: Therefore great fear came on all those that heard these things.And the young men arose, wound him up, carried him out, and buried him.Moreover it was about three hours later, when his wife came in, not knowing what was done.And Peter answered to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?"  And she said, "Yes, for so much."Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord?  Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they shall carry you out."Then she fell down immediately at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: And the young men came in, and found her dead, and carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.Therefore great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.And by the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were performed among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch.And none of the rest dared join himself to them: But the people magnified them.And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.)so that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.Also a multitude came out of the cities all around to Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and those who were vexed with unclean spirits: And they were healed, every <FI>single<Fi> one.Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation,and laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.But the angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and brought them forth, and said,"Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this Life."And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught.  But the high priest came, and those that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.But when the officers came, and did not find them in the prison, they returned, and reported,saying, "We truly found the prison shut with all certainty, and the keepers standing outside before the doors: But when we opened, we found no man within."Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they questioned them about where this <FI>news<Fi> would grow.Then one came and told them, saying, "Behold, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people."Then the captain went with the officers, and brought them without violence: For they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: And the high priest asked them,saying, "Did we not strictly command you that you should not teach in this name?  And behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood upon us."But Peter and the other apostles answered and said, "We ought to obey God rather than men.The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you slew and hung on a tree:God has exalted Him with His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.And we are His witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those that obey Him."When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, honorable in reputation among all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while;And said to them, "You men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do touching these men.For some days ago Theudas rose up, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: Who was slain; and as many as obeyed him were all scattered, and brought to nothing.After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the taxing, and drew away many people after him: He also perished; and even as many as obeyed him were all dispersed.And now I say to you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will come to nothing:But if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it; lest you may even be found to fight against God."And they agreed with him: And when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.Therefore they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease to teach and preach Jesus Christ.Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring by the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples to them, and said, "It is not reasonable that we should leave the Word of God, and serve tables.Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of honest repute, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word."And the saying pleased the whole multitude: And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte from Antioch:Whom they set before the apostles: And when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.Then the Word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem; and a large company of the priests were obedient to the faith.And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.Then there arose certain ones from the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and by those from Cilicia and from Asia, disputing with Stephen.And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.Then they suborned men, which said, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God."And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,and set up false witnesses, which said, "This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered to us."And all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly upon him, saw his face as if it had been the face of an angel.Then the high priest said, "Are these things so?"And he said, "Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; the God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,and said to him, 'Get out of your country, and from your kindred, and come into the land which I shall show you.'Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charran: And from there, when his father was dead, He moved him into this land, in which you now dwell.And He gave him no inheritance in it, no, not so much as to even set his foot upon: Yet He promised that He would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.But God spoke in this way: That his seed would dwell in a foreign land, and that they would bring them into bondage, and oppress them four hundred years.'And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage I will judge,' said God, 'and after that they shall come out, and serve Me in this place.'Then He gave him the covenant of circumcision: And so Abraham begot Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac begot Jacob; and Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs."And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: But God was with him,and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.Now there came a famine over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction: And our fathers found no sustenance.But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.And at the second visit Joseph was made known to his brothers; and Joseph's kindred were made known to Pharaoh.Then Joseph sent for, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, seventy five souls.So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,and they were carried over into Shechem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money from the sons of Emmor, the father of Shechem."But when the time of the promise drew near, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,until another king arose, who did not know Joseph.This one dealt cunningly with our kindred, and evilly treated our fathers, so that they threw out their young children, with the intent they might not live.About which time Moses was born, and was exceedingly fair, and nourished in his father's house three months:And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him as her own son.And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds."And when he was a full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel.And seeing one of them suffer wrongfully, he defended him, and avenged him who was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:For he supposed that his brethren would have understood that by his hand God would deliver them: But they did not understand.And the next day he showed himself to them as they fought, and would have reconciled them as one again, saying, 'Sirs, you are brethren; why do you wrong one another?'But he who did his neighbor wrong thust him away, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?Will you kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?'Then Moses fled at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Midian, where he begot two sons."And when forty years were expired, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush.When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: And as he drew near to observe it, the voice of the Lord came to him,saying, 'I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'  Then Moses trembled, and dared not behold.'Then the LORD said to him, "Take off your shoes from your feet: For the place where you stand is holy ground.I have seen, I have seen the affliction of My people which are in Egypt, I have heard their groaning, and have come down to deliver them.  And now come, I will send you into Egypt." '"This Moses whom they refused, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge?'  is the same that God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.He brought them out, after he had shown wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years."This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, 'The LORD your God shall raise up to you a Prophet from your brethren, similar to me: Him you shall hear.'"This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spoke to him in Mount Sinai, and with our fathers: Who received the lively oracles to give to us:Whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust Him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,saying to Aaron, 'Make us gods to go before us: Because, as for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.'And they made a calf in those days, offered sacrifices to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, 'O house of Israel, have you offered to Me slain beasts and sacrifices for a period of forty years in the wilderness?Yes, you took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which you made to worship them: And I will carry you away beyond Babylon.'"Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as He had appointed, speaking to Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.Which also our fathers that came afterwards, brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers, even until the days of David;who found favor before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.But Solomon built Him a house."Nevertheless, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands; as the prophet says,'Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool: What house will you build Me?  says the LORD: Or what is the place of My rest?Has My hand not made all these things?'"You stiff necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit: As your fathers did, so you do.Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted?  And they have slain those which foretold of the coming of the Just One; of whom you now have been the betrayers and murderers:Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it."When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed upon him with their teeth.But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,and said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God."Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,and cast him out of the city, and stoned him: And the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."Moreover he knelt down, and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not lay this sin upon their debt."  And when he had said this, he died.Moreover Saul was consenting to his death.  And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.As for Saul, he made havoc within the church, entering into every house; and hauling off men and women, committed them to prison.Therefore those that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ to them.And the people with one accord gave heed to the things which Philip spoke, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: And many who were taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.And there was great joy in that city.But there was a certain man, called Simon, who beforehand used sorcery in the same city, and bewitched the people of Samaria, boasting that he himself was some great one:To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the great power of God."And they had regard for him, because for a long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.But when they believed Philip as he was preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.Then Simon himself also believed: And when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them:Who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.(For as yet He had fallen upon none of them: They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,saying, "Give me this power also, that whoever I lay hands on, he may receive the Holy Spirit."But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.You have neither part nor portion in this matter: For your heart is not right in the sight of God.Therefore repent of this, your wickedness, and beseech God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.For I perceive that you are in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity."Then Simon answered, and said, "Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken come upon me."And when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.Moreover the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise, and go toward the south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, which is desert."And he arose and went: And behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem to worship,was returning; and sitting in his chariot read Isaiah the prophet.Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near, and join yourself to this chariot."And Philip ran over to him, and heard him read the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you read?"And he said, "How can I, unless some man should guide me?"  And he desired that Philip would come up and sit with him.The portion of the scripture which he read was this, "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb mute before his shearer, so He did not open His mouth:In His humiliation His judgment was taken away: And who shall declare His generation?  For His life is taken from the earth."And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, "I beseech you, of whom does the prophet speak this?  Of himself, or of some other man?"Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, preached Jesus to him.Moreover as they went on their way, they came to a certain <FI>body of<Fi> water: And the eunuch said, "See, here is water; what does hinder me to be baptized?"And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may."  And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."And he commanded the chariot to stand still: And they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.Moreover when they had come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch did not see him any more: And he went on his way rejoicing.But Philip was found at Azotus: And passing through he preached in all the cities, until he came to Caesarea.Then Saul, ever breathing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,and desired from him letters to the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: And suddenly there shined all around him a light from heaven:Then he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?"And he said, "Who are You, Lord?"  And the Lord said, "I am Jesus whom you persecute: It is hard for you to kick against the prods."And he trembling and astonished said, "Lord, what would You have me to do?"  And the Lord said to him, "Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told to you what you must do."And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no manNow Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: But they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.And he was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank.Moreover there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias."  And he said, "Behold, I am here, Lord."And the Lord said to him, "Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: For behold, he prays,and has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight."Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem:And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name."But the Lord said to him, "Go your way: For he is a chosen vessel to Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel:For I will show him what great things he must suffer for My name's sake."And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, "Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me, that you might receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit."And immediately there fell from his eyes as if it had been scales: And he received sight immediately; and arose, and was baptized.And when he had received food, he was strengthened.  Then Saul was with the disciples which were at Damascus for some days.And immediately he preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.But all that heard him were amazed, and said; "Is this not he that destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and came here for that intent purpose, that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?"But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt in Damascus, proving that this is truly Christ.And after many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:But their laying in wait was known to Saul.  And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.And when Saul came to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: But they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how he had seen the Lord in the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: But they went about to slay him.Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.Then the churches had rest throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, were multiplied.And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he also came down to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ makes you whole: Arise, and make your bed."  Then he arose immediately.And all that dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and turned to the Lord.Now at Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is translated Dorcas: This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds, which she did.And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: Whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.And in as much as Lydda was near to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, desiring that he would not delay to come to them.Then Peter arose and went with them.  When he had come, they brought him into the upper chamber: And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.But Peter put them all out, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning himself toward the body said, "Tabitha, arise."  And she opened her eyes: And when she saw Peter, she sat up.Moreover he gave her his hand, lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band of solders called the Italian Band,a devout man, and one that feared God with all his household, who gave many charitable alms to the people, and prayed to God always.About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming in to him, and saying to him, "Cornelius."And when he looked at him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, Lord?"  And he said to him, "Your prayers and your charitable alms have come up as a memorial before God.And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:He lodges with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: He shall tell you what you ought to do."And when the angel which spoke to Cornelius had departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier from those who waited on him continually;and when he had declared all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.On the next day, as they went on their journey, and drew near to the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: But while they were preparing, he fell into a trance,and saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending to him, as if it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:In which were all sorts of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and fowls of the air.And there came a voice to him, "Rise, Peter; kill, and eat."But Peter said, "Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean."And the voice spoke to him again the second time, "What God has cleansed, do not call that common."This was done three times: And the vessel was received again into heaven.Now while Peter doubted within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,and they called, and asked whether Simon, who was surnamed Peter, was lodged there.While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men seek you.Arise therefore, get yourself down, and go with them, doubting nothing: For I have sent them."Then Peter went down to the men who were sent to him from Cornelius; and said, "Behold, I am he whom you seek: What is the reason that you have come?"And they said, "Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one that fears God, and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was warned by a holy angel from God to send for you into his house, and to hear words from you."Then he called them in, and lodged them.  And on the next day Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.And the day after they entered into Caesarea.  And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshiped him.But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I myself also am a man."And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that had come together.Then he said to them, "You know how it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come to one of another nation; but God has showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.Therefore I came to you without opposition, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what reason have you sent for me?"And Cornelius said, "Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your charitable alms are in remembrance in the sight of God.Therefore send to Joppa, and call Simon to this place, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: Who, when he comes, shall speak to you.'Immediately therefore I sent to you; and you have done well that you have come.  Now therefore, we are all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded you from God."Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, "Truly I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:But in every nation he that fears Him, and works righteousness, is accepted with Him.The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (He is Lord of all):That word, I say, you know, which was published throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power: Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed by the devil; for God was with Him.And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hung on a tree:Him God raised up the third day, and showed Him openly;not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen in advance by God, even to us, who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He which was ordained by God to be the Judge of living and dead.To Him all the prophets give witness, that through His name whoever believes in Him shall receive remission of sins."While Peter still spoke these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word.And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles.For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.  Then answered Peter,"Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Spirit just as well as we?"And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.  Then they implored him to tarry some days.Moreover the apostles and brethren that were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the Word of God.And when Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended with him,saying, "You went in to uncircumcised men, and ate with them."But Peter narrated the matter from the beginning, and expounded upon it to them in <FI>chronological<Fi> order, saying,"I was in the city of Joppa praying: And in a trance I saw a vision, a certain vessel descend, as if it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it even came to me:Upon which, as I steadfastly beheld with my eyes, I considered, and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and fowls of the air.And I heard a voice saying to me, 'Arise, Peter; slay and eat.'But I said, 'Not so, Lord: For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered into my mouth.'But the voice answered me again from heaven, 'What God has cleansed, do not call that common.'Moreover this was done three times: And all were drawn up again into heaven.And behold, immediately there were three men already standing before the house where I was, sent to me from Caesarea.And the Spirit bade me to go with them, doubting nothing.  Moreover, these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:And he showed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said to him, 'Send men to Joppa, and call Simon to this place, whose surname is Peter;who shall tell you words, by which you and all your household shall be saved.'And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning.Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, 'John indeed baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'Seeing then that God gave them the same gift as He did to us, who believed upon the Lord Jesus Christ; who was I, that I could withstand God?"When they heard these things, they held their peace; and glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life."Now those that were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but to the Jews only.And some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.And the hand of the Lord was with them: And a large number believed, and turned to the Lord.Then tidings of these things came to the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: And they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave to the Lord.For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith: And many people were added to the Lord.Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus, to seek Saul:And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch.  And it came to pass, that for a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught many people.  And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.And one of them stood up, named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great famine throughout all the world: Which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren who dwelt in Judea:Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain <FI>ones<Fi> from the church.Moreover he killed James the brother of John with the sword.And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also.  (Then were the Days of Unleavened Bread.)And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four bands of four soldiers each to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.Therefore Peter was kept in prison: But prayer was made without ceasing to God by the church for him.And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: And the keepers before the door kept the prison.And behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shone in the prison: And he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, "Arise up quickly."  And his chains fell off from his hands.Then the angel said to him, "Gird yourself, and tie on your sandals"; and so he did.  And he said to him, "Throw your garment around you, and follow me."Therefore he went out, and followed him; and was not aware that it was <FI>actually<Fi> true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.When they were past the first and the second ward, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city; which opened to them of its own accord: And they went out, and passed on through one street; and immediately the angel departed from him.And when Peter had come to himself, he said, "Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the Jewish people."Then, when he had considered the matter, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.And when she knew Peter's voice, she did not open the gate due to gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.And they said to her, "You are mad."  But she constantly affirmed that it was <FI>in fact<Fi> so.  Then they said, "It is his angel."Also Peter continued knocking: And when they opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.But he, beckoning to them with the hand to hold their peace, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison.  And he said, "Go report these things to James, and to the brethren."  And he departed, and went into another place.Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter.Moreover when Herod had searched for him, and did not find him, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death.  And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.Also Herod was highly displeased with those of Tyre and Sidon: But they came with one accord to him, and having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king's country.And on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration to them.And the people gave a shout, saying, "It is the voice of a god, and not of a man."And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he did not give glory to God: And he was eaten by worms, and gave up the ghost.But the Word of God grew and multiplied.And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers; like Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."Then, when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.So then, being sent forth by the Holy Spirit, they departed to Seleucia; and from there they sailed to Cyprus.And when they were at Salamis, they preached the Word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: And they also had John as their minister.Moreover when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:Who was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the Word of God.But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn the deputy away from the faith.Then Saul (who also is called Paul), filled with the Holy Spirit, set his eyes on him,and said, "O full of all craftiness and all mischief, you child of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?And now behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a season."  And immediately there fell upon him a mist and a darkness; and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.Then the deputy, when he saw what had been done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.Now when Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: And John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and sat down.And after the reading of the Law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, "You men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, speak <FI>now<Fi>."Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, "Men of Israel, and you that fear God, give audience.The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with a powerful arm He brought them out of it.Then, for a period of about forty years He suffered their mannerisms in the wilderness.And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He divided their land to them by lot."And after that He gave judges to them for a period of about four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.And afterward they desired a king: Therefore God gave to them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for a period of forty years.And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David to be their king; to whom also He gave testimony, and said, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who shall fulfill all My will.'From this man's seed, God has, according to His promise, raised up to Israel a Savior, Jesus:When John had first preached, before His coming, the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.And as John fulfilled his course, he said, 'Who do you think that I am?  I am not He.  But behold, there comes One after me, whose shoes of His feet I am not worthy to loose.'"Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whoever among you that fears God, to you the word of this salvation is sent.For those that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning Him.And though they found no cause for death in Him, yet they desired of Pilate that He should be slain.And when they had fulfilled all that was written about Him, they took Him down from the tree, and laid Him in a sepulchre.But God raised Him from the dead:And He was seen for many days by those that came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people.And we declare to you glad tidings, how the promise which was made to the fathers,God has fulfilled the same for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second Psalm, 'You are My Son, this day I have begotten You.'And concerning how He raised Him from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, He spoke in this manner, 'I will give you the sure mercies of David.'Therefore He also says in another Psalm, 'You shall not permit Your Holy One to see corruption.'"For David, after he had served the will of God in his own generation, fell asleep dead, and was laid with his fathers, and saw corruption:But He, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.Therefore let it be known to you, men and brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins:And by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.Beware therefore, lest that which is spoken of in the prophets come upon you;'Behold, you despisers, wonder, and perish: For I work a work in your days, a work which you shall in no way believe, though a man declare it to you.' "And when the Jews had gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles entreated that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: Who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.And the next Sabbath day almost the whole city came together to hear the Word of God.But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spoke against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, "It was necessary that the Word of God should first have been spoken to you: But seeing you put it away from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.For so has the Lord commanded us, saying, 'I have set you to be a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.' "Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: And as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.But the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their borders.But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium.And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Spirit.And it came to pass in Iconium, that they both went together into the synagogue of the Jews, and in like manner spoke, so that a large multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds inclined toward evil against the brethren.They therefore abode a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony to the word of His grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.But the population of the city was divided: Part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles.And when there was an assault made by both the Gentiles, and also the Jews with their rulers, to spitefully use them, and to stone them,they were aware of it, and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the region that lies all around:And they preached the gospel there.And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who had never walked:The same heard Paul speak: Who steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,said with a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet."  And he leaped and walked.Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men."And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.Then the priest of Jupiter, who was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard this, they tore their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,and saying, "Sirs, why do you do these things?  We also are men of like passions with you, and preach to you that you should turn from these vanities to the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are in them:Who in times past allowed all nations to walk in their own ways.Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness."And with these sayings they barely restrained the people, that they did not sacrifice to them.And there came to that place certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, dragged him out of the city, supposing he was dead.Nevertheless, as the disciples stood all around him, he rose up, and came into the city: And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.And when they had ordained themselves elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, in whom they believed.And after they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia:And from there sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.Moreover when they had come, and had gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.And they abode there a long time with the disciples.And certain men who came down from Judea taught the brethren, and said "Unless you are circumcised according to the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved."Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas , and certain others of them, should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.Now being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: And they caused great joy to all the brethren.And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church, and by the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.But there rose up certain <FI>ones<Fi> from the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying that, "it was necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses."And the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said to them, "Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.Also God, which knows the hearts, bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as He did to us;and made no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.Now therefore, why do you tempt God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they <FI>shall be saved<Fi>."Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had worked among the Gentiles by them.And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, "Men and brethren, hearken to me:Simon has declared how God at first visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for His name.And the words of the prophets agree with this; as it is written,'After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; and I will build again its ruins, and I will set it up:That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom My name is called, says the Lord, who does all these things.'"Known to God are all His works from the beginning of the world.Therefore my decree is that we do not trouble those from among the Gentiles which have turned to God:but that we write to them that they abstain from things polluted by idols, from fornication, from things strangled, and from blood.For since old times there is in every city those who preach Moses, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day."Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:And they wrote letters by them in this manner: The apostles, elders, and brethren send greetings to the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:Since we have heard that certain <FI>people<Fi> which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, "You must be circumcised, and keep the law": To whom we gave no such commandment:It seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,men that have endangered their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;that you abstain from meats offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from fornication: If you keep yourselves from these, you shall do well.  Farewell.So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: And when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.Now Judas and Silas, both being prophets themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.And after they had tarried there for a season, they were let go in peace from the brethren to the apostles.Nevertheless it pleased Silas to abide there longer.Paul and Barnabas also continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.But after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go return again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing."Moreover Barnabas was determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.But Paul did not think it <FI>would be<Fi> good to take him with them, who departed from them at Pamphylia, and did not go with them to the work.And the contention was so sharp between them, that they parted ways from one another: And so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed to Cyprus;And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God.And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.Then he came to Derbe and Lystra: And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain woman, who was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:He was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.Paul intended him to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: For they all knew that his father was a Greek.And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, that were ordained by the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.And so the churches were established in the faith, and increased in number daily.Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia,after they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia: But the Spirit did not permit them.And passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; there stood a man of Macedonia, and he implored him, saying, "Come over into Macedonia, and help us."Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly trusting that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.Therefore sailing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;and from there to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: And we were abiding in that city some days.And on the Sabbath we went out of the city by a riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down, and spoke to the women which resorted there.Then a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God, heard us: Whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended to the things which were spoken by Paul.And when she was baptized, and her household, she implored us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there."  Therefore she compelled us.And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, that a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:<RF>of divination; or, of Python<Rf>The same followed Paul and us, and cried out saying, "These men are the servants of the Most High God, which show to us the way of salvation."And this she did many days.  But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her."  And he came out the same hour.Now when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace to the rulers,And brought them to the magistrates, saying, "These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city,and teach customs which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans."Then the multitude rose up together against them: And the magistrates tore off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely:Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and fastened their feet in the stocks.And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises to God: And the prisoners heard them.Moreover suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bands were loosed.And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had fled.But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Do yourself no harm: For we are all here."Then he called for a light, ran in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas.And brought them out, and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"And they said, "Believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, and your house."Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all that were in his house.And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, without delay.Then when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.And when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, "Let those men go."And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, "The magistrates have sent to let you go: Now therefore depart, and go in peace."But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily?  No indeed; but let them come themselves and fetch us out."And the sergeants told these words to the magistrates: And they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.Therefore they came and implored them, and brought them out, and desired that they depart out of the city.And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: And when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews:And Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,revealing and alleging that it was necessary for Christ to have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that, "This Jesus, whom I preach to you, is Christ."And some of them believed, and united with Paul and Silas; and a large multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the chief women.But the Jews which did not believe, moved with envy, took certain lewd fellows of the vile sort, and gathered a company, set all the city in an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and certain brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These that have turned the world upside down have come here also;Whom Jason has received: And all of them do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus."And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.Yet when they had taken security from Jason, and from the others, they let them go.And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night to Berea: Who coming to that place went into the synagogue of the Jews.These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether these things were so.Therefore many of them believed; including honorable women who were Greeks, and not <FI>just<Fi> a few men.But when the Jews from Thessalonica were aware that the Word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also, and stirred up the people.And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: But Silas and Timothy still abode there.Moreover those that guided Paul brought him to Athens: And receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed, they departed.Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.Therefore he disputed in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout people, and in the market daily with those that met with him.Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, encountered him.  And some said, "What will this babbler say?"  Others said, "He seems to be a herald of strange gods": because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.And they took him, and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak?For you bring some strange things to our ears: We would like therefore to know what these things mean."(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' Hill, and said, "You men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are too superstitious.For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.  Whom you therefore ignorantly worship, Him I declare to you."God that made the world and all things in it, seeing He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;neither is worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, seeing He gives to all life, breath, and all things;and He has made from one blood all nations of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined the pre-appointed times, and the bounds of their habitation;that they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He is not far from every one of us:For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as also certain <FI>ones<Fi> of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'In as much as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is similar to gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.Indeed, the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men everywhere to repent:Because He has appointed a day, in which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He has ordained; of which He has given assurance to all men, in that He has raised Him from the dead."And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: And others said, "We will hear you again on this matter."So Paul departed from among them.Nevertheless, certain men united with him, and believed: Among them was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;and found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, recently came from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome): And came to them.And because he was of the same trade, he abode with them, and worked: For by occupation they were tentmakers.And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.And when Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.But when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his clothes, and said to them, "Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: From now on I will go to the Gentiles."And he departed from there, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was adjoined directly to the synagogue.Then Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing, believed, and were baptized.Then the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not hold your peace:For I am with you, and no man shall lay hold on you to hurt you: For I have many people in this city."And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the Word of God among them.And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made an insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,saying, "This fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the law."And when Paul now was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, "If it were a matter of wrongdoing or wicked lewdness, O Jews, there would be reason why I should bear with you:But if it is a question of words and names, and of your law, look to it yourselves; for I will not be a judge of such matters."And he drove them from the judgment seat:Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat.  And Gallio cared for none of those things.<RF>Greeks; most probably Jewish Greeks<Rf>And after this Paul tarried there a good while yet, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed from there into Syria, and with him were Priscilla and Aquila; having shaved his head in Cenchrea: For he had taken a vow.And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: But he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.When they implored him to tarry a while longer with them, he did not consent;but bid them farewell, saying, "I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem: But I will return again to you, if God wills."  And he sailed from Ephesus.And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and greeted the church, he went down to Antioch.And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.Moreover a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spoke and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: Whom when Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him to them, and expounded to him the way of God more perfectly.And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: Who, when he had come, greatly helped those who had believed through grace:For he mightily convinced the Jews, and publicly at that, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.And it came to pass, that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus:  And finding certain disciples,he said to them, "Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?"  But they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit."And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?"  And they said, "Into John's baptism."Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe upon Him which should come after him, that is, upon Christ Jesus."When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied.Now the men were about twelve in all.And he went into the synagogue, and spoke boldly for a span of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.But when different <FI>people<Fi> were hardened, and did not believe, but spoke evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and withdrew the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.And this continued for a span of two years; so that all those who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.And God worked special miracles by the hands of Paul:So that handkerchiefs or aprons from his body were brought to the sick, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.Then certain <FI>ones<Fi> of the vegabond Jews, exorcists, took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches."And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and a chief of the priests, who did so.And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?"Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.Moreover this was known to all the Jews and also Greeks dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.And many that believed came, and confessed, and disclosed their deeds.Also, many of them which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: And they counted up the price of them, and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.So the Word of God grew mightily and prevailed.After these things were accomplished, Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome."So he sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.And at the same time there arose no small stir over that way.For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small profit to the craftsmen;whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, "Sirs, you know that by this craft we have our wealth.Moreover, you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods, which are made with hands:So that not only is our craft in danger of being disregarded as nothing; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship."Now when they heard these words, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians."Then the whole city was filled with confusion: And having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theater.And when Paul would have entered in to the people, the disciples did not permit him.And certain chiefs of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him, beseeching him that he would not himself venture into the theater.Some therefore cried out one thing, and some another: For the assembly was confused; and for the most part did not know why they had come together.And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward.  And Alexander beckoned with his hand, and would have made his defense to the people.But when they had knowledge that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about a span of two hours, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians."And when the town clerk had appeased the people, he said, "You men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, you ought to be quiet, and do nothing rashly.For you have brought these men here, who are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.Therefore, if Demetrius, and the craftsmen who are with him, have a matter against any man, the <FI>court of<Fi> law is open, and there are deputies: Let them bring charges against one another.But if you inquire anything concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.For we are in danger of being called into question for today's uproar, there being no cause which we may give to account for this assembling together."And when he had spoken these things, he dismissed the assembly.After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go into Macedonia.Now when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece,and abode there three months.  And when the Jews laid in wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.And Sopater of Berea accompanied him into Asia, also Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.These going on before, tarried for us at Troas.And we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas in five days, where we abode seven days.And on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached to them; and ready to depart on the next day, continued his speech until midnight.And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, having fallen into a deep sleep: And as Paul was preaching long, he sunk down with sleep; and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, "Do not trouble yourselves; for his life is in him."When he therefore had come up again, had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even until daybreak, after that he departed.And they brought the young man alive, and were not <FI>just<Fi> a little comforted.And we went onward to ship, and sailed to Assos, there intending to take Paul onboard: For he had appointed this, minding himself to go <FI>there<Fi> on foot.And when he met us at Assos, we took him onboard, and came to Mitylene.Afterward we sailed from that place, and the next day came over opposite Chios; and the following day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus.For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: For he hastened, if it were possible for him, to be in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost.And from Miletus he sent <FI>a message<Fi> to Ephesus, and called for the elders of the church.And when they had come to him, he said to them, "You know, from the first day that I came into Asia, in what manner I have been with you <FI>throughout<Fi> all seasons,serving the Lord with all humility of mind, with many tears, and temptations, which befell me through the lying in wait of the Jews:And how I kept back nothing that was profitable to you, but have shown you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.And now behold, I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:Except that the Holy Spirit witnesses in every city, saying that chains and afflictions await me.But none of these things move me, neither do I count my life dear to myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God."And now behold, I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no longer.Therefore I testify for the record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.For I have not shunned to declare to you all the counsel of God.Therefore take heed to yourselves, and to all the flock, among whom the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He has purchased with His own blood.For I know this, that after my departure grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock.Also men shall arise from among your own selves, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after themselves.Therefore watch, and remember, that for a span of three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears."And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.I have coveted no one's silver, or gold, or apparel.Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have served for my necessities, and for those that were with me.I have shown you all things, how by so laboring you ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "And when he had spoken these things, he knelt down, and prayed with them all.Moreover they all wept deeply, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him,sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they should see his face no more.  And they accompanied him to the ship.And it came to pass, that after we had departed from them, and set sail, running a straight course we came to Cos, and the following day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara:And finding a ship sailing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard, and set forth.Now when we had sighted Cyprus, we passed it on the left, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: For there the ship was to unload her merchandise.And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: Who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.And when we had finished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, until we were out of the city: And we knelt down on the shore, and prayed.And when we had taken our leave of one another, we boarded the ship; and they returned home again.And when we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.And the next day we who were Paul's companions departed, and came to Caesarea: And we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven; and abode with him.And the same man had four daughters, virgins, who prophesied.Moreover, as we tarried there many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.When he had come to us, he took Paul's belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.' "Now when we heard these things, both we, and those from that place, implored him not to go up to Jerusalem.Then Paul answered, "What makes you weep and to break my heart?  For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."Now when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, "The will of the Lord be done."And after those days we packed up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem.There also went with us certain <FI>ones<Fi> of the disciples from Caesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we were to lodge.And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.And the following day Paul went in with us to James; and all the elders were present.And when he had saluted them, he distinctly declared what things God had worked among the Gentiles through his ministry.And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who believe; and they are all zealous for the law:And they are informed about you, that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, nor to walk according to the customs.What is it therefore?  The multitude must by all means come together: For they will hear that you have come.Therefore do that which we say to you: We have four men who have a vow on them;take them, and purify yourself with them, and pay their expenses, that they may shave their heads: And all may know that those things, of which they were informed concerning you, are nothing; but that you yourself also walk orderly, and keep the law.Moreover, concerning the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they are to observe no such thing, except that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from anything strangled, and from fornication."Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them, entered into the temple to signify the completion of the days of purification, at which time an offering should be offered for every one of them.Now when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews from Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,crying out, "Men of Israel, help: This is the man that teaches all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place: And furthermore also brought Greeks into the temple, and has polluted this holy place."(For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: And they took Paul, and dragged him out of the temple: Then immediately the doors were shut.Now as they went about to kill him, news came to the chief captain of the soldiers, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them: And when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they ceased beating Paul.Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and he demanded <FI>to know<Fi> who he was, and what he had done.And some among the multitude cried one thing, some another: And when he could not know the truth because of the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle.Now when he reached the stairs, it so happened that he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the people.For the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, "Away with him!"Then as Paul was about to be led into the castle, he said to the chief captain, "May I speak to you?"  Who said, "Can you speak Greek?Are you not that Egyptian, who some time ago made an uproar, and led out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?"But Paul said, "I am a man who is a Jew from Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no average city: Moreover I beseech you, permit me to speak to the people."Now when he had given him license, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand to the people.  And when a great silence was made, he spoke to them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,"Men, brethren, and fathers, hear my defense which I now make to you."(And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew tongue, they kept all the more silent: And he said,)"I am truly a man who is a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as you all are today.And I persecuted this way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.As also the high priest bears me witness, and all the presbytery of the elders: From whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring those which were there to Jerusalem in chains, to be punished."And it came to pass, that as I journeyed, and had come near to Damascus about noon, suddenly there shined from heaven a great light all around me.And I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?'And I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?'  And He said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute.'"And those that were with me indeed saw the light, and were afraid; but they did not hear the voice of Him that spoke to me.And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?'  And the Lord said to me, 'Arise, and go into Damascus; and there you shall be told about all the things which are appointed for you to do.'And when I could not see because of the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those that were with me, I came into Damascus."Moreover one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report from all the Jews which dwelt there,came to me, and stood, and said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight.'  And the same hour I looked up upon him.And he said, 'The God of our fathers has chosen you, that you should know His will, and see that Just One, and should hear the voice of His mouth.For you shall be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.And now why do you tarry?  Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'"And it came to pass, that when I had come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;and saw Him saying to me, 'Make haste, and get yourself quickly out of Jerusalem: For they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.'And I said, 'Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those that believed upon You:And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting to his death, and kept the clothes of those that slew him.'Then He said to me, 'Depart: For I will send you far from this place to the Gentiles.' "And they gave him audience until this word, and then they lifted up their voices, and said, "Away with such a fellow from the earth: For it is not proper that he should live."Moreover as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,the chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and brought word that he should be examined by scourging, that he might know why they cried out in such a manner against him.And as they bound him with straps, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, "Is it lawful for you to scorge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?"When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, "Take heed what you do: For this man is a Roman."Then the chief captain came, and said to him, "Tell me, are you a Roman?"  He said, "Yes."The chief captain answered, "With a large sum I obtained this freedom."  And Paul said, "But I was born free."Then immediately those that should have examined him departed from him: Moreover the chief captain also was afraid after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.The next day, because he intended to know with certainty why he was accused by the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.Now Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, "Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day."And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to smite him on the mouth.Then Paul said to him, "God shall smite you, you whitened wall: For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be beaten contrary to the law?"And those who stood by said, "Do you revile God's high priest?"Then Paul said, "I was not aware, brethren, that he was the high priest: For it is written, 'You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people.' "But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called into question."And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: And the multitude was divided.For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: But the Pharisees confess both.And there arose a loud clamor: And the scribes who were of the Pharisees by occupation arose, and strove, saying, "We find no evil in this man: But if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God."Moreover, when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul would have been pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.And the following night the Lord stood by him, and said, "Be of good cheer, Paul: For as you have testified of Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome."And when it was day, certain <FI>ones<Fi> of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.Now there were more than forty who had committed to this conspiracy.And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, "We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.Now you, therefore, together with the council, signify to the chief captain that he bring him down to you tomorrow, as though you would inquire something more perfectly concerning him: And we are ready to kill him whenever he comes near."And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.Then Paul called one of the centurions to him, and said, "Bring this young man to the chief captain: For he has a certain thing to tell him."So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, "Paul the prisoner called me to him, and implored me to bring this young man to you, who has something to say to you."Then the chief captain took him by the hand, went privately aside with him, and asked him, "What is it that you have to tell me?"And he said, "The Jews have agreed to petition you that you would bring down Paul into the council tomorrow, as though they would inquire something about him more perfectly.But do not yield to them: For more than forty men lie in wait for him, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink until they have killed him: And now they are ready, awaiting a promise from you."So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, "See to it you tell no man that you have informed me of these things."And he called two centurions to himself, saying, "Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night;and provide for them beasts, that they may set Paul upon, and bring him safe to Felix the governor."Then he wrote a letter in the following manner:Claudius Lysias, To the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.This man was taken by the Jews, and would have been killed by them: Then I came with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.And when I intended to know the cause for why they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:What I perceived was that he is accused over questions of their law, but had nothing charged against him worthy of death nor of chains.And when it was told to me how the Jews laid in wait for the man, I sent him immediately to you, and also gave commands to his accusers to speak before you what they had against him.  Farewell.Then the soldiers, as it was commanded to them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.On the next day, they left the horsemen to go on with him, and returned to the castle:When they came to Caesarea, and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul before him.And when the governor had read the letter, he asked what province he was from.  And when he understood that he was from Cilicia;he said, "I will hear you when your accusers have also come."  And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.Now after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, "Seeing that by you we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done to this nation by your providence,we accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.Notwithstanding, that I am not tedious to you any further, I beseech you that you would hear from us a few words by your clemency.For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:Who also has gone about to profane the temple: Whom we took, and would have judged him according to our law.But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,commanding his accusers to come to you: By examining them yourself, you may have knowledge of all these things, of which we accuse him."And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.Then Paul, after the governor had beckoned to him to speak, answered, "In as much as I know that you have been a judge to this nation for many years, I do <FI>all<Fi> the more cheerfully answer for myself:So that you may understand, that it has been only twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship.And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, nor raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:Neither can they prove the things of which they now accuse me.But this I confess to you, that according to the way which they call heresy, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the prophets:And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.And in this I exercise myself, to always have a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men."Now after many years I came to bring charitable alms to my nation, and offerings.Upon which certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with a multitude, nor with tumult.Who ought to have been here before you, and object, if they had anything against me.Or else let these people here say if they found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council,except if it was for this one expression, that I cried out standing among them, 'Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am called into question by you this day.' "And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, "When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost <FI>regarding<Fi> your matter."Then he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should not forbid any of his acquaintances to minister or come to him.And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.Moreover as he reasoned about righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, "Go your way for now; when I have a convenient opportunity, I will call for you."He also hoped that money would be given <FI>to<Fi> him by Paul, that he might let him loose: Therefore he sent for him often, and communed with him.But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' office: And Felix, willing to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.Now when Festus had come into the province, after three days he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem.Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and sought him through entreaty,and desired a favor against him, that he would send him to Jerusalem, while they are laying in wait by the road to kill him.But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart for there shortly."Therefore," he said, "let those who are able among you go down with me, and accuse this man, to see if there is any wickedness in him."And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea; and the next day, sitting on the judgment seat, he commanded Paul to be brought.And when he had come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood all around, and laid many grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.Meanwhile, he answered for himself, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended in anything at all."But Festus, willing to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, "Will you go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged concerning these things before me?"Then Paul said, "I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know.For if I am an offender, or have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die: But if there is nothing to these things of which they accuse me, no man may deliver me to them.  I appeal to Caesar."Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, "You have appealed to Caesar?  To Caesar you shall go."And after some days King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus.And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause to the king, saying, "There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:About whom, when I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.To whom I answered, 'It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before he who is accused has the accusers face to face, and has license to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.'Therefore, when they had come here, without any delay the next day I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.When the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation against him of such things as I supposed:But had certain questions against him concerning their own superstition, and concerning one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.And because I doubted such kinds of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged concerning these matters.But when Paul appealed to be reserved to the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept until I might send him to Caesar."Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I also would like to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," he said, "you shall hear him."And on the next day, when Agrippa had come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and had entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principle men of the city, at Festus' command Paul was brought forth.And Festus said, "King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, you see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have negotiated with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying out that he ought not to live any longer.But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself had appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.Of whom I have no certain thing to write to my lord.  Therefore I have brought him forth before you, and especially before you, O King Agrippa, that after examination has ended, I might have something to write.For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and at the same time not to signify the crimes laid against him."Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You are permitted to speak for yourself."  Then Paul stretched forth his hand, and answered for himself:"I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself before you this day concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews:Especially because I know you are an expert in all customs and questions which are in particular among the Jews: Therefore I beseech you to hear me patiently."My manner of life from my youth, which was at first among my own nation in Jerusalem, all the Jews know;they knew me from the beginning, if they were willing to testify, that following after the most strict sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers:To which promise our twelve tribes, urgently serving God day and night, hope to attain.  For this hope's sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.Why should it be thought an incredible thing by you that God should raise the dead?"I truly thought within myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.Which things I also did in Jerusalem: And many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.And I punished them often in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly furious against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities."Given wholly to this, as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,at midday, O king, on the highway I saw a light from heaven, exceeding the brightness of the sun, shining all around me and those who journeyed with me.And when we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking to me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?  It is hard for you to kick against the prods.'And I said, 'Who are You, Lord?'  And He said, 'I am Jesus whom you persecute.But rise, and stand upon your feet: For I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen, and of those things which I will show to you;delivering you from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you,to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith that is in Me.'"Given wholly to this, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision:But brought word first to those of Damascus, and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy for repentance.For these reasons the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.Having therefore obtained help from God, I continue to this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come:That Christ would suffer, and that He should be the first that would rise from the dead, and would show light to the people, and to the Gentiles."Now as he spoke for himself like this, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are beside yourself; much learning makes you mad."But he said, "I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak the words of truth and soberness.For the king knows of these things, before whom I also speak freely: For I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; seeing this thing was not done in a corner.King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets?  I know that you believe."Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to be a Christian."And Paul said, "I pray to God, that not only you, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether as I am, except for these chains."And when he had spoken these things, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and those who sat with them:And when they had gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, "This man does nothing worthy of death or of chains."Then Agrippa said to Festus, "This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed to Caesar."And when it was determined that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band <FI>of soldiers<Fi>.And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail along the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.And the next day we landed at Sidon.  And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go to his friends to refresh himself.When we launched from there, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.And there the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy; and he put us on it.And when we had sailed slowly many days, and with much work had come in front of Cnidus, the wind not allowing us <FI>to proceed<Fi>, we sailed under <FI>the lee of<Fi> Crete, in front of Salmone;And hardly passing it, we came to a place which is called The Fair Havens; near to which was the city of Lasea.Now when much time had past, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the Fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,and said to them, "Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with injury and much damage, not only to the cargo and ship, but also to our lives."Nevertheless the centurion believed the shipmaster and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they might come to Phoenice, and winter there; which is a harbor of Crete, and lies toward the southwest and northwest.And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their intention, loosing from that place, they sailed close by Crete.But not long after there arose a tempestuous wind against them, called Euroclydon.Moreover when the ship was caught, and could not navigate into the wind, we let her drive.And running under <FI>the lee of<Fi> a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come along side the boat:Which, when they had taken it up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and fearing lest they would fall into the <FI>sandbar<Fi> quicksands, they struck sail, and so were driven.And since we were exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;And on the third day we threw the ship's tackle overboard with our own hands.Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay upon us, all hope that we would be saved was by then taken away.But after long abstinence from food Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, "Sirs, you should have hearkened to me, and not have loosed from Crete, and not have acquired this harm and loss.And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: For there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but only of the ship.For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,saying, 'Fear not, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar: And look, God has given you all those who sail with you.'Therefore, sirs, be of good cheer: For I believe God, that it shall be just as it was told to me.Nevertheless, we must be cast upon a certain island."But when the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;and sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: And when they had gone a little farther, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the daylight.And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the small boat into the sea, under the pretense as though they would have cast anchors out of the front of the ship,Paul said to the centurion, and to the soldiers, "Unless these men remain in the ship, you cannot be saved."Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the small boat, and let it fall off.And while the daylight was coming on, Paul implored all of them to take food, saying, "Today is the fourteenth day that you have tarried and continued fasting, and eaten nothing.Therefore I urge you to take some food: Because this is for your health: For not a hair shall fall from the head of any of you."And when he had said these things, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it, he began to eat.Then they were all of good cheer, and they also took some food.And in all we were two hundred and seventy six souls on the ship.Moreover, when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.And when it was day, they did not know the land: But they discovered a certain creek with a shore; into which they were inclined, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship.And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves to the sea, loosed the rudder bands, hoisted up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the front stuck fast, and remained unmovable, but the back part was broken with the violence of the waves.And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that those who could swim should cast themselves into the sea first, and get to land:And the rest, some <FI>went<Fi> on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship.  And so it came to pass, that they all escaped safely to land.And when they had escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness: For they kindled a fire, and received every one of us, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.Moreover, when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.Now when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, "No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet vengeance does not permit him to live."But he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.Nevertheless, they looked in expectation that he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: But after they had looked for a long while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.In the same quarters there were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and courteously lodged us three days.And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: To whom Paul went in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.So when this was done, others who had diseases on the island also came, and were healed:They also honored us with many honors; and when we departed, they loaded us with such things as were necessary.And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.And from there we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: And after one day the south wind blew, and we came to Puteoli the next day:Where we found brethren, and were requested to tarry with them seven days: And so we went toward Rome.And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum, and The Three Taverns: Whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: But Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: And when they had come together, he said to them, "Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, nor customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no reason for death in me.But when the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar; not that I had anything to accuse my nation of.For this reason therefore, I have called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: Because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain."Then they said to him, "We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren who came reported or spoken any evil of you.But we desire to hear from you what you think: For concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere."And when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the Law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning until evening.And some believed the things which were spoken, and some did not believe.Now when they did not agree among themselves, they departed, after that Paul spoke one word, "The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers,saying, 'Go to this people, and say, "Hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you shall see, and not perceive:For the heart of this people is waxed over, and their ears are dull of hearing, and they have closed their eyes; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." '"Therefore let it be known to you, that the salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles, and that they will hear it."And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had a great reasoning among themselves.Also Paul dwelt two whole years in his own leased house, and received all who came in to him,preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God,(which He had promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy scriptures,)concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for His name:Among whom you are also the called of Jesus Christ:To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;making request, if by any means now at last I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come to you.For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established;also that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith of both you and me.Now I would rather not have you ignorant, brethren, that I often purposed to come to you, (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.I am a debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.Even so, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are at Rome also.For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: For it is the power of God to salvation to everyone that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith: As it is written, "The just shall live by faith."For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who withhold the truth in unrighteousness;because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God has shown it to them.For since the creation of the world the invisible things of Him are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:Because although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made in likeness to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever.  Amen.For this reason God gave them over to vile affections: For even their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature:And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men performing what is indecent, and receiving in themselves the recompense of their error which was appropriate.And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not proper;being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; being whisperers,backbiters, haters of God, full of spite, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:Who knowing the judgment of God, that those who commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in those that do them.Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are that judges: For in what you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you that judge do the same things.But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who commit such things.And do you think this, O man, that judge those who do such things, and do the same, that you shall escape the judgment of God?Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?But according to your hardness and impenitent heart you treasure up for yourself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;who "will render to every man according to his deeds":To those who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life:But to those who are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that does evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;but glory, honor, and peace to every man who works good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:For there is no partial regard of persons with God.For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;(for the hearers of the law are not righteous before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.For when the Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things contained in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves:Who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts <FI>like<Fi> the plaintiff accusing or else excusing one another;)in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.Behold, you are called a Jew, and rest in the law, and make your boast in God,and know His will, and approve the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which have the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.You therefore which teaches another, do you not teach yourself?  You that preach a man should not steal, do you steal?You who say, "A man should not commit adultery," do you commit adultery?  You who abhor idols, do you commit sacrilege?You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law?For, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you", as it is written.For circumcision indeed profits, if you keep the law: But if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision is made uncircumcision.Therefore if the uncircumcised keeps the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfills the law, judge you, who by the letter and circumcision do transgress the law?For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God.What advantage then has the Jew?  Or what is the profit of circumcision?Much in every way: Principally, because to them were committed the oracles of God.For what if some did not believe?  Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?God forbid: Moreover, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, "That You might be justified in Your sayings, and might overcome when You are judged."But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what shall we say?  Is God unrighteous who takes vengeance? (I speak as a man.)God forbid: For how then shall God judge the world?For if the truth of God has abounded more through my lie to His glory; why am I still also judged as a sinner?And not rather just say, (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) "Let us do evil, that good may come"?  (whose damnation is just.)What then?  Are we better than they?  No, not at all: For we have already proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;as it is written, "There is none righteous, no, not one:There is none that understands; there is none that seeks after God.They have all gone out of the way, they have together become unprofitable; there is none that does good, no, not one.""Their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues they have used deceit"; "the poison of asps is under their lips":"Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness":"Their feet are swift to shed blood:Destruction and misery are in their ways:And they have not known the way of peace":"There is no fear of God before their eyes."Now we know that whatever things the law says, it says to those who are under the law: That every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.Therefore, by the deeds of the law no flesh shall be justified in His sight: For the knowledge of sin <FI>comes<Fi> by the law.But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the prophets;even the righteousness of God which is by faith from Jesus Christ to all and upon all those that believe: For there is no difference:For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:Whom God has set out to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;to declare , I say, at this time His righteousness: That He might be just, and the justifier of him that believes in Jesus.Where is boasting then?  It is excluded.  By what law?  Of works?  No: But by the law of faith.Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.Is He the God of the Jews only?  Is He not also the God of the Gentiles?  Yes, of the Gentiles also:Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.Do we then make void the law through faith?  God forbid: Indeed, we establish the law.What then shall we say that Abraham our father found, as pertaining to the flesh?For if Abraham was justified by works, he has <FI>reason<Fi> to boast; but not before God.For what does the scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."Now to him who works, the reward is not accounted as grace, but as debt.But to him that does not work, but believes on Him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted as righteousness.Even as David also describes the blessedness of the man, to whom God imputes righteousness without works,saying, "Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.Blessed is the man to whom the LORD will not impute sin."Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also?  For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham as righteousness.How then was it accounted?  While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised?  Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised.And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised: That he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed to them also:And the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had while still uncircumcised.For the promise, that he would be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of no effect:Because the law works wrath: For where no law is, there is no transgression.Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; with the intent the promise might be certain to all the seed; not only to those which are of the law, but also to those which are of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,(as it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations,") in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead, and calls those things which are not as though they were.Who, against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, "So shall your seed be."And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;and being fully persuaded that what He had promised, He was able also to perform.And therefore "it was imputed to him as righteousness."Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, to us, if we believe upon Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:By whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations: Knowing that tribulation works patience;and patience, experience; and experience, hope:Now hope does not make us ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given to us.For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.Indeed, scarcely for a righteous man will one die: Yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.But God commends His love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.Therefore, just as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for all have sinned:(For until the law sin was in the world: But sin is not imputed when there is no law.Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is a type of Him that was to come.But the free gift is not also as the offense.  For if through the offense of one many are dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one Man, Jesus Christ, has abounded to many.And the gift is not as <FI>though<Fi> it came by one that sinned: For the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offenses to justification.For if by one man's offense death reigned by one; much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by One, Jesus Christ.)Therefore, as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of One the free gift came upon all men to justification of life.For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One many shall be made righteous.Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound.  But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:That as sin has reigned to death, even so might grace reign through righteousness to eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.What shall we say then?  Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?God forbid.  How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer in it?Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: That just as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection:Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that we should no longer serve sin.For he that is dead is freed from sin.Now if we are dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him:Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more; death has no more dominion over Him.For in that He died, He died to sin once: But in that He lives, He lives to God.Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.Neither yield your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin: But yield yourselves to God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.For sin shall not have dominion over you: For you are not under the law, but under grace.What then?  Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace?  God forbid.Do you not know that to whom you yield yourselves as servants to obey, you are his servants whom you obey; whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness?But God be thanked, that you were the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered to you.Being then made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness.I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: For as you have yielded your members servants to uncleanness, and to iniquity onto more iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness onto holiness.For when you were servants of sin, you were free from righteousness.What fruit did you have then in those things of which you are now ashamed?  For the end of those things is death.But now being made free from sin, and having become servants to God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end everlasting life.For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.Do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those that know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he lives; but if the husband is dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.So then if, while her husband lives, she  is married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband is dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she is married to another man.Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that you should be married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit to God.For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit to death.But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead in which thing we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.What shall we say then?  Is the law sin?  God forbid.  No, I had not known sin, but by the law: For I had not known lust, except that the law said, "You shall not covet."But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, worked in me all manner of concupiscence.  For without the law sin was dead.For I was alive without the law once: But when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to <FI>instead<Fi> be to death.For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by <FI>the commandment<Fi> slew me.Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.Was that which is good then made death to me?  God forbid.  But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceedingly sinful.For we know that the law is spiritual: But I am carnal, sold under sin.For that which I do, I do not allow: For what I intend, that I do not do; but what I hate, that I do.If then I do that which I do not intend, I consent to the law that it is good.Now then it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells in me.For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh), dwells no good thing: For to intend is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I do not find.For the good that I intend I do not do: But the evil which I do not intend, that I do.Now if I do that which I do not intend, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells in me.I find then a law, that when I intend to do good, evil is present with me.For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man:But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.O wretched man that I am!  Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.  So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.There is therefore now no condemnation to those which are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk after the flesh, but after the Spirit.For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.Because what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin: Condemned sin in the flesh,That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk after the flesh, but after the Spirit.For those that are after the flesh mind the things of the flesh; but those that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: For it is not subject to the law of God, indeed neither can be.So then, those that are in the flesh cannot please God.But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if <FI>as should<Fi> be the Spirit of God dwells in you.  Now if any man does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also vivify your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwells in you.Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: But if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live.For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, by which we cry out, "Abba, Father."The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if <FI>as should<Fi> be we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.For the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the sons of God.For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who has subjected the same in hope,because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.And not only they, but we ourselves also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, that is, the redemption of our body.For we are saved by hope: But hope that is seen is not hope: For why does a man still hope for what he sees?But if we hope for what we do not see, then we wait for it with patience.Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought: But the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.Moreover He that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.Moreover, whom He predestined, these He also called: Whom He called, these He also justified: And whom He justified, these He also glorified.What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us?He that did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not <FI>together<Fi> with Him also freely give us all things?Who shall blame God's elect?  It is God that justifies.Who is he that condemns?  It is Christ that died, now rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?As it is written, "For Your sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.I say the truth in Christ, I do not lie, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:Who are Israelites, to whom pertains the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises;whose are the fathers, and from whom as far as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever.  Amen.Not as though the Word of God has taken no effect.  For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:Neither are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham: But, "In Isaac shall your seed be called."That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: But the children of the promise are counted as the seed.For this is the word of promise, "At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son."And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;(for the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him that calls);it was said to her, "The elder shall serve the younger."As it is written, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated."What shall we say then?  Is there unrighteousness with God?  God forbid.For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."So then it is not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that shows mercy.For the scripture says to Pharaoh, "Even for this same purpose I have raised you up, that I might show My power in you, and that My name might be declared throughout all the earth."Therefore He has mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He wills He hardens.Then you will say to me, "Why does He still find fault?  For who has resisted His will?"No rather, O man, who are you that replies against God?  Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, "Why have you made me like this?"Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor, and another for dishonor?What if God, willing to show His wrath, and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:And that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory,even us, whom He has called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?As He says also in Hosea, "I will call them My people, who were not My people; and her beloved, who was not beloved.""And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said to them, 'You are not My people'; There they shall be called children of the living God."Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel, "Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:For He will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: Because the Lord will make a short work upon the earth."And as Isaiah said before, "Unless the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we would have been even as Sodom, and been made similar to Gomorrah."What shall we say then?  That the Gentiles, who did not follow after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness.Why?  Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were by the works of the law.  For they stumbled at that stumbling-stone;As it is written, "Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling-stone and rock of offense: And whoever believes on Him shall not be ashamed."Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved.For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God.For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes.For Moses describes the righteousness which is of the law, "That the man who does those things shall live by them."But the righteousness which is of faith speaks like this, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who shall ascend into heaven?' " (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)"Or, 'Who shall descend into the deep?' " (that is, to bring up Christ from the dead again).But what does it say? "The word is near you, even in your mouth, and in your heart": That is, the word of faith, which we preach;that if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.For with the heart man believes to righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made to salvation.For the scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be ashamed."For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: For the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.For "Whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?  And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?  And how shall they hear without a preacher?And how shall they preach, except if they are sent?  As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"But they have not all obeyed the gospel.  For Isaiah said, "LORD, who has believed our report?"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.But I say, have they not heard?  Yes truly, "Their sound went into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world."But I say, did Israel not know?  First Moses says, "I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you."But Isaiah is very bold, and said, "I was found by those that did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those that did not ask for Me."But to Israel he said, "All day long I have stretched forth My hands to a disobedient and contrary people."I say then, has God cast away His people?  God forbid.  For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew.  Do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah?  How he makes intercession to God against Israel, saying,"LORD, they have killed Your prophets, and torn down Your altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life."But what does God say to answer him? "I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal."Even so then, at this present time there is also a remnant according to the election of grace.And if by grace, then it is no longer of works: Otherwise grace is no longer grace.  But if it is of works, then it is no longer grace: Otherwise work is no longer work.What then?  Israel has not obtained that which he seeks after; but the chosen have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.(Even as it is written, "God has given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear); to this day."And David says, "Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block, and a retribution to them.Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back always."I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall?  God forbid: But rather through their fall salvation has come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.Now if the fall of them is the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness?For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify my office:If by any means I may provoke to emulation those who are my flesh, and might save some of them.For if the casting away of them is the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; And if the root is holy, so are the branches.And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree;do not boast against the branches.  But if you do boast, you do not support the root, but the root supports you.You will say then, "The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in."Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith.  Do not be highminded, but fear:For if God did not spare the natural branches, take heed lest He also not spare you.Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: On those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness.  Otherwise you also will be cut off.And they also, if they do not still abide in unbelief, shall be grafted in: For God is able to graft them in again.For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: How much more shall these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?For I do not intend, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.And so all Israel shall be saved: As it is written, "There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:For this is My covenant to them, when I shall take away their sins."Concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: But concerning the chosen, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.For as in times past you have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:Even so these also now have not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.For God has concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all.O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!"For who has known the mind of the LORD?  Or who has been His counselor?""Or who has first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed to him again?"For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: To whom be glory forever.  Amen.I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.And do not be conformed to this world: But be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.For I say, through the grace given to me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, in accordance with how God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.For as we have many members in one body, and all the members do not have the same office:So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members of one another.Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us: If prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;or ministry, let us attend to our ministering: Or he that teaches, in teaching;or he that exhorts, in exhortation; he that gives, let him do it with simplicity; he that rules, with diligence; he that shows mercy, with cheerfulness.Let love be without dissimulation.  Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing urgently in prayer;distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.Bless those who persecute you: Bless, and do not curse.Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.Be of the same mind toward one another.  Do not mind high things, but descend from privilege of rank to men of low estate.  Do not be wise in your own conceits.Recompense to no man evil for evil.  Provide things honestly in the sight of all men.If it is possible, as much as rests with you, live peaceably with all men.Dearly beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath: For it is written, "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay," says the Lord.Therefore "If your enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, give him a drink: For in so doing you shall heap coals of fire upon his head."Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.Let every soul be subject to the higher powers.  For there is no power but from God: The powers that be are ordained by God.Therefore whoever resists the power, resists the ordinance of God: And those who resist shall receive to themselves damnation.For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil.  Do you then desire not to be afraid of the power?  Do that which is good, and you shall have praise from the same:For he is God's minister to you for good.  But if you do that which is evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain: For he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that does evil.Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake.Because, for this reason you also pay tribute: For they are God's ministers, attending continually to this very thing.Render therefore to all their dues: Tribute to whom tribute is due; customs to whom customs; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.Owe no man anything, except to love one another: For he that loves another has fulfilled the law.For these, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not kill," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet"; and if there is any other commandment, it is concisely understood by this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."Love works no ill to his neighbor: Therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.Also this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: For now our salvation is nearer than when we believed.The night is far spent, the day is at hand: Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lasciviousness, not in strife and envying.But you, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.Receive him that is weak in the faith, but not to doubtful disputations.For one believes that he may eat all things: Another, who is weak, eats herbs.Let him that eats not despise him who does not eat; and let him who does not eat not judge him that eats: For God has received him.Who are you that judges another man's servant?  To his own master he stands or falls.  Moreover, he shall be held up: For God is able to make him stand.One person esteems one day above another: Another esteems every day alike.  Let every man be fully pursuaded in his own mind.He who regards the day, regards it to the Lord; and he that does not regard the day, to the Lord he does not regard it.  He that eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he that does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.For none of us lives to himself, and no man dies to himself.For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord: Whether we therefore live, or die, we are the Lord's.Because, for this purpose Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.But why do you judge your brother?  Or why do you disregard your brother as nothing?  For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.For it is written, "As I live, says the LORD, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God."So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a reason to fall in his brother's way.I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: But to him that esteems anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.But if your brother is grieved with your food, now you do not walk in love.  Do not destroy him with your food, for whom Christ died.Do not then let your good be spoken evil of:For the kingdom of God is not food and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.For he that serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God, and approved by men.Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things with which one may edify another.Do not destroy the work of God because of food.  All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for that man who eats with offense.It is good neither to eat flesh, nor drink wine, nor anything by which your brother stumbles, or is offended, or is made weak.Do you have faith?  Have it to yourself before God.  Happy is he that does not condemn himself in that thing which he allows.Moreover he that doubts is damned if he eats, because he does not eat by faith: For whatever is not by faith is sin.We then who are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good, to edification.For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "The reproaches of those that reproached You fell on Me."For whatever things were written beforehand were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded toward one another according to Christ Jesus:That you may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.You therefore, receive one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers:And that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy; as it is written, "For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, and sing to Your name."And again he said, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people."And again, "Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles; and laud Him, all you people."And again, Isaiah said, "There shall be a root of Jesse, and He that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in Him shall the Gentiles trust."Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit.And I myself am also persuaded concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you in some respects, as a reminder to you, because of the grace that is given to me by God,that I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit.Therefore, I have that of which I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not worked by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and fully around to Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.Yes, in this manner I have strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:But as it is written, "To whom He was not spoken of, they shall see: And those that have not heard shall understand."For this reason I also have been often hindered from coming to you.But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you;Whenever I take my journey to Spain, I will come to you: For I trust to see you on my journey, and to be brought on my way there by you, if first I am somewhat content with your company.But now I go to Jerusalem to minister to the saints.For it has pleased them from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.It has pleased them truly; and they are their debtors.  For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in carnal things.Therefore, when I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.Moreover I am sure that, when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;that I may be delivered from those that do not believe in Judea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted by the saints;that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you.Now the God of peace be with you all.  Amen.I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:That you receive her in the Lord, as befits saints, and that you assist her in whatever business she has need of you: For she has been an aid of many, and of myself also.Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:Who have laid down their own necks for my life: To whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.Likewise greet the church that is in their house.  Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ.Greet Mary, who gratuitously gave much labor for us.Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord.Salute Urbanus, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.Salute Apelles approved in Christ.  Salute those who are of the household of Aristobulus.Salute Herodion, my kinsman.  Greet those that are of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord.Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord.  Salute the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord.Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them.Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.Greet one another with a holy kiss.  The churches of Christ salute you.Now I beseech you, brethren, mark those which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you have learned; and avoid them.For those that are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.For your obedience has become known to everyone.  Therefore I am glad on your behalf: But I would still have you be wise to that which is good, and simple concerning evil.And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.  Amen.Timothy my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.I, Tertius, who wrote this letter, salute you in the Lord.Gaius, my host, and the whole church, salutes you.  Erastus the chamberlain of the city salutes you, and <Fi>uartus, a brother.The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  Amen.Now to Him that is powerful to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,but is now made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, is made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:To God singly wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever.  Amen.Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given to you by Jesus Christ;that in everything you are enriched by Him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:So that you come short in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:Who shall also confirm you until the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those who are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.Now I say this, that every one of you says, "I am of Paul"; or "I am of Apollos"; or "I am of Cephas"; or "I am of Christ."Is Christ divided?  Was Paul crucified for you?  Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?I thank God that I baptized none of you, except Crispus and Gaius;lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name.And, I also baptized the household of Stephanas: Besides <FI>these<Fi>, I do not know whether I baptized any other.For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel: Not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.For the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those that perish; but to us who are saved it is the power of God.For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent."Where is the wise?  Where is the scribe?  Where is the disputer of this world?  Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?For since in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of preaching to save those that believe.For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:But we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness,but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.For the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.For you see your calling, brethren, how not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;and base things of the world, and things which are despised, God has chosen, yes, and things which are not, to bring to nothing things that are:That no flesh should glory in His presence.But by reason of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who of God is made to us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:That, according to as it is written, "He that glories, let him glory in the Lord."And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring to you the testimony of God.For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.And I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.Nevertheless, we speak wisdom among those that are perfect: Yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nothing:But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world to our glory:Which none of the princes of this world knew: For had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.But as it is written, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those that love Him."But God has revealed them to us by His Spirit: For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?  Even so no man knows the things of God, but the Spirit of God.Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us from God.Which things we also speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God: For they are foolishness to him: Neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.But he that is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged by no man."For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him?"  But we have the mind of Christ.And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual, but as to carnal, even as to babes in Christ.I have fed you with milk, and not with food: For until now you were not able to bear it, even now you still are not able.For you are still carnal: For where there is envying, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal, and walk as men?For while one says, "I am of Paul"; and another, "I am of Apollos"; are you not carnal?Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom you believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.So then neither he that plants is anything, nor he that waters; but God that gives the increase.Now he that plants and he that waters are one: And every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.For we are laborers together with God: You are God's tillage, you are God's building.According to the grace of God which is given to me, as a wise master-builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it.  But let every man take heed how he builds upon it.For no other foundation can any man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.Now if any man builds upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;every man's work shall be made manifest: For the Day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall prove every man's work, of what sort it is.If any man's work which he has built upon continues, he shall receive a reward.If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: But he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.Do you all not know that you all are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?<RF>you all (2<FI>): In KJV, ye (2<FI>); hence both instances of "you all" are plural<Rf>If any man defiles the temple of God, God shall destroy him; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.Let no man deceive himself.  If any man among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.  For it is written, "He catches the wise in their own craftiness."And again, "The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain."Therefore let no man glory in men.  For all things are yours;whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;and you are Christ's; and Christ is God's.Let a man so account for us, as ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.Moreover, it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful.But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by a man's judgment: Nevertheless I do not judge my own self.For I know nothing by myself; yet I am not justified by this: But He that judges me is the Lord.Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: And then every man shall have praise from God.Now these things, brethren, I have transfigured onto myself and onto Apollos for your sakes; that you might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that none of you are puffed up on behalf of one, against another.For who makes you to differ from another?  And what do you have that you did not receive?  Now if you received it, why do you boast, as if you had not received it?Now you are full, now you are rich, you have reigned as kings without us: And I pray to God you did reign, that we also might reign with you.For I think that God has approved us apostles last, as it were appointed to death: For we are made a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are honorable, but we are despised.Even to this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are beaten, and have no certain dwelling place;and we labor, working with our own hands: Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:Being defamed, we entreat: We are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things to this day.I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.For though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers: For in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.Therefore I beseech you, be followers of me.For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall remind you of my ways which are in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and will know, not the speech of those which are puffed up, but the power.For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.What would you rather?  Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?It is commonly reported that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not even named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you.For I indeed, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have already judged, as though I were present, concerning him that has so done this deed,in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.Your boasting is not good.  Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened.  For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.I wrote to you in a letter not to keep company with fornicators:Yet not completely with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then you would need to go out of the world.But now I have written to you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother is a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; not to eat with such an one.For what have I to do with judging those that also are outside?  Do you not judge those that are inside?But those that are outside God judges.  Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to <FI>a court of<Fi> law before the unjust, and not before the saints?Do you not know that the saints shall judge the world?  And if the world shall be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?Do you not know that we shall judge angels?  How much more things that pertain to this life?If then you have judgments of things pertaining to this life, appoint those to judge who are least esteemed in the church.I speak to your shame.  Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you?  No, not even one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?But brother goes to <FI>the court of<Fi> law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.Now therefore, there is utterly a fault among you, because you go to <FI>the court of<Fi> law against one another.  Why do you not rather accept wrong?  Why do you not rather allow yourselves to be defrauded?No, you do wrong, and defraud, and that to your brethren.Do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived: Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.And such were some of you: But you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.All things are lawful to me, but all things are not expedient: All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.Foods for the belly, and the belly for foods: But God shall destroy both it and them.  Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.And God has both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by His own power.Do you not know that your bodies are the members of Christ?  Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of a harlot?  God forbid.What?  Do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body?  Because "the two," He says, "shall be one flesh."But he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit.Flee fornication.  Every sin that a man does is outside the body; but he that commits fornication sins against his own body.What?  Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have from God, and you are not your own?For you are bought at a price: Therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.Let the husband render to the wife due benevolence; and likewise also the wife to the husband.The wife does not have power of her own body, but the husband does: And likewise also the husband does not have power of his own body, but the wife does.Do not defraud one another, except if it be with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan does not tempt you through your lack of self-control.But I speak this by permission, and not as a commandment.For I would have that all men were even as I myself.  But every man has his proper gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that.Therefore, I say to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I.But if they cannot contain themselves, let them marry: For it is better to marry than to burn.Now to the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, let not the wife depart from her husband:But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: And do not let the husband put away his wife.But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife that does not believe, and she is pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.And the woman which has a husband that does not believe, if he is pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.Because the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: Otherwise your children are unclean; but now they are holy.But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart.  A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: But God has called us to peace.For how do you know, O wife, whether you shall save your husband?  Or how do you know, O man, whether you shall save your wife?But as God has distributed to every man, as the Lord has called every one, so let him walk.  And so I ordain in all churches.Is any man called being circumcised?  Let him not become uncircumcised.  Is anyone called in uncircumcision?  Let him not be circumcised.Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.Let every man abide in the same calling in which he was called.Are you called while a servant?  Do not care on account of it: But if you may be made free, use it so much the more.For he that is called in the Lord, while a servant, is the Lord's freeman: Likewise also he that is called, while free, is Christ's servant.You are bought with a price; do not be the servants of men.Brethren, let every man, in whatever he is called <FI>to do<Fi>, in that abide with God.Now concerning virgins I have no commandment from the Lord: Yet I give my judgment, as one that has obtained mercy from the Lord to be faithful.I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.Are you bound to a wife?  Do not seek to be loosed.  Are you loosed from a wife?  Do not seek a wife.But even if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned.  Nevertheless, such shall have trouble in the flesh: But I spare you.But this I say, brethren, the time is short: It means, that even those that have wives be as though they had none;and those that weep, as though they did not weep; and those that rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those that buy, as though they did not possess;and those that use this world, as not abusing it: For the fashion of this world passes away.But I would have you without concerns.  He who is unmarried cares for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:But he who is married cares for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.There is also a difference between a wife and a virgin.  The unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: But she who is married cares for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is honorable, and that you may fix your attention upon the Lord without distraction.But if any man thinks that he himself behaves improperly toward his virgin, if she has passed the flower of her years, and needs so require, let him do what he wills, he does not sin: Let them marry.Nevertheless, he that stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, does well.So then he that gives her in marriage does well; but he that does not give her in marriage does better.The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband is dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wills; only in the Lord.But she is happier if she remains as she is, according to my judgment: And I think that I also have the Spirit of God <FI>in this<Fi>.Now concerning things offered to idols, we know that we all have knowledge.  Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.And if any man thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.But if any man loves God, the same is known of Him.Therefore concerning the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one.For though there are such that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods, and many lords),yet to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we ourselves by Him.Notwithstanding, that knowledge is not in every man: For some with consciousness of the idol to this hour eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.But food does not commend us to God: For neither, if we eat, are we better; neither, if we do not eat, are we worse.But beware lest by any means this liberty of yours becomes a stumbling block to those who are weak.For if any man sees you which have knowledge sit at food in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;and through your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?But when you all sin in like manner against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you all sin against Christ.For which reason, if meat makes my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world stands, lest I make my brother to offend.Am I not an apostle?  Am I not free?  Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord?  Are you not my work in the Lord?If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you.  For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.My answer to those that examine me is this,Do we not have power to eat and to drink?Do we not have power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?Or is it only I and Barnabas that do not have power to abstain from working?Who ever goes to war at his own expense?  Who plants a vineyard, and does not eat of its fruit?  Or who feeds a flock, and does not eat of the milk of the flock?Do I say these things as <FI>from<Fi> a man?  Or does not the law say the same also?For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treads out the grain kernels."  Does God take care in favor of oxen?Or does He say it altogether for our sakes?  For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: That he that plows should plow in hope; and he that threshes in hope should be <FI>a<Fi> partaker of his hope.If we have sown to you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?If others are partakers of this power over you, are not we for better reason?  Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we hinder the gospel of Christ.Do you not know that those who minister around holy things live from the things of the temple?  And those who wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?Even so the Lord has ordained that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.But I have used none of these things: Neither have I written these things, that it should be done to me: For it would be better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of: For necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me, if I do not preach the gospel!For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: But if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed to me.What is my reward then?  Truly that, when I preach the gospel, I may give the gospel of Christ without charge, that I do not abuse my power in the gospel.For though I am free from all men, yet I have made myself servant to all, that I might gain <FI>all<Fi> the more.And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to those that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain those that are under the law;to those that are without law, as without law (not being without law to God, but under the law to Christ), that I might gain those that are without law.To the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.Now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be <FI>a<Fi> partaker of it with you.Do you not know that those that run in a race all run, but one receives the prize?  So run, that you may obtain.And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things.  Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.I therefore so run, not with uncertainty; I so fight, not as one that beats the air:But I weary my body, and bring it into subjection: Lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.Moreover, brethren, I would not have that you should be ignorant, how all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea;and all were baptized to Moses in the cloud and in the sea;and all ate the same spiritual food;and all drank the same spiritual drink: For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: And that Rock was Christ.But with many of them God was not well pleased: For they were overthrown in the wilderness.Now these things were our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.Neither be idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play."Nor let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell.Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents.Nor murmur, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed by the destroyer.Now all these things happened to them as examples: And they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world has come.Therefore let him that thinks he stands take heed, lest he fall.There is no temptation that has taken you except such as is common to man: But God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able; but with the temptation will also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.Therefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say.The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?  The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?For we being many are one bread, and one body: For we are all partakers of that one bread.Behold Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?What am I saying then?  That an idol is anything, or what is offered in sacrifice to idols is anything?Rather, I am saying that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: And I would not intend that you should have fellowship with devils.You cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: You cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy?  Are we stronger than He?All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: All things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience' sake:<RF>meat market: In KJV, shambles<Rf>For "the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness of it."If any of those that do not believe invite you to a feast, and you are disposed to go; eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience sake.But if anyone says to you, "This was offered to idols," do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience' sake: For "the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness of it."I do not say your own conscience, but that of the other: For why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience?For if by grace I am a partaker, why am I spoken evil of for that which I give thanks?Therefore, whether you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.Give no offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.Be followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head.But every woman that prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head: For that is even the same as if she were shaven.For if the woman is not covered, let her also be shorn: But if it is a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, for as much as he is the image and glory of God: But the woman is the glory of the man.For the man is not from the woman; but the woman from the man.Neither was man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.For this reason the woman ought to have a token of jurisdiction on her head because of the angels.Nevertheless, neither is the man without the woman, nor the woman without the man, in the Lord.For as the woman is from the man, even so the man also comes by the woman; but all things are from God.Judge in yourselves: Is it proper that a woman pray to God uncovered?Does not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man has long hair, it is a shame to him?But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her: For her hair is given to her for a covering.But if any man seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.Now in this which I declare to you I do not praise you, in that you come together not for the better, but for the worse.For first of all, when you come together in the church, I hear that there are divisions among you; and I partly believe it.For also there must be heresies among you, that those which are approved may be made known among you.When you therefore come together into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's Supper.For in eating everyone takes his own supper before others: And one is hungry, and another is drunk.What?  Do you not have houses to eat and drink in?  Or do you despise the church of God, and shame those that do not have?  What shall I say to you?  Shall I praise you in this?  I praise you not.For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: That the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;And when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, "Take, eat: This is My body, which is broken for you: Do this in remembrance of Me."In the same manner He also took the cup, when he had sipped, saying, "This cup is the new testament in My blood: This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you teach the Lord's death until He comes.Therefore whoever eats this bread, and drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.For he that eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many deceased.For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, tarry for one another.And if any man hungers, let him eat at home; that you do not come together to condemnation.  And the rest I will set in order when I come.Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would rather not have you ignorant.You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, even as you were led.Therefore I make known to you that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed: And that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Spirit.Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.And there are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which works all in all.But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit with altogether.For to one is given the word of wisdom by the Spirit; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another diverse kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:But all these work effectually by that one and the exact same Spirit, dividing to every man distinctly as He wills.For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: So also is Christ.For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether we are Jews or Gentiles, whether we are bond-servants or free; and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.For the body is not one member, but many.If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body"; is it therefore not of the body?And if the ear should say, "Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body"; is it therefore not of the body?If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing?  If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?But now God has set the members, every one of them, in the body, just as it has pleased him.And if they were all one member, where would be the body?But now they are many members, yet still one body.And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you": Nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."No, far more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our unpresentable parts have more abundant decency.For our presentable parts have no need: But God has tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked:That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one toward another.And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.Now you are the body of Christ, and members distinctly.And God has set some in the church: First apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.Are all apostles?  Are all prophets?  Are all teachers?  Are all workers of miracles?Do all have the gifts of healing?  Do all speak with tongues?  Do all interpret?But earnestly desire the best gifts: And yet I show you a more excellent way.Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profits me nothing.Love suffers long, and is kind; love does not envy; love does not vaunt itself, is not puffed up,does not behave itself indecently, does not seek her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil;does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.Love never fails: But if there are prophecies, they shall fail; if there are tongues, they shall cease; if there is knowledge, it shall vanish away.For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part shall be done away.When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: But when I became a man, I put away childish things.For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: Now I know in part; but then I shall know even as I also am known.And now abides faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.Follow after love, and desire spiritual gifts, but preferably that you may prophesy.For he that speaks in an unknown tongue does not speak to men, but to God: For no man understands him; nevertheless in the spirit he speaks mysteries.But he that prophesies speaks edification, exhortation, and comfort to men.He that speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself; but he that prophesies edifies the church.I would like that you all spoke with tongues, but far more that you prophesied: For greater is he that prophesies than he that speaks with tongues, unless he interprets, that the church may receive edification.Now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?And even things without life bringing forth sound, whether pipe or harp, unless they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?For if the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself for the battle?So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken?  For you shall speak into the air.There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the voice, I shall be to him that speaks a barbarian, and he who speaks shall be a barbarian to me.Even so you, as much as you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may excel to the edifying of the church.For which reason let him that speaks in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.What is the conclusion then?  I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding: I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.Otherwise when you bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupies the room of the unlearned say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, seeing he does not understand what you say?For you truly give thanks well, but the other is not edified.I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than you all:Yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.Brethren, do not be children in understanding: Yet in malice be children, but in understanding be men.In the law it is written, "With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; and yet, for all that, they will not hear Me," says the Lord.Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those that believe, but to unbelievers: Moreover prophesying does not serve unbelievers, but is for those who believe.If therefore the whole church comes together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that you are beside yourselves?But if all prophesy, and there comes in one that does not believe, or one unlearned, he is convinced by all, he is discerned by all:And in this way the secrets of his heart are made apparent; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is truly in you.How is it then, brethren?  Whenever you come together, every one of you has a psalm, has a doctrine, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation.  Let all things be done for edification.If any man speaks in an unknown tongue, let there be two, or at the most three, each by turn; and let one interpret.But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.If anything is revealed to another which sits by, let the first hold his peace.For you may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.Let your women keep silence in the churches: For it is not permitted to them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also the law says.And if they desire to learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: For it is a shame for women to speak in the church.What?  Did the Word of God originate from you?  Or was it to you only that it has come?If any man thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.But if any man is ignorant, let him be ignorant.Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.Let all things be done decently and in order.Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, and in which you stand;by which also you are saved, if you keep in memory what I preached to you, unless you have believed in vain.For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: How Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures,and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures:And that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve:After that, He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain to this present, but some are deceased.After that, He was seen by James; then by all the apostles.And last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.For I am the least of the apostles, that am not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.But by the grace of God I am what I am: And His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach, and so you believed.Now if Christ is preached that He rose from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen:And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is vain, and your faith is also vain.Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ: Whom He did not raise up, if it so be that the dead do not rise.For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen:And if Christ is not risen, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins.Then also those which are deceased in Christ are perished.If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are the most miserable of all men.But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those that are deceased.For since by man death came, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward those that are Christ's at His coming.Then comes the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.For He must reign, until He has put all enemies under His feet.The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.For "He has put all things under His feet."  But when He says, "all things are put under Him," it is evident that He which put all things under Him is the exception.Moreover, when all things become subdued under Him, then the Son Himself shall also be subject to Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.Otherwise, what shall they do, who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all?  Why then are they baptized for the dead?And why do we stand in danger every hour?I solemnly affirm by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me, if the dead do not rise?  "Let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die."Do not be deceived: "Evil communications corrupt good manners."Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.But some man will say, "How are the dead raised up?  And with what body do they come?"You fool, that which you sow is not made alive, unless it dies:And that which you sow, you do not sow that body which shall be, but bare uncovered grain, perhaps of wheat, or of some other grain:But God gives it a body as it has pleased Him, and to every seed his own body.All flesh is not the same flesh: But there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fish, and another of birds.There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: But the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: For one star differs from another star in glory.So also is the resurrection of the dead.  The body is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.  There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living soul"; the last Adam was made a life giving spirit.Nevertheless, that which is spiritual was not first, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.The first man is of the earth, earthy: The second Man is the Lord from heaven.As is the earthy, such are also those that are earthy: And as is the heavenly, such are also those that are heavenly.And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all decease, but we shall all be changed,in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory.""O Death, where is your sting?  O grave, where is your victory?"The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.But thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, seeing you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so you do.Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay <FI>something<Fi> by him in store, as God has prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters, I will send them to bring your liberality to Jerusalem.And if it is suitable that I go also, they shall go with me.Now I will come to you, when I pass through Macedonia: For I do pass through Macedonia.And it may be that I will abide, yes, and winter with you, that you may bring me on my journey wherever I go.For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permits.But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.For a great and effectual door is opened to me, and there are many adversaries.Now if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear: For he does the work of the Lord, as I also do.Therefore let no man despise him: But guide him forth in peace, that he may come to me: Indeed, I look for him with the brethren.Now concerning our brother Apollos, I greatly implored him to come to you with the brethren: But he was quite unwilling to come at this time; but he will come at his convenience when he has time.Watch, stand fast in the faith, carry through like men, be strong.Let all your actions be done with love.I beseech you, brethren, (you know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)that you submit yourselves to such, and to everyone that helps work with us, and labors.I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus: For that which was lacking on your part they have supplied.For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: Therefore acknowledge those that are such.The churches of Asia salute you.  Aquila and Priscilla salute you greatly in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.All the brethren greet you.  Greet one another with a holy kiss.The salutation of  me, Paul, with my own hand.If any man does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.My love be with you all in Christ Jesus.  Amen.Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia:Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, by the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds by Christ.Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so shall you also be of the consolation.For we do not intend, brethren, to have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life:But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raises the dead:Who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver: In whom we trust that He will yet deliver us;you also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.Because our rejoicing is this: The testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.For we write no other things to you, than what you read or acknowledge; and I trust you shall acknowledge even to the end;as also you have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as you also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.And in this confidence I intended to come to you before, that you might have a second benefit;and to pass by you into Macedonia, and to return again from Macedonia to you, and to be brought on my way toward Judea by you.When I therefore was thus minded, did I employ lightness?  Or the things I purposed, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be Yes yes, and No no?But as God is true, our word to you was not Yes and No.For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not "Yes and No", but in Him was "Yes."For all the promises of God are "Yes" in Him, and in Him "Amen", to the glory of God by us.Now He which establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, is God;who has also sealed us, and given the first fruits of the Spirit in our hearts.Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I have not as yet come to Corinth.Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers for your joy: For by faith you stand.But I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he that makes me glad, but the same which is made sorrowful by me?And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from those of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I more abundantly have toward you.But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, except in part: That I may not burden you all.Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted by many.So that on the contrary you ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with too much sorrow.Therefore I beseech you that you would confirm your love toward him.For towards this end I also wrote, that I might know the proof of you, whether you are obedient in all things.To whom you forgive anything, I also forgive: For if I forgave anything, to whom I forgave it, I forgave it for your sakes in the person of Christ;lest Satan should get an advantage over us: For we are not ignorant of his devices.Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord,I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother: But taking my leave of them, I went from there into Macedonia.Now thanks be to God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ, and makes manifest the savor of His knowledge through us in every place.For we are to God a sweet savor of Christ, in those that are saved, and in those that perish:To the one we are the savour of death leading to death; and to the other the savor of life leading to life.  And who is sufficient for these things?For we are not as many, which corrupt the Word of God: But <FI>out<Fi> of sincerity, but as from God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.Do we begin again to commend ourselves?  Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men:For as much as you are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in fleshy tablets of the heart.And such trust we have through Christ toward God:Not that we are sufficient by ourselves to think anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God;Who also has made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the Spirit: For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.But if the ministration of death, written and engraved in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away <FI>with<Fi>:How shall not the ministration of the Spirit be rather glorious?For if the ministration of condemnation is glory, much more does the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excels.For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remains is glorious.Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:And not as Moses, who put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the conclusion of that which is abolished:But their minds were blinded: For till this day remains the same veil not taken away in the reading of the Old Testament; which veil is done away in Christ.But even to this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.Nevertheless, when <FI>their heart<Fi> shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.Now the Lord is that Spirit: And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.Therefore, seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not faint;but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the Word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.But if our gospel is hid, it is hid to those that are lost:In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.For we do not preach <FI>about<Fi> ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and <FI>we<Fi> ourselves <FI>are<Fi> your servants for Jesus' sake.For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also might be made manifest in our body.For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.So then death works in us, but life in you.We having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed, and therefore I spoke"; we also believe, and therefore speak:Knowing that He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall also raise up us by Jesus, and shall present us with you.For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many abound to the glory of God.For which cause we do not faint; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: For the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:If <FI>as should<Fi> be that we being clothed shall not be found naked.For we that are in this tabernacle groan, being burdened: Not because we would be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality might be swallowed up in life.Now He that has worked us for this very same thing is God, who has also given to us the first fruits of the Spirit.Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.Therefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted <FI>by<Fi> Him.For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to what he has done, whether it is good or bad.Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest to God; and I also trust are made manifest in your consciences.For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that you may have something to answer those who glory in appearance, and not in heart.For if we are beside ourselves, it is to God: Or if we are sober, it is for your cause.For the love of Christ compels us, because we have judged thus: That if One died for all, then all died;And that He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to Him which died for them, and rose again.Therefore from now on, we regard no man according to the flesh: Yes, though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet from now on we know Him no longer.Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: Old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new.Now all things are from God, who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation;Know that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them; and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading to you through us: We urge you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.For He has made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.We then, as workers together with Him, beseech you also that you do not receive the grace of God in vain.(For He said, "I have heard you in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation I have helped you": Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)Giving no offense in anything, that the ministry is not blamed:But in all things we commend ourselves as the ministers of God: In much patience, in afflictions, in needs, in distresses,in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings;by pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by genuine love,by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report: As deceivers, and yet true;as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.O you Corinthians, our mouth is open to you, our heart is enlarged.You are not distressed in us, but you are distressed in your own bowels.Now in return for the same (I speak as to my children), you also be enlarged.Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers: For what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness?  And what communion has light with darkness?And what agreement has Christ with Belial?  Or what part has he that believes with an infidel?And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?  For you are the temple of the living God; as God has said: "I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."Therefore "Come out from among them, and be separate, says the Lord, and do not touch the unclean thing; and I will receive you,""And will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."Therefore having these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.I do not say this to condemn you: For I have said before, that you are in our hearts, to die and live with you.Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.For when we came into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; outside was fighting, within were fears.Nevertheless God, that comforts those who are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;and not only by his coming, but by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind towards me; so that I rejoiced even more.For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: For I perceive that the same epistle has made you sorry, though it was but for a season.Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that you sorrowed to repentance: For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer damage by us in nothing.For godly sorrow works out repentance to salvation, not to be regretted: But the sorrow of the world works death.For behold this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: Yes what diligence it produced in you, yes what clearing of yourselves, yes what indignation, yes what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication!  In all things you have proven yourselves to be clear in this matter.Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it because of him that had done the wrong, nor because of him that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you.Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: Yes, and we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.For if I have boasted anything to him about you, I am not ashamed; but as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found true.And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, while he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him.Therefore, I rejoice that I have confidence in you in all things.Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed upon the churches of Macedonia;how that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality.For I bear record that according to their power, yes, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;imploring us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.And this they did, not just as we hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.So that we implored Titus, that as he had begun, in like maner he would also finish in you the same grace as well.Therefore, as you abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that you abound in this grace also.I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the confidence of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that through His poverty you might be rich.And in this I give my advice: For it is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to have been moving forward a year ago.Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a willing readiness, so there may also be a performance out of that which you have.For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what a man has, and not according to what he does not have.For I do not mean that other men are eased, and you burdened:But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their lack, that their abundance may also be a supply for your lack: That there may be equality:As it is written, "He that gathered much had nothing left over; and he that gathered little had no lack."But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.For indeed he accepted the exhortation, but being more forward, he went to you of his own accord.And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us, together with this grace which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaring your readiness of mind:Avoiding this: That no man should blame us for this abundance which is administered by us:Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, in consideration of the great confidence which I have in you.If anyone inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow helper concerning you: Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.Therefore show to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.Even concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:For I know the readiness of your mind, about which I boast of you to those of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has provoked very many.Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this respect; that you may be ready, as I said:Lest if perhaps those of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, "we" (so as not to say "you") should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go to you ahead of time, and compose beforehand your blessing of bounty, of which you had previous notice, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.But this I say, he which sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he which sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully.Let every man give according to as he purposes in his heart; not grudgingly, nor of necessity: For God loves a cheerful giver.And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:(As it is written, "He has dispersed abroad; he has given to the poor: His righteousness remains forever."Now He that ministers seed to the sower also ministers bread for your food, and multiplies your seed sown, and increases the fruits of your righteousness);being enriched in everything to all bountifulness, which causes thanksgiving to God through us.For the administration of this service not only supplies the lack of the saints, but also is abundant through many thanksgivings to God;While through the proof of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution to them, and to all men;and by their prayer for you, who long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift.Now I, Paul, myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you:But I beseech you, that I may not be bold with that confidence when I am present, with which <FI>confidence<Fi> I think to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh:(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God for the pulling down of strongholds);casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;and being ready to avenge all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.Do you look upon things according to the outward appearance?  If any man trusts <FI>within<Fi> himself that he is Christ's, let him think <FI>to<Fi> himself again <FI>about<Fi> this, that as he is Christ's, even so we are Christ's.For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord has given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters."For his letters," they say, "are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible."Let such an individual think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present.For we dare not make ourselves to be counted, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.But we will not boast of things beyond our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God has distributed to us, a measure to reach even to you.For we do not stretch ourselves beyond our measure, as though we did not <FI>already<Fi> reach to you: For we have also come as far as you in preaching the gospel of Christ:Not boasting of things beyond our measure, that is, of other men's labors; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be abundantly enlarged by you according to our rule,to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line up of things made ready to our ministry.But "he that glories, let him glory in the Lord."For he that commends himself is not approved, but whom the Lord commends.I pray to God that you could bear with me a little in my folly, and indeed you do bear with me.For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: For I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent deceived Eve through his cunning subtilty, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.For if he that comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit, which you have not received, or another gospel, which you have not accepted, you might well bear with him.For I suppose I was not the least bit behind the very great chief apostles.Now though I am untaught in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been thoroughly made manifest among you in all things.Have I committed an offense in abasing myself that you might be exalted, because I have preached the gospel of God to you freely?I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.And when I was present with you, and in need, I was chargeable to no man: For that which was lacking to me the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied: And I kept myself from being burdensome to you in all things, and I will keep myself <FI>as<Fi> such.As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia.Why?  Because I do not love you?  God knows.But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from those who desire an occasion in which to boast; that they may be perceived even like we are.For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.And no wonder; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also are transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.I say again, let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet receive me as a fool, that I may boast myself a little.That which I speak, I do not speak it according to the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.For you bear with fools gladly, seeing you yourselves are wise.For you bear it, if a man brings you into bondage, if a man devours you, if a man takes from you, if a man exalts himself, if a man strikes you on the face.I speak concerning reproach, as though we had been weak.  Be that as it may, whenever anyone is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.Are they Hebrews?  So am I.  Are they Israelites?  So am I.  Are they the seed of Abraham?  So am I.Are they ministers of Christ?  (I speak as a fool) I am more: In labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;on frequent journeys, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by my own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.besides those things that are external, that which comes upon me daily: The concern for all the churches.Who is weak, and am I not weak?  Who is offended, and do I not burn?If I must make boast, I will boast of the things which concern my infirmities.The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed forevermore, knows that I do not lie.In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:And I was let down in a basket through a window by the wall, and escaped his hands.Doubtless it is not expedient for me to make boast.  I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.I knew a man in Christ who over fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows); such a one that was caught up to the third heaven.And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows);how he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.Of such a one I will make boast; yet of myself I will not boast, but in my infirmities.For though I would desire to boast, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: But now I refrain, lest any man should think of me above that which he sees me to be, or what he hears from me.And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, the messenger of Satan to wound me, lest I should be exalted above measure.Concerning this thing I sought the Lord by entreaty three times, that it might depart from me.And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you: For My strength is made perfect in weakness."  Therefore, I will most gladly rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: For when I am weak, then I am strong.I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me: For I ought to have been commended by you: For in nothing am I behind the very great chief apostles, though I am nothing.Truly the signs of an apostle were performed among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except it was that I myself was not burdensome to you?  Forgive me this wrong.Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: For I do not seek yours, but you: For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.But be that as it may, I did not burden you: Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.Did I gain an advantage over you by any of those whom I sent to you?I implored Titus, and sent our brother with him.  Did Titus gain an advantage over you?  Did we not walk in the same spirit?  Did we not walk in the same steps?Again, do you think that we excuse ourselves to you?  We speak before God in Christ: But we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edification.For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I desire, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not desire: Lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall mourn for many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.This is the third time I am coming to you. "By the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established."I have told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to those which have already sinned, and to all others, that if I come again, I will not spare:Since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which is not weak toward you, but is mighty in you.For though He was crucified through weakness, yet He lives by the power of God.  For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith; prove your own selves.  Do you not know your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you, unless you are reprobates?But I trust that you shall know that we are not reprobates.Now I pray to God that you do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that you should do that which is honest, though we are as reprobates.For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.For we are glad, when we are weak, and you are strong: And this also we wish, even your perfection.Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord has given me for edification, and not to destruction.Finally, brethren, farewell.  Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.Greet one another with a holy kiss.All the saints salute you.The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.  Amen.Paul, an apostle (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead);and all the brethren who are with me, to the churches of Galatia:Grace be to you, and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:To whom be glory forever and ever.  Amen.I marvel that you have so soon turned away from Him that called you into the grace of Christ to another gospel:Which is not another; but there are some who trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed.As we said before, so now I say again, if any man preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.For do I now persuade men, or God?  Or do I seek to please men?  For if I still pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.But I certify to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but <FI>it came<Fi> by the revelation of Jesus Christ.For you have heard of my former behavior in the Jews' religion, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure, and wasted it:And I profited in the Jews' religion beyond many of my equals in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by His grace,to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen; I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood:Neither did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.But I saw none of the other apostles, except James the Lord's brother.Now <FI>regarding<Fi> the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I do not lie.Afterward I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;and I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ:But they had heard only that, "He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once destroyed."And they glorified God in me.Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.But not even Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:And that was because of false brethren secretly brought in, who came in privately to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:To whom we did not yield by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.But from those who seemed to be something (whatever they were, it does not matter to me: God accepts no man's person): For those who seemed to be something <FI>while<Fi> in conference added nothing to me:But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel to the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel to the circumcised was to Peter;(for He that worked effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcised, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles):And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship; that we should go to the heathen, and they to the circumcised.They only desired that we should remember the poor; the same thing which I also was diligent to do.But when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.For before certain ones came from James, he ate with the Gentiles: But when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; so that even Barnabas was also carried away with their dissimulation.But when I saw that they did not walk uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles, and not do as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as do Jews?We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: For by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified."But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin?  God forbid.For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live to God.I am crucified with Christ: Nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me.I do not frustrate the grace of God: For if righteousness comes by the law, then Christ died in vain."O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been evidently set forth, crucified among you?I am disposed only to learn this from you, did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?Are you so foolish?  Having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh?Have you suffered so many things in vain?  If it is yet in vain?Therefore, He that ministers the Spirit to you, and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?Even as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."Therefore, know that those who are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you shall all nations be blessed."So then those who are of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: For it is written, "Cursed is everyone that does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them."But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident: For, "The just shall live by faith."And the law is not of faith: But, "The man who does them shall live in them."Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: For it is written, "Cursed is everyone that hangs on a tree":That the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.Brethren, I speak in the manner of men; though it is nevertheless a man's covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no man annuls it, nor adds to it.Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made.  He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your seed," who is Christ.And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before God in Christ, cannot be annulled by the law, which came four hundred and thirty years afterwards, that it should make the promise of no effect.For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise: But God gave it to Abraham by promise.What justice then does the law serve?  It was added because of transgressions, until the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.Now a mediator is not a mediator of only one, but God is one.Is the law then against the promises of God?  God forbid: For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness should have been by the law.But the scripture has concluded all <FI>are<Fi> under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to those that believe.But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up to the faith which should afterwards be revealed.Therefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.But after that faith has come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.For you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond-servant nor free, there is neither male nor female: For you are all one in Christ Jesus.And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a servant, though he is lord of all;but is under tutors and stewards until the time appointed by the father.Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the principles of the world:But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,to redeem those that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, "Abba, Father."Therefore you are no longer a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.Nevertheless, when you did not know God, you did service to those which by nature are not gods.But now, after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly principles, to which you desire again to be in bondage?You observe days, and months, and seasons, and years.I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as you are: You have not injured me at all.You know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel to you at first.And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise, nor reject; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.Where then is the blessedness you spoke of?  For I bear you record, that if it had been possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.Have I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?They zealously affect you, but not for good; yes, they would like to exclude you, because you might affect them.But it is good to always be zealously moved in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.My little children, for whom I travail in birth again until Christ is formed in you,I desire to be present with you now, and to change my tone; because I stand in doubt concerning you.Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?Because it is written that Abraham had two sons: The one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman.But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.which things are an allegory.  Because these are the two covenants: The one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar.For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to that which is now Jerusalem, and is in bondage with her children.But the Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.For it is written, "Rejoice, you barren that do not bear; break forth and cry, you that do not travail: For the desolate has many more children than she which has a husband."Now we, brethren, are children of promise, as Isaac was.But as he that was born after the flesh at that time persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.Nevertheless what does the scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son: For the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman."So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.Stand fast therefore in the liberty with which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage.Behold, I Paul say to you, That if you are circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.Christ has become of no effect to you, whoever of you that are justified by the law; you are fallen from grace.For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision; but <FI>rather<Fi> faith which works by love.You ran well; who hindered you that you should not obey the truth?This persuasion does not come from Him that calls you.A little leaven leavens the whole lump.I have confidence in you through the Lord, that you will not be otherwise minded: But he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution?  Then the offense of the cross has ceased.I would even like that those which trouble you were cut off.For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."But if you bite and devour one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another.This I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: And these are contrary to one another; so that you cannot do the things that you would like.But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.Now the works of the flesh are apparent, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lustfulness,idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, as I have also told you in time past, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,meekness, temperance: Against such there is no law.And those that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.Brethren, if a man is overtaken in a fault, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering yourself, lest you also be tempted.Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.For if a man thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.But let every man prove his own work, and then he shall have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.For every man shall bear his own burden.Let him that is taught in the word communicate to him that teaches in all good things.Do not be deceived; God is not mocked: For whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap.For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.And let us not be weary in well doing: For in due season we shall reap, if we do not faint.Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, especially to those who are of the household of faith.You see what a large letter I have written to you with my own hand.As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, these compel you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.For not even they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may boast in your flesh.But God forbid that I should glory, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world.For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.From now on let no man trouble me: For I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.  Amen.Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are in Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:Even as He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:Having predestined us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace;in which He has abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He has purposed in Himself:That in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him:In Whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things after the counsel of His own will:That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ.In Whom you also trusted, after that you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: In Whom also after that you believed, you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,which is the first fruits of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love to all the saints,do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him:The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power,which He worked in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places,far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:And has put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church,which is His body, the fullness of Him that fills all in all.And He has vivified you, who were dead in trespasses and sins;in which you walked in time past according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience:Among whom we all also had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.But God, who is rich in mercy, through His great love with which He loved us,even when we were dead in sins, has vivified us together with Christ, (by grace you are saved);and has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: It is the gift of God:Not of works, lest any man should boast.For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God has ordained beforehand that we should walk in them.Therefore remember, that in time past you were Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;because at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are brought near by the blood of Christ.For He is our peace, who has made both <FI>[Jew and Gentile]<Fi> one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation between us;having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; so as to make in Himself from two one new man, thus making peace;and that He might reconcile both to God in one body by the cross, having thereby slain the enmity:And came and preached peace to you who were afar off, and to those that were near.For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.Now therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone;in whom all the building, <FI>being<Fi> fitly framed together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord:In whom you also are built together as a habitation of God through the Spirit.For this cause I, Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,if you all have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given <FI>to<Fi> me, <FI>it is coming<Fi> toward you:How that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I previously wrote with few words,by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ);which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel:Of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effectual working of His power.To me, who am less than the least of all saints, this grace is given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be known through the church to the principalities and powers in heavenly places,according to the eternal purpose which He fulfilled in Christ Jesus our Lord:In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him.Therefore I desire that you do not faint at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,after whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man;that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;and to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.Now to Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.  Amen.I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the vocation in which you are called,with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love;endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.There is one body, and one Spirit, just as you are called in one hope of your calling;one Lord, one faith, one baptism,one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.But grace is given to every one of us according to the measure of the gift of Christ.Therefore He says: "When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men."(Now that "He ascended," what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?He that descended is also the same that ascended up far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)And He gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers;for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:Until we all come into the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:That from this time forward we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the artful tricks of men, and cunning craftiness, by which they lie in wait to deceive;but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body for the edifying of itself in love.This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:Who being past feeling have given themselves over to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.But you have not so learned Christ;if <FI>it is thus<Fi> that you have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:That you put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;and be renewed in the spirit of your mind;and that you put on the new man, which after the manner of God is created in righteousness and true holiness.Therefore, putting away lying, "every one speak truth with his neighbor," because we are members of one another."Be angry, and do not sin": Do not let the sun go down on your wrath,neither give place to the devil.Let him that stole steal no more: But rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needs.Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good for the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers.And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by which you are sealed until the day of redemption.Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice:And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.You therefore be followers of God, as dear children;and walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given Himself for us <FI>as<Fi> an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not once be named among you, as befits saints;neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: But rather giving of thanks.For this you know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.Let no man deceive you with vain words: For because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the children of disobedience.Therefore do not be partakers with them.For you were sometimes darkness, but now you are light in the Lord: Walk as children of light:(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth);proving what is acceptable to the Lord.And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: For whatever makes manifest is light.Therefore He says: "Awake, you that sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light."See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,redeeming the time, because the days are evil.Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.And do not be drunk with wine, in which is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;giving thanks always for all things to God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;submitting yourselves to one another in the fear of God.Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord.For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: And He is the Savior of the body.Therefore, as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it;that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.So husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies.  He who loves his wife loves himself.For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord does the church:For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones."For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh."This is a great mystery: But I speak concerning Christ and the church.Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she reverence her husband.Children, obey your parents in the Lord: For this is right."Honor your father and mother"; (which is the first commandment with promise);"that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth."And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath: But bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.Servants, be obedient to those that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as to Christ;not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:Knowing that whatever good any man does, he shall receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a bond-servant or free.And you, masters, do the same things to them, forbearing threatening: Knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there partial regard of persons with Him.Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.Stand therefore, having your loins girded around with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God:Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching to the end with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,for which I am an ambassador in chains: That I may speak <FI>the gospel<Fi> boldly, as I ought to speak.But that you may also know my affairs, and how I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make all things known to you:Whom I have sent to you for the same purpose, that you might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.  Amen.Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;being confident of this very thing, that He which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:Even as it is fitting for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my chains, and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of my grace.For God is my witness, how greatly I long after you all in the tender mercy of Jesus Christ.And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;that you may approve things that are excellent; that you may be sincere and without offense until the day of Christ;being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.But I would like you to understand, brethren, that the things which happened to me have turned out better for the furtherance of the gospel;so that my chains in Christ are apparent in all the palace, and in all other places;and many of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife; and some also from goodwill:The former preach Christ out of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains;but the other out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.What then?  Notwithstanding in every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.For I know that this shall become my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,according to my earnest expectation and my hope, that I shall not be ashamed in anything, but that with all boldness, as always, Christ shall now also be magnified in my body from this time forward, whether it is by life, or by death.For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor: Yet I do not know what I shall choose.For I am in a difficult strait between <FI>the<Fi> two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:Nevertheless, to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.Only let your conversation be in accord with the gospel of Christ: That whether I come and see you, or else am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;and in nothing be terrified by your adversaries: Which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you evidence of salvation, and that from God.For to you it is given on the behalf of Christ, not only to believe upon Him, but also to suffer for His sake;having the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear is <FI>still<Fi> in me.Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any inward affection and mercies,fulfill my joy by being likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.Let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves.Let not every man look upon his own things, but every man also after the things of others.Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:Who, being in the form of God, did not count it robbery to be equal with God:But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross.Therefore God has also highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things on earth, and things under the earth;and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.For it is God which works in you both to will and to do His good pleasure.Do all things without murmuring and disputing:That you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world;holding forth the Word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, nor labored in vain.Yes, and if I am offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad, and rejoice with you all.For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be well comforted when I know your state.For I have no like-minded man, who will naturally care for your state.For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.But you know he has proven himself, that, as a son with the father, he has served with me in the gospel.Therefore I hope to send him in the present, so soon as I see how it will go with me.But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.Yet I supposed it was necessary to send Epaphroditus to you, my brother, and companion in labor, and fellow-soldier, now your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because you had heard that he had been sick.For indeed he was sick nearly to death: But God had mercy on him; and not only on him, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.Therefore I sent him <FI>all<Fi> the more carefully, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and that I may be less sorrowful.Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such a one in honor:Because for the work of Christ he came near to death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord.  To write even the same things to you is not grievous to me, but for you it is safe.Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the cutting off.For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.Though I might also have confidence in the flesh.  If any other man thinks that he has <FI>something<Fi> for which he might trust in the flesh, I more so:Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching upon the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.But what things were gain to me, those I counted as losses for Christ.Without doubt yes, and I count all things as but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: For whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as but dung, that I may win Christ,and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death;if by any means I might attain to the resurrection of the dead.Not as though I had already attained, nor was already perfect: But I follow after, if I may attain that for which I also am apprehended by Christ Jesus.Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended: But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are ahead,I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.Therefore let us, as many as are perfect, be thus minded: And if in anything you are otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this to you.Nevertheless, concerning that which we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.Brethren, together be followers of me, and consider those who so walk, as you have us for an example.(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:Whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)For our intimate fellowship is in heaven; from which we also look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ:Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like His glorious body, according to the working by which He is even able to subdue all things to Himself.Therefore, my dearly beloved and longed for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they are of the same mind in the Lord.And I entreat you also, co-yoked true companions, help those women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with my other fellow-laborers, whose names are in the Book of Life.Rejoice in the Lord always: And again I say, Rejoice.Let your moderation be known to all men.  The Lord is at hand.Do not be full of care for anything; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.Those things, which you have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, these do: And the God of peace shall be with you.But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last your care for me has flourished again; previously all of you cared also, but you all lacked opportunity.Not that I speak in respect of <FI>my<Fi> wants: For I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content.I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: Everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.Nevertheless you have done well, that you communicated in connection with my affliction.Now you Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me concerning giving and receiving, but you only.For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.Not because I desire a gift: But I desire fruit that may abound to your account.But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, a sweet smelling savor, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.Now to God and our Father be glory forever and ever.  Amen.Greet every saint in Christ Jesus.  The brethren who are with me greet you.All the saints salute you, especially those that are of Caesar's household.The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  Amen.Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colosse: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love that you have to all the saints,for the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;which has come to you, as it is in all the world; and brings forth fruit, as it does also in you, since the day you <FI>first<Fi> heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:As you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ for you;who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;that you might walk worthy of the Lord as always pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, with all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;giving thanks to the Father, which has made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son:In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins:Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:For all things were created by Him that are in heaven, and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether they are thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: All things were created by Him, and for Him:And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.And He is the head of the body, the church: Who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell;and having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things to Himself; by Him, I say, whether they are things on earth, or things in heaven.And you, who were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciledin the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight:If you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard, and which was preached to every creature that is under heaven; of which I, Paul, am made a minister;who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body's sake, which is the church:Of which I became a minister, according to the stewardship from God, which is given to me for you: To fulfill the Word of God,even the mystery which has been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints:To them God desired to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: Which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:For this purpose I also labor, striving according to His working, which works in me mightily.For I would like you to know what great conflict I have for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and among all riches from the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.Now this I say, lest any man should deceive you with enticing words.For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit, rejoicing and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him:Rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the first principles of the world, and not according to Christ.For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.And you are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power.In Whom you also are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the sins of the flesh from the body, by the circumcision of Christ:Buried with Him in baptism, in which you also are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised Him from the dead.And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has vivified together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses;blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross;and having spoiled principalities and powers, He made an exhibit of them openly, triumphing over them in it.Therefore let no man judge you in food, or in drink, or in respect to a holy-day, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days:Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,and not holding the Head, from which all the body has nourishment ministered by joints and ligaments, and <FI>is<Fi> knit together, and increases with the increase of God.Therefore, if you are dead with Christ from the first principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, are you subject to ordinances,("Do not touch; do not taste; do not handle";which all concern things that perish with their use); according to the commandments and doctrines of men?Which things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in willful worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor to <FI>resist<Fi> the satisfying of the flesh.If then you are risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God.Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth.For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.When Christ , who is our life, shall appear, then you shall also appear with Him in glory.Therefore mortify your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:For which things' sake the wrath of God comes upon the children of disobedience:Things in which you also sometimes walked, when you lived in them.But now you also put off all these: Anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, <FI>and<Fi> filthy communication out of your mouth.Do not lie to one another, seeing that you all have put off the old man with his deeds;<RF>you all: In KJV, ye; hence "you all" signifies a plural "you"<Rf>and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him that created him:Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, Barbarian, Scythian, bond-servant nor free: But Christ is all and in all.Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if any man has a quarrel against anyone: Even as Christ forgave you, so also you do.And above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness.And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you also are called into one body; and be thankful.Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.And whatever you all do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.<RF>you all: In KJV, ye; hence "you all" signifies a plural "you"<Rf>Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.Husbands, love your wives, and do not be bitter against them.Children, obey your parents in all things: For this is well pleasing to the Lord.Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.Servants, obey your masters in all things according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men;knowing that from the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance: For you serve the Lord Christ.But he that does wrong shall receive due reward for the wrong which he has done: And there is no partial regard of persons.Masters, give to your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.Continue in prayer, and watch for the same with thanksgiving;praying together also for us, that God would open to us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains:That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.Walk in wisdom toward those that are outside, redeeming the time.Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man.Tychicus, who is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and fellow-servant in the Lord, will declare to you my whole state:Whom I have sent to you for the same purpose, that he might know your state, and comfort your hearts;with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you.  They shall make known to you all things which are done here.Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner greets you, and Marcus, the sister's son of Barnabas, (about whom you received instructions: If he comes to you, receive him),and Jesus, who is called Justus, who are of the circumcision.  These are my only fellow-workers for the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort to me.Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.For I bear him record, that he has a great zeal for you, and those that are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.Salute the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.And when this letter is read among you, cause it to be read in the church of the Laodiceans also; and that you likewise read the letter from Laodicea.And say to Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry that you have received in the Lord, that you fulfill it."The salutation of Paul, by my own hand.  Remember my chains.  Grace be with you.  Amen.Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.We always give thanks to God for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance; as you know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.And you became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit:So that you were examples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.For the word of the Lord sounded out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith towards God is spread abroad; so that we do not need to speak anything.For they themselves bring word to us <FI>regarding<Fi> what manner of entering in we had used among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.For yourselves indeed, brethren, know our coming to you was not in vain:But even after we had suffered beforehand, and were shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God with much contention.For our exhortation was not out of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:But as we were allowed by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which examines our hearts.Seeing we  did not use flattering words at any time, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness:Nor did we seek glory from men, neither from you, nor from others yet, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.But we were gentle among you, even as a nursing mother cherishes her children:So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted to you, not just the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because you were dear to us.For you remember, brethren, our labor and travail: For laboring night and day, because we would not impose upon any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.You are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we ourselves behaved among you who believe:As you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father does his children,that you would walk worthy of God, who has called you into His kingdom and glory.For this reason also we thank God without ceasing, because when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you did not receive it as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also effectually works in you that believe.For you, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus: For you also have suffered similar things from your own countrymen, even as they have from the Jews:Who killed both the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God, and are contrary to all men:Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to always fill up their sins: For the wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, <FI>yet<Fi> not in heart, endeavored all the more earnestly to see your face with great desire.Therefore we would have come to you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing?  Are not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?For you are our glory and joy.Therefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone;and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow-laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:That no man should be moved by these afflictions: For you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.For truly, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and you know.For this reason, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter <FI>might<Fi> have tempted you, and our labor be in vain.But now when Timothy came from you to us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and love, and that you have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:For now we live, if you stand firmly fixed in the Lord.For what thanks can we render back to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God;night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?Now may God Himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you.And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love toward one another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:Until the end may He establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, so you would abound more and more.For you know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.For this is the will of God, your sanctification: That you should abstain from fornication;That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor;not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles who do not know God:That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: Because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we have also forewarned you and testified.For God has not called us to uncleanness, but to holiness.Therefore he that despises, does not despise man, but God, who has also given to us His Holy Spirit.But concerning brotherly love, you do not need that I write to you: For you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.And indeed you do it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia: But we beseech you, brethren, that you increase more and more;and that you study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;that you may walk honestly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.But I would not like you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are deceased, that you do not sorrow, even as others who have no hope.For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those which are also deceased in Jesus.For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall not precede those which are deceased.For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: And the dead in Christ shall rise first.Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: And so shall we be with the Lord evermore.Therefore comfort one another with these words.But pertaining to the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I write to you.For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night.For when they shall say, "Peace and safety"; then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.You are all the children of light, and the children of the day: We are not of the night, nor of darkness.Therefore let us not sleep, as others do; but let us watch and be sober.For those who sleep, sleep in the night; and those who are drunk, are drunk in the night.But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.Therefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also you do.And we beseech you, brethren, to know those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake.  And be at peace among yourselves.Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.See that no one renders evil for evil to any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.Rejoice evermore.Pray without ceasing.In everything give thanks: For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.Do not quench the Spirit.Do not despise prophesying.Prove all things; hold tight that which is good.Abstain from all appearance of evil.And the true God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray to God your whole spirit, soul, and body are preserved blameless to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.Faithful is He that calls you, who also will do it.Brethren, pray for us.Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.I adjure you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the holy brethren.The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.  Amen.Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you abounds toward each other;so that we ourselves exult with joy about you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure:Which are a clearly apparent token of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer:Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to those that trouble you;and to you who are troubled, rest with us; when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,in flaming fire taking vengeance on those that do not know God, and that do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power;when He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all those that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.Therefore we also pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness, and the work of faith with power:That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together to Him,that you be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by a letter as <FI>one<Fi> from us, as though the Day of Christ is at hand.Let no man deceive you by any means: For that Day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself as though he is God.Do you not remember that when I was still with you, I told you these things?And now you know what withholds, that he might be revealed in his time.For the mystery of iniquity is already at work: Only He who now holds back will impede, until He be taken out of the way.And then that Wicked <FI>one<Fi> shall be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming:Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in those that perish; because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.And for this reason God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:That they all might be damned who did not believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.But we are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God has chosen you for salvation from the beginning through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:Therefore He called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.Therefore, brethren, stand firm, and hold the traditions which you have been taught, whether by word, or our letter.Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father, which has loved us, and has given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good word and work.Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free run, and be glorified, even as it is with you:And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: For not all men have faith.But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil.And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you both do and will do the things that we command you.And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks disorderly, and not according to the tradition which he received from us.Because you yourselves know how you ought to follow us: For we ourselves did not behave disorderly among you;neither did we eat any man's bread for nothing: But worked with labor and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable with a fault to any of you:Not because we have no power, but to make ourselves an example to you, to follow us.For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: That if anyone would not work, neither should he eat.For we hear that there are some who walk among you disorderly, not working at all, but are busybodies.Now those who are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.But as for you, brethren, do not be weary in well doing.And if any man does not obey our word by this letter, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always by all means.  The Lord be with you all.The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is the <FI>autograph<Fi> on every letter; so I write.The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  Amen.Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Savior, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;To Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father, and Jesus Christ our Lord.As I entreated you to still abide in Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that you might exhort some men that they teach no other doctrine,nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which bring questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith; so do.Now the end purpose of the commandment is love out of a pure heart, and from a good conscience, and from sincere faith without hypocrisy:From which some having erred, have turned aside to vain wrangling;desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor <FI>the things<Fi> which they affirm.But we know that the law is good, if a man uses it lawfully;knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,for whoremongers, for those that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has enabled me, for He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;who was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an injurious man: But I obtained mercy, because I did <FI>those things<Fi> ignorantly in unbelief.And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.Nevertheless, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who should hereafter believe upon Him to life everlasting.Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever.  Amen.This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously <FI>spoken<Fi> over you, that by them you might wage a good warfare;holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away, concerning faith have made shipwreck:Of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered to Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men;for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior;who desires all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth.For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus;who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.to which I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and do not lie); a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.It is my will therefore that men everywhere pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with bashfulness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly apparel;(which is proper for women professing godliness), but with good works.Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.But I do not permit a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.For Adam was formed first, then Eve.And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.Nevertheless she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and holiness with sobriety.This is a true saying: If a man desires the office of a bishop, he desires a good work.A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach;not given to wine, doesn't strike others, not greedy of filthy profit; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;one that rules his own house well, having his children in subjection with all gavity;(For if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.Moreover he must have a good report of those which are outside; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.Likewise deacons must be honest, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for filthy profit;holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.And let these also first be proved; then let them administer the office of a deacon, being found blameless.Even so their wives must be honest, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.For those that have administered the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly:But if I tarry long, <FI>I write<Fi> that you may know how you yourselves ought to behave in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen <FI>among<Fi> angels, preached to the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.Now the Spirit expressly speaks, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;forbidding to marry; and commanding to abstain from meats, which God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused, if it is received with thanksgiving:For it is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer.If you put the brethren in remembrance of these things, you shall be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of good doctrine, to which you have attained.But refuse profane and old wives' fables, but rather exercise yourself to godliness.For bodily exercise profits little: But godliness is profitable to all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.This is a faithful saying and worthy of all kind reception.For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those that believe.These things command and teach.Let no man despise your youth; but be an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.Until I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.Meditate upon these things; give yourself wholly to them; that your profiting may appear to all.Take heed to yourself, and to the doctrine; continue in them: For in doing this you shall save both yourself, and those that hear you.Do not rebuke an elder, but entreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.Honor widows that are indeed widows.But if any widow has children or nephews, let them first learn to show piety at home, and to repay their parents: For this is good and acceptable before God.Now she who is indeed a widow, and desolate, trusts in God, and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.But she that lives in pleasure is dead while she lives.And these things give as instructions, that they may be blameless.But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.Do not let a widow be taken into the number under sixty years old, <FI>and if<Fi> having been the wife of one man,well reported of for good works: If she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.But refuse the younger widows: For when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they will marry;having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.And together they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but also tattlers and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.Therefore it is my will that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give no occasion for the adversary to speak reproachfully.For some are already turned aside after Satan.If any man or woman who believes has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened; that it may relieve those who are indeed widows.Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.For the scripture says, "You shall not muzzle the ox that treads out the grain kernels"; and, "The laborer is worthy of his reward."Do not receive an accusation against an elder, except before two or three witnesses.Rebuke those that sin before everyone, that others also may fear.I charge you before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that you observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.Do not suddenly lay hands on any man, neither be a partaker of other man's sins: Keep yourself pure.No longer drink water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities.Some men's sins are clearly evident, going before them to judgment; and the <FI>evidence against<Fi> some men follows afterwards.Likewise also, the good works of some are clearly manifest beforehand; and those that are otherwise cannot be hid.Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and His doctrine be not blasphemed.And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit.  Teach and exhort these things.If any man teaches otherwise, and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;he is proud, knowing nothing, but regards questions and strifes of words with excessive fondness, from which comes envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,perverse disputing <FI>by<Fi> men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: From such withdraw yourself.But godliness with contentment is great gain.For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.And having food and clothing, let us be content with these.But those that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.For the love of money is the root of all evil: Which while coveting after, some have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.But you, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you are also called, and have professed a good profession before many witnesses.I authoritatively give you instructions in the sight of God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who witnessed a good confession before Pontius Pilate;that you keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:Which in His times He shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;who only has immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach; whom no man has seen, nor can see: To whom be honor and power everlasting.  Amen.Charge those that are rich in this world, that they are not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy;that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.O Timothy, keep that which is committed to your trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science (falsely so called):Which some professing have erred concerning the faith.  Grace be with you.  Amen.Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of you in my prayers night and day;Greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy;when I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice; and I am persuaded is in you also.Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner: But be a partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;Who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before the world began,but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death, and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:To which I am appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.For this reason I also suffer these things: Nevertheless I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him until that day.Hold tight the form of sound words, which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit which dwells in us.This you know, that all those who are in Asia have turned away from me; among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.The Lord give mercy to the house of Onesiphorus; for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:But when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that day: And you know very well in how many things he ministered to me at Ephesus.You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit the same to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.You therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.No man that wars entangles himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who has chosen him to be a soldier.And if a man also strives for masteries, he is not crowned unless he strives lawfully.The farmer that labors must be first to partake of the fruits.Consider what I say; and the Lord give you understanding in all things.Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel:For which I suffer trouble, as an evildoer, even to chains; but the Word of God is not bound.Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sake, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.This is a faithful saying: Because if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him.If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: If we deny Him, He will also deny us:If we do not believe, He <FI>still<Fi> abides faithful: He cannot deny Himself.Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.But shun profane and vain babblings: For they will increase to more ungodliness.And their word will eat as does a canker: Of whom are Hymenaeus and Philetus;who have erred concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor.Therefore if a man purges himself from these, he shall be a vessel to honor, sanctified, and fit for the Master's use, and prepared for every good work.Flee also youthful lusts: But follow righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.But avoid foolish and unlearned questions, knowing that they beget strifes.And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle to all people, apt to teach, patient,in meekness instructing those that are in opposition; if God peradventure will give them repentance concerning the acknowledgment of the truth;and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.Also know this, that in the last days perilous times shall come.For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those who are good,traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;having a form of godliness, but denying the power of it: From such turn away.For of this sort are those that creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with diverse lusts,ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: Men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith;But they shall proceed no further: For their folly shall be manifest to all men, as <FI>Jannes' and Jambres' folly<Fi> also was.But you have fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience,persecutions, afflictions, which came to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: But the Lord delivered me out of them all.Yes, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.But you are to continue in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them;and that from childhood you have known the Holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished for all good works.Therefore, I charge you before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:Preach the word; be at hand in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts they shall heap up to themselves teachers, having itching ears;and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned aside to fables.But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of your ministry.For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:Furthermore, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me in that day: And not to me only, but also to all those that love His appearing.Do your diligence to come to me shortly:For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.Only Luke is with me.  Take Mark, and bring him with you: For he is profitable to me for the ministry.And I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.When you come, bring with you the cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, but especially the parchments.Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: The Lord reward him according to his works:Of whom you beware also; for he has greatly withstood our words.At my first defense no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray to God that it may not be laid to their charge.But the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that the preaching by me might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me for His heavenly kingdom: To whom be glory forever and ever.  Amen.Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.Erastus abode at Corinth: But I have left Trophimus at Miletum sick.Do your diligence to come before winter.  Eubulus greets you, also Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren.The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.  Grace be with you.  Amen.Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is by godliness;in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;but has in due times manifested His word through preaching, which is committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior:To Titus, my own son according to the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.For this cause I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and ordain elders in every city, as I appointed you:If any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or being unruly.For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, doesn't strike others, not given to filthy profit;but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the deniers.For there are many unruly and vain talkers, and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision:Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not to, for the sake of filthy profit.One of them, even a prophet of their own, said, "The Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies."This report is true.  Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.To the pure all things are pure: But to those that are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and reprobate to every good work.But you <FI>should<Fi> speak the things which become sound doctrine:That the aged men be sober, honest, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience.The aged women likewise, that they behave as becomes holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the Word of God is not blasphemed.Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober minded.In all things showing yourself an example of good works: In doctrine showing uncorruptness, honesty, sincerity,sound speech, that cannot be condemned; <FI>so<Fi> that he who is of the contrary <FI>point of view<Fi> may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.Exhort servants to be obedient to their own masters, and to be well-pleasing in all things; not answering again and again;not stealing, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,teaching us that <FI>through<Fi> denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority.  Let no man despise you.Remind them to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready for every good work,to speak evil of no man, not to be brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness to all men.For we ourselves were also sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving diverse lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared,not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit;which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior;that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.This is a faithful saying, and it is my will that you affirm these things constantly, that those who have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.  These things are good and profitable to men.But avoid foolish questions, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; because they are unprofitable and vain.Reject a man who is a heretic after the first and second admonition;knowing that he who is such is subverted, and sins, being condemned by himself.When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis: For I have determined to winter there.Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing is lacking to them.And let our people also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they are not unfruitful.All who are with me salute you.  Greet those that love us in the faith.  Grace be with you all.  Amen.Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow-laborer,and to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in your house:Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers,hearing of your love and faith, which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;that the communication of your faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by you, brother.Therefore, although I might often be bold in Christ to admonish you in that which is proper,yet for love's sake I rather beseech you, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.I beseech you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my chains:Who in time past was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me:Whom I have sent again: You therefore receive him, that is, my own bowels:Whom I would have retained with me, that in your place he might have ministered to me in the bonds of the gospel:But without your agreement I would do nothing; that your good acts should not be out of necessity, but willingly.For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that you should receive him forever;not now as a servant, but above a servant, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?Therefore, if you count me a partner, receive him as myself.If he has wronged you, or owes you anything, put that on my account;I Paul have written it with my own hand, I will repay it: Albeit I do not say to you how you owe to me even your own self besides.Yes, brother, let me have joy of you in the Lord: Refresh my bowels in the Lord.Having confidence in your obedience I wrote to you, knowing that you will also do more than I say.But with the rest also prepare <FI>for<Fi> me a place to lodge: For I trust that through your prayers I shall be given to you all.Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, salutes you;also Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow-laborers.The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.  Amen.God, who at sundry times and in diverse manners spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds;Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high;being made so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.For, to which of the angels did He ever say, "You are My Son, today I have begotten You"?  And again, "I will be a Father to Him, and He shall be to Me a Son"?And again, when He brings the first-begotten into the world, He says, "And let all the angels of God worship Him."And of the angels He says, "Who makes His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire."But to the Son He says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever: A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.You have loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your fellows."And, "You, Lord, have laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning; and the heavens are the works of Your hands:They shall perish; but You remain; and they shall all wax old as does a garment;And as a vesture You shall fold them up, and they shall be changed: But You are the same, and Your years shall not fail."But, to which of the angels did He ever say, "Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies Your footstool"?Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for those who shall be heirs of salvation?Therefore we ought to give more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;how shall we escape, if we neglect such great salvation; which at first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those that heard Him;God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, with diverse miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to the angels.But one testified in a certain place, saying, "What is man, that You are mindful of him?  Or the son of man, that You visit him?You made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor, and set him over the works of Your hands:You have put all things in subjection under his feet."  For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him.  But now we do not yet see all things put under him.But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that He by the grace of God might taste death for every man.For it suited Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.For both He that sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all of one: For which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,saying, "I will declare Your name to My brethren, in the midst of the church I will sing praise to You."And again, "I will put My trust in Him."  And again, "Behold I and the children which God has given Me."Since then, as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;and deliver those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.For truly He did not take on Him the nature of angels; but He took on him the seed of Abraham.Therefore, in all things it behoved him to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.For in that He Himself has suffered being tempted, He is able to succor those that are tempted.Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;Who was faithful to Him that appointed Him, as also Moses was faithful in all His house.For this Man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house.For every house is built by some man; but He that built all things is God.And Moses truly was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken <FI>about<Fi> afterwards;but Christ as a Son over His own house; whose house we are, if we hold firm the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope steadfast to the end.Therefore (as the Holy Spirit says, "Today, if you will hear His voice,do not harden your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness::When your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My works forty years.Therefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, 'They always err in their heart; and they have not known My ways.'So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter into My rest.' ")Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.But exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today"; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end;while it is said, "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as in the provocation."For some, when they had heard, did provoke: Nevertheless, not all who came out of Egypt by Moses <FI>provoked<Fi>.But with whom was He grieved forty years?  Was it not with those that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?And to whom did He swear that they should not enter into His rest, but to those that did not believe?So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.Therefore let us fear, lest, a promise being left to us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.For the gospel was preached to us, as well as to them: But the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those that heard it.For we who have believed do enter into rest, as He said, "As I have sworn in My wrath, 'If they shall enter into My rest' ": Although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.For He spoke in a certain place of the seventh day in like manner, "And God rested on the seventh day from all His works."And again in this place, "If they shall enter into My rest."Therefore seeing it remains that some must enter in, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter in because of unbelief:Again, He ordains a certain day, saying in David, "Today," after such a long time; as it is said, "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts."For if Jesus had given them rest, then He would not have afterward spoken of another day.There remains then a rest for the people of God.For he that has entered into His rest has himself also ceased from his own works, as God did from His.Therefore let us labor to enter into that rest, lest any man fall following the same example of unbelief.For the Word of God is lively, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing apart of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: But all things are naked and uncovered to the eyes of Him with Whom we have to give account.Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.For we do not have a High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on those that have gone astray; for he himself is also compassed with infirmity.And because of this he ought, as for the people so also for himself, to offer for sins.And no man takes this honor to himself, but he that is called by God, as Aaron was.So also Christ did not glorify Himself to be made a High Priest; but He that said to Him, "You are My Son, today I have begotten You."As He also says in another place, "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears to Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard because He feared;though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered;and being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation to all those that obey Him;called by God a High Priest "after the order of Melchizedek."Of whom we have many things to say, yet they are hard to utter, seeing you are dull of hearing.Even though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again what are the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food.For everyone that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: For he is a babe.But solid food belongs to those that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.Therefore leaving the first principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.And this we will do, if God permits.For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,and have tasted the good Word of God, and the powers of the world to come,if they shall fall away, to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame.For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and brings forth herbs fit for those by whom they are cultivated, receives blessing from God:But that which bears thorns and briers is rejected, and is near to being cursed; whose end is to be burned.But, beloved, we are persuaded of better things for you, and things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.And we desire that every one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope to the end:That you are not slothful, but followers of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by none greater, He swore by Himself,saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you."And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.For men truly swear by the greater: And an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.In which God, more abundantly willing to show the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath:That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters into that within the veil;where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, made a High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;to Whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation "King of righteousness", and after that also "King of Salem", which is, "King of peace";without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like the Son of God; abides as a priest continually.Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.And truly those that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:But he whose descent is not counted <FI>as being<Fi> from them received tithes from Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.And without any contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better.And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives.And if I may say so, Levi also, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham.For he was still in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him.Therefore, if perfection were by the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchizedek. and not be called according to the order of Aaron?For the priesthood being changed, out of necessity there is also a change made to the law.For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, of which no man has served at the altar.For it is evident that our Lord sprang up out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.And it is now far more evident: For in the likeness of Melchizedek there arises another priest,who is not made according to the law of a carnal commandment, but according to the power of an endless life.For He testifies, "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."For there is truly a disannulling of the previous commandment for its weakness and unprofitableness.For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by which we draw near to God.And by means of an oath He was made priest:(For those were made priests without an oath; but this with an oath by Him that said to Him, "The Lord swears and will not repent, 'You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek' "):By so much greatness Jesus was made a surety of a better testament.And truly they were many priests, because they were not forbid to continue by reason of death:But this Man, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those that come to God by Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.For such a High Priest suited us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;who needs not offer up daily sacrifice, as those high priests did, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: For this He did once, when He offered up Himself.For the law makes men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, makes the Son, who is consecrated forevermore.Now this sums up the things which we have spoken: We have such a High Priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;a Minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: Therefore it is necessary that this Man also have something to offer.For if He were on earth, He should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:Who serve <FI>following<Fi> the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished by God when he was about to make the tabernacle: For He said, "See that you make all things according to the pattern shown to you on the mountain."But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by which He also is the Mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place should have been sought for the second.For finding fault with them, He says: "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I did not regard them, says the Lord."For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD; I will put My laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: And I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people:And every man will not teach his neighbor, nor every man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because all shall know Me, from the least to the greatest.For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and iniquities I will remember no more."In that He says, "A new covenant," He has made the first old.  Now that which decays and waxes old is ready to vanish away.Then truly the first covenant also had ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.Therefore a tabernacle was prepared: The first part, in which was the candlestick, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary;And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid on every side with gold, within which was the golden pot that had manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;and over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy-seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests always went into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.But into the second the high priest alone went once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:The Holy Spirit signifying this, that the way into the Holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while the first tabernacle was still standing:Which was a figure for the time then present, within which both gifts and sacrifices were offered, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;which stood only in foods and drinks, diverse washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.But Christ became a High Priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh:How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, those who are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.For a testament is in force after men are dead: Otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator lives.Whereby neither was the first testament dedicated without blood.For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,saying, "This is the blood of the testament which God has enjoined to you."Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.And by the law almost all things are purged with blood; and without shedding of blood there is no remission.Therefore it was necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.For Christ has not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:Nor yet that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy place every year with blood of others;for then he must have often suffered since the foundation of the world: But now once in the end of the world He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.And as it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment:So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and to those that look for Him He shall appear the second time without sin to salvation.For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make those that come near perfect.For then would they not have ceased to be offered?  Because the worshipers, once purged, should have had no more conscious of sins.But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again and again of sins made every year.For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, "You would not like sacrifice and offering, but You have prepared Me a body:In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure.Then I said, 'Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of Me) to do Your will, O God.' "When He said above, "You would not like sacrifice, offering, burnt offerings, nor offerings for sin, neither had pleasure in them"; which are offered according to the law;then He said, "Behold, I come to do Your will, O God."  He takes away the first, that He may establish the second.By that will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.And every priest stands ministering daily and offering frequently the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God;from then on expecting till His enemies are made His footstool.For by one offering He has perfected forever those that are sanctified.Of which the Holy Spirit is also a witness to us: For after that He said foretelling beforehand,"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them";"and their sins and iniquities I will remember no more."Now where there is remission of these, there is no more offering for sin.Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,by a new and living way, which He has consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh;and having a High Priest over the house of God;let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;)and let us consider one another to provoke <FI>us<Fi> to love and to good works:Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some; but exhorting one another: And so much the more, as you see the day approaching.For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins,but a certain fearful expectation of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, shall he be thought worthy, who has tread underfoot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant, with which he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and has extreme malice toward the Spirit of grace?For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay," says the Lord.  And again, "The LORD will judge His people."It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great fight of afflictions;partly, while you were made a gazingstock by both reproaches and afflictions; and partly, while you became companions of those that were so used.For you had compassion on me in my chains, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that you have a better and an enduring substance in heaven.Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great recompense of reward.For you have need of patience, so that after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise.For "Yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry.Now the just shall live by faith: But if any man draws back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him."But we are not of those who draw back to perdition; but of those that believe to the saving of the soul.Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.For by it the elders obtained a good report.Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: And by it he being dead still speaks.By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; "and was not found, because God had translated him":  For before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.But without faith it is impossible to please Him: For he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him.By faith Noah, being warned by God of things not yet seen, moved with fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his house; by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out into a place which he should afterwards receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:And he looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.Through faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.Therefore even from <FI>just<Fi> one <FI>man<Fi>, and him as good as dead, were born so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them far off, and were persuaded <FI>by<Fi> them, embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.For those that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from which they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: For He has prepared a city for them.By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: And he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,of whom it was said, "In Isaac shall your seed be called":Concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from where he also received him in parable form.By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed both of the sons of Joseph; and worshiped, leaning upon the top of his staff.By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave commands concerning his bones.By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's command.By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: For he had respect for the recompense of the reward.By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: For he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible.Through faith he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land: Which the Egyptians attempting to do were drowned.By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed around seven days.By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those that did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.And what more shall I say?  For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and Barak, and Samson, and Jephthah; also of David, and Samuel, and the prophets:Who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.Women received their dead raised to life again: And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:And others had trials of cruel mockings and scourgings, yes, moreover of chains and imprisonment:They were stoned, they were sawed apart, were tempted, were slain with the sword: They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;(of whom the world was not worthy): They wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.And all these, having obtained a good report through faith, did not receive the promise:God having provided some better thing for us, that they should not be made perfect without us.Therefore seeing we also are compassed around with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily entangle us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.For consider Him that endured such contradiction from sinners against Himself, lest you be wearied and faint in your minds.You have not yet resisted to <FI>the point of<Fi> blood, striving against sin.And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to children, "My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked by Him:For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives."If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father does not chasten?But if you are without chastisement, of which all are partakers, then you are bastards, and not sons.Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: Should we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live?For they indeed chastened us for a few days according to their own pleasure; but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness.Now no chastening seems to be joyous in the present, but grievous: Nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those which are exercised by it.Therefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.Follow peace with all people, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:Looking diligently lest any man be destitute of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and by this many are defiled;lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.For you know how afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: For he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.For you have not come to the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor to blackness, and darkness, and tempest,and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice those that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them anymore:(For they could not endure that which was commanded, "And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart":And so frightful was the sight, that Moses said, "I exceedingly fear and tremble:")But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things than that of Abel.See that you do not refuse Him that speaks.  For if those who refused 'Him that spoke on earth' did not escape, much more we shall not escape, if we turn away from Him that speaks from heaven:Whose voice then shook the earth: But now He has promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven."Now this phrase, "Yet once more," signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, likewise of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.Therefore, we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:For our God is a consuming fire.Let brotherly love continue.Do not be apt to forget to entertain strangers: For by doing that some have entertained angels without being aware.Remember those who are in bonds, as bound with them; and those that suffer adversity, as yourselves being also in the body.Marriage is honorable in everyone, and the bed undefiled: But whore-mongers and adulterers God will judge.Let your behavior be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: For He has said, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you."So that we may boldly say, "The LORD is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do to me."Remember those which have rule over you, who have spoken the Word of God to you: Whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever.Do not be carried about with diverse and strange doctrines.  For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with foods, which have not profited those who have been occupied with that.We have an altar, from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp.Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.Therefore let us go forth to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come.Therefore by Him let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.But do not forget to do good and to communicate: For with such sacrifices God is well pleased.Obey those that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: For they watch for your souls, as those that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: For that is unprofitable for you.Pray for us: For we trust that we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.But I beseech you rather to do this, that I may be restored to you sooner.Now the God of peace, that brought <FI>back<Fi> again our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory forever and ever.  Amen.And I beseech you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation: For I have written a letter to you in few words.Know that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom I will see you, if he comes shortly.Salute all those that have the rule over you, and all the saints.  Those from Italy salute you.Grace be with you all.  Amen.James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into diverse temptations;knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience.But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and whole, lacking nothing.If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all people liberally, and without suffering reproach; and it shall be given to him.But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.  For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.For let not that man think that he shall receive anything from the Lord.A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:But the rich, in that he is made low: Because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, and it withers the grass, then <FI>its<Fi> flower falls, and the grace of its fashion perishes: So also shall the rich man fade away in his tendencies.Blessed is the man that endures temptation: For when he is approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those that love Him.Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God":  For God cannot be tempted with evil, neither does He tempt any man:But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.Then, when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin: And sin, when it is finished, brings forth death.Do not err, my beloved brethren.Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, nor shadow of turning.Of His own will He begot us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of His creatures.Therefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:For the wrath of man does not work the righteousness of God.Therefore lay aside all filthiness and superabundance of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man beholding his natural face in a mirror:For he beholds himself, and goes his way, and immediately forgets what sort of man he was.But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, he not being a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.If any man among you seems to be religious, and does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is vain.Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: To visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.My brethren, do not have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partial regard of persons.For if there comes to your assembly a man with a gold ring, in gorgeous apparel, and there also comes in a poor man in vile clothing;and you have respect to him that wears the gorgeous clothing, and say to him, "You sit here in a good place"; and say to the poor, "You stand there," or, "Sit here under my footstool":Are you then not partial within yourselves, and have become judges of evil thoughts?Hearken, my beloved brethren, has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He has promised to those that love Him?But you have despised the poor.  Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?Do they not blaspheme that worthy name by which you are called?If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well:But if you all have partial regard toward people, you all commit sin, and are convinced <FI>by<Fi> the law <FI>that you are<Fi> transgressors.For whoever keeps the whole law, and yet offends in one point, he is guilty of all.For He that said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not kill."  Now if you do not commit adultery, yet if you kill, you have become a transgressor of the law.So speak, and so do, as those that shall be judged by the law of liberty.For he that has shown no mercy shall have judgment without mercy; and mercy rejoices against judgment.What does it profit, my brethren, though a man says he has faith, and does not have works?  Can faith save him?If a brother or sister is naked, and destitute of daily food,and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled"; but you do not give them those things which are needful to the body; what does it profit?Even so faith, if it does not have works, is dead, being alone.Yes, a man may say, "You have faith, and I have works": Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.You believe that there is one God; you do well: The devils also believe, and tremble.But are you willing to know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar?Do you see how faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?And the scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him as righteousness": And he was called the Friend of God.You see then how a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers, and sent them out another way?For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.My brethren, do not be many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.For in many things we offend everyone.  If any man does not offend in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn around their whole body.Look also at ships: Although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, yet they are turned about by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things.  Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindles!And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: Thus is the tongue among our members, that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.For every kind of beast, and birds, serpents, and things in the sea are tamed, and have been tamed by mankind:But no man can tame the tongue; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.With it we bless God, even the Father; and with it we curse men, who are made in the similitude of God.Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing.  My brethren, these things ought not to be so.Does a fountain send forth fresh water and bitter at the same place?Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries?  Either can a vine, figs?  So no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh.Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you?  Let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, do not boast, and do not lie against the truth.This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.For where envying and strife are, there is confusion and every evil work.But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those that make peace.From what source do wars and fighting come from among you?  Do they not come from this, even out of your lusts that war in your members?You lust, and have not: You kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: You fight and war, yet you do not have, because you do not ask.You ask, and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts.You adulterers and adulteresses, do you not know that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?  Whoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.Do you think that the scripture says in vain, "The Spirit that dwells in us lusts to envy"?But He gives more grace.  Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."Therefore submit yourselves to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.Do not speak evil of one another, brethren.  He that speaks evil of his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law, and judges the law: But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge.There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: Who are you that judges another man?Go now, you that say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a city, continue there for a year, buy and sell, and win gain":When in fact you all do not know what shall happen tomorrow.  For what is your life?  It is indeed a vapor, that appears for a little while, and then vanishes away.Given that you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live, and do this, or that."But now you rejoice in your boastings: All such rejoicing is evil.Therefore, to him that knows to do good, and does not do it, to him it is sin.Go now, you rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.Your riches are corrupted, and your clothes are moth-eaten.Your gold and silver are cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as <FI>if<Fi> it were fire.  You have heaped treasure together for the last days.Behold, the wages of the laborers who have harvested your fields, which you <FI>partially<Fi> kept back by fraud, cries out: And the cries of those which have reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.You have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; you have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.You have condemned and killed the just; and he does not resist you.Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord.  Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain.You also be patient; establish your hearts: For the coming of the Lord draws near.Do not hold a grudge against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned: Behold, the Judge stands before the door.My brethren, take the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.Behold, we count them happy who endure.  You have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the ending of the Lord; that the Lord is very compassionate, and of tender mercy.But above all things, my brethren, do not swear, neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath: But let your "yes" be "yes"; and your "no", "no"; lest all you fall into condemnation.Is anyone among you afflicted?  Let him pray.  Is anyone of good cheer?  Let him sing psalms.Is anyone sick among you?  Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.Confess your faults to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.Elijah was a man subject to similar passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: And it did not rain on the earth for a period of three years and six months.And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.Brethren, if any of you errs from the truth, and someone converts him;let him know, that he who converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, to obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you, and peace, be multiplied.Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,to an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,who are kept by the power of God through faith to salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time.In which you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through diverse temptations:That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found to praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:Whom having not seen, you love; in whom, though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with unspeakable joy and full of glory:Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come to you:Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them signified, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.To whom it was revealed that, not <FI>for<Fi> themselves, but to us they ministered these things, which are now reported to you by those that have preached the gospel to you with the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:But as He which has called you is holy, so <FI>likewise<Fi> you be holy in all manner of conversation;because it is written, "Be holy; for I am holy."And if you call on the Father, who without partial regard of persons judges according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:Consider that as you know you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:Who truly was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,Who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit to unfeigned love of the brethren, see that you love one another fervently with a pure heart:Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which lives and abides forever.For "All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass.  The grass withers, and its flower falls away:But the word of the LORD endures forever."  And this is the word which by the gospel is preached to you.Therefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking,as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby:If <FI>as should<Fi> be you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, and precious;you also, as lively stones, are built up as a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.Therefore it is also contained in the scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious: And he that believes on Him shall not be confounded."Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious: But to those who are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected, the same is made the head cornerstone,"and "A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense," even to those who stumble at the word, being disobedient: For which purpose they also were appointed.But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light:Who in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: Which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: That while they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: Whether it be to the king, as supreme;or to governors, as to those that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of those that do well.For thus is the will of God, that with well doing you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:As free, yet not using your liberty as a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.Honor all people.  Love the brotherhood.  Fear God.  Honor the king.Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the crooked.For this is thank-worthy, if for conscience toward God a man endures grief, suffering wrongfully.For what glory is it if, when you are buffeted for your faults, you take it patiently?  But if, when you do well, and suffer for it, you take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.For even to this you were called: Because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:"Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth":Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten; but committed Himself to Him that judges righteously:Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live on to righteousness: By whose stripes you were healed.For you were as sheep going astray; but have now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.Likewise, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; so that if any do not obey the word, they may also without the word be won by the conversation of their wives;while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adornment of braiding the hair, and of wearing gold, or of putting on apparel;but let it be the hidden woman of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is of great value in the sight of God.For in this manner, in old times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands:Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: Whose daughters you are, as long as you do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.Husbands, likewise, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers are not hindered.Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion toward one another, love as brethren, be tender-hearted, be courteous:Not rendering evil for evil, or returning reproach for reproach: But on the contrary blessing; knowing that you are called to this, that you should inherit a blessing.Therefore, "He that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and pursue it.For the eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers: But the face of the LORD is against those that do evil."And who is he that will harm you, if you are followers of that which is good?But even if you suffer for righteousness' sake, you are happier: "And do not be afraid of their terror, neither be troubled";But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: And always be ready to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason for the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:Having a good conscience; that when they speak evil of you, as of evil-doers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.Indeed it is better, if it is the will of God, that you suffer for well doing, than for doing evil.For Christ also has suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit:By which also He went and preached to the spirits in prison;which in time past were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is eight souls, were saved by water.This is likewise a figure of even baptism, which does now also save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:Who has gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject to Him.Therefore, as Christ has suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: For he that has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin;that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.For the years past of our life may suffice for us to have worked the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revelries, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:In which they think it is strange that you do not run with them to the same riotous excesses, speaking evil of you:Who shall give an account to Him that is ready to judge the living and the dead.Because for this cause the gospel was also preached to those that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.But the end of all things is at hand: Therefore be sober, and watchful with prayer.And above all things have fervent love among yourselves; for "love shall cover the multitude of sins."Use hospitality one to another without grudging.As every man has received the gift, even so minister the same to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.If any man speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God gives: That in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the praise and dominion forever and ever.  Amen.Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to prove you, as though some strange thing happened to you:But rejoice, considering that you are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that when His glory shall be revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.If you are reproached for the name of Christ, you are happier; for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you: On their part He is spoken evil of, but on your part He is glorified.But let none of you suffer as a murderer, as a thief, as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters.Yet if any man suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this respect.For the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God: And if it begins first with us, what shall be the end of those that do not obey the gospel of God?And "if the righteous are scarcely saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?"Therefore let those that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as to a faithful Creator.I exhort the elders which are among you; I also am an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking <FI>upon yourselves<Fi> the oversight of it, not by compulsion, but willingly; not for filthy profit, but from a ready mind;neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a crown of glory that does not fade away.Likewise you younger ones, submit yourselves to the elder.  Yes, all of you be subject to one another, and be clothed with humility: For "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time:Casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you.Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour:Whom resist, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished <FI>among<Fi> your brethren who are in the world.But the God of all grace, who has called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.To Him be glory and dominion forever and ever.  Amen.By Silvanus, a faithful brother to you, as I suppose, I have written to you briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.The church that is in Babylon, elected together with you, salutes you; and so does Marcus my son.Greet one another with a kiss of love.  Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus.  Amen.Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ:Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,even as His divine power accordingly has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that has called us to glory and virtue:By which are given to us exceedingly great and precious promises: That by these you all might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness love.For if these things are in you, and abound, they make you <FI>such<Fi> that all of you shall be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.Therefore better yet, brethren, be diligent to make your calling and election sure: For if you all do these things, all of you shall never fall:For after that an entrance shall be abundantly ministered to you into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.Therefore, I will not be negligent to always put you in remembrance of these things, though all of you <FI>already<Fi> know them, and are established in the present truth.Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;knowing that shortly I must put off my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me.Moreover I will endeavor that, after my decease, all of you may be able to have these things always in remembrance.For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.For He received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the Excellent Glory, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."And we heard this voice which came from heaven, when we were with Him on the holy mountain.We also have a more sure word of prophecy; to which all of you do well that you all take heed, as to a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the day star arises in your hearts:Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.For in old times the prophecy did not come by the will of man: But holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privately shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.And many shall follow their pernicious ways; because of <FI>those by<Fi> whom the way of truth shall be spoken evil of.And through covetousness they shall with feigned words make merchandise <FI>out<Fi> of you: Whose judgment will now not linger for a long time, and their damnation does not slumber.For if God did not spare the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;and did not spare the old world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example to those that afterward would live ungodly;and delivered just Lot, who was vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds);the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust for the day of judgment to be punished:But especially those that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government.  They are presumptuous, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries.Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, do not bring a railing accusation against them before the Lord.But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they do not understand; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;and shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to riot in the daytime.  They are spots and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: They have a heart exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:Who have forsaken the right way, and have gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;but was rebuked for his iniquity: The mute donkey speaking with a man's voice hindered the madness of the prophet.These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever.For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those who had clean escaped from those that live in error.While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: For by whom a man is overcome, by the same he is brought into bondage.For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them, and <FI>are<Fi> overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than after having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.But it has happened to them according to the true proverb, "The dog returned to his own vomit again"; and, "the hog that was washed <FI>returned<Fi> to her wallowing in the mire."Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle; in both <FI>of<Fi> which I stir up your pure minds by means of remembrance:That you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment from us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior:Knowing this first, that scoffers shall come in the last days, walking after their own lusts,and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming?  For since the fathers deceased, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."For they are willfully ignorant of this: That by the Word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water,By which the world that existed <FI>back<Fi> then, being overflowed with water, perished:But the heavens and the earth, which are now kept in store by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.But, beloved, do not be ignorant of this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also, and the works that are in it shall be burned up.Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you be in all holy conversation and godliness,looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, in which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found by Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.And count the longsuffering of our Lord to be salvation; even as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you;as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things that are hard to be understood, which those who are unlearned and unstable twist, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction.You therefore, beloved, seeing you know these things beforehand, beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To Him be glory both now and forever.  Amen.That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, from the Word of life;(for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show to you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested to us);that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you all may also have fellowship with us: And truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.And these things we write to you, that your joy may be full.This then is the message which we have heard from Him, and declare to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not perform the truth:But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.My little children, these things I write to you so that you do not sin.  And if any man sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:And He is the propitiation for our sins: And not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.And by this we <FI>shall<Fi> know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.He that says, "I know Him", and does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him: By this we know that we are in Him.He that says he abides in Him ought himself to also so walk, even as He walked.Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning.  The old commandment is the word which you have heard from the beginning.Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you: Because the darkness is past, and the true light now shines.He that says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness even until now.He that loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no incidence of stumbling in him.But he that hates his brother is in darkness, and walks in darkness, and does not know where he goes, because that darkness has blinded his eyes.I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake.I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him that is from the beginning.  I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one.  I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father.I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him that is from the beginning.  I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the Word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.Do not love the world, nor the things that are in the world.  If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.And the world passes away, and the lust of it: But he that does the will of God abides forever.Little children, it is the last time: And as you have heard that Antichrist shall come, even now there are many antichrists; by which we know that it is the last time.They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: But they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ?  He is antichrist, that denies the Father and the Son.Whoever denies the Son, the same does not have the Father: But he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.Therefore let that abide in you, which you have heard from the beginning.  If that which you have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, you also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.And this is the promise that He has promised us, even eternal life.These things I have written to you concerning those that seduce you.But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that any man teach you: But as the same anointing teaches you about all things, and is truth, and is not a lie, and even as it has taught you, you shall abide in Him.And now, little children, abide in Him; that when He appears, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who does righteousness is born of Him.Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.Beloved, now we are the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.And every man that has this hope in Him purifies himself, even as He is pure.Whoever commits sin also transgresses the law: For sin is the transgression of the law.And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin.Whoever abides in Him does not sin: Whoever sins has not seen Him, neither known Him.Little children, let no man deceive you: He that does righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous.He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning.  For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.Whoever is born of God does not commit sin; for His seed remains in him: And he cannot sin, because he is born of God.In this the children of God and the children of the devil are revealed: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor he who does not love his brother.For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother.  And for what reason did he slay him?  Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren.  He that does not love his brother abides in death.Whoever hates his brother is a murderer: And you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.By this we perceive the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: And we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.But whoever has this world's good life, and sees his brother have need, and shuts up his inner heart of compassion from him, how does the love of God dwell in him?My little children, let us not love in word, nor in tongue; but in deed and in truth.And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, then we have confidence toward God.And whatever we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.And this is His commandment: That we should believe upon the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.And he that keeps His commandments dwells in Him, and He in him.  And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit which He has given us.Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but prove the spirits by testing whether they are of God: Because many false prophets are gone out into the world.By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God:And every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God: And this is that spirit of antichrist, which you have heard that it should come; and even now it is already in the world.You are of God, little children, and have overcome them: Because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.They are of the world: Therefore they speak of the world, and the world hears them.We are of God: He that knows God hears us; he that is not of God does not hear us.  By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.Beloved, let us love one another: For love is of God; and everyone that loves is born of God, and knows God.He that does not love does not know God; for God is love.In this the love of God was manifested toward us, in how God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought to also love one another.No man has seen God at any time.  If we love one another, God dwells in us, and His love is perfected in us.By this we know that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him, and he in God.And we have known and believed the love that God has for us.  God is love; and he that dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him.In this our love is made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: Because as He is, so are we in this world.There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: Because fear conceives torment.  He that fears is not made perfect in love.We love Him, because He first loved us.If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar: For he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?And this commandment we have from Him: That he who loves God should love his brother also.Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: And everyone who loves Him that begot also loves him that is begotten of Him.By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments.For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: And His commandments are not grievous.For whatever is born of God overcomes the world: And this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.Who is he that overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?This is He that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood.  And it is the Spirit that bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit: And these three are one.And there are three that bear witness on earth, the Spirit, the water, and the blood: And these three agree in one.If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: For this is the witness of God which He has testified about His Son.He that believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself: He that does not believe God has made Him a liar; because he does not believe the record that God gave of His Son.And this is the record: That God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.He that has the Son has life; and he that does not have the Son of God does not have life.These things I have written to you who believe upon the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe upon the name of the Son of God.And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us:And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.If any man sees his brother sin a sin which is not to death, he shall ask, and He shall give him life for those that sin not to death.  There is a sin leading to death: I do not say that he should pray for it.All unrighteousness is sin: And there is a sin not to death.We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who is begotten of God keeps himself, and that wicked one does not touch him.And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in wickedness.And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ.  This is the true God, and eternal life.Little children, keep yourselves from idols.  Amen.The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all those that have known the truth;for the truth's sake, which dwells in us, and shall be with us forever.Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.I rejoiced greatly because I found out your children are walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.And now I beseech you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments.  This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.For many deceivers have entered into the world, who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh.  This is a deceiver and an antichrist.Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things which we have worked for, but that we receive a full reward.Whoever transgresses, and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ, does not have God.  He that abides in the doctrine of Christ, he has both the Father and the Son.If anyone comes to you, and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house, neither bid him God-speed:For he that bids him God-speed is a partaker of his evil deeds.Having many things to write to you, I will not write <FI>more<Fi> with paper and ink: But I trust to come to you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.The children of your elect sister greet you.  Amen.The elder to the well-beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, even as you walk in the truth.I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.Beloved, you do faithfully all that you do for the brethren, and for strangers;who have borne witness of your love before the church: Whom if you accompany on their journey in a Godly way, you shall do well:Because for His name's sake they went forth, taking nothing from the Gentiles.We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellow-helpers to the truth.I wrote to the church: But Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us.Therefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words: And not content with that, neither does he himself receive the brethren, and forbids those that would <FI>receive them<Fi>, and drives them out of the church.Beloved, do not follow that which is evil, but that which is good.  He that does good is of God: But he that does evil has not seen God.Demetrius has a good report from all men, and from the truth itself: Yes, and we also bear witness; and you know that our witness is true.I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write to you:But I trust I shall see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face.  Peace be to you.  Our friends salute you.  Greet the friends by name.Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:Mercy to you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write to you about the common salvation, it was necessary for me to write to you, and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints.For there are certain men that crept in unexpectedly, who evidently were ordained to this condemnation a long while ago, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.Therefore I will put you in remembrance, though you once knew this, how the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those that did not believe.And the angels which did not keep their first estate, but left their own habitation, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day.Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities all around them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise government, and speak evil of dignitaries.Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring a railing accusation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you."But these speak evil of those things which they do not know: But what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.Woe to them!  For they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the contrariety of Korah.These are spots in your feasts of love, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: They are clouds without water, carried about by winds; trees whose fruit withers, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these <FI>people<Fi>, saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints,to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed with ungodly <FI>living<Fi>, and of all their fierce speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him."These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaks great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;how they told you there would be mockers in the last time, who would walk after their own ungodly lusts.These are those who separate themselves, sensual, not having the Spirit.But you, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.And on some have compassion, making a difference:And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.Now to Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever.  Amen.The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to Him, to show to His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John:Who gives record of the Word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.Blessed is he that reads, and those that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it: For the time is at hand.John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be to you, and peace, from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne;and from Jesus Christ, Who is the faithful Witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.  To Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood,and has made us kings and priests to God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever.  Amen.Behold, He comes with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and also those which pierced Him: And all tribes of the earth shall wail because of Him.  Even so, Amen."I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending," says the Lord, "which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."I John, who am also your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos, for the Word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,saying, "I am Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last": and, "What you see, write in a book, and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: To Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea."And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me.  And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;and in the midst of the seven candlesticks One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet, and girded about the chest with a golden band.His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire;and His feet were like fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters.And He had in His right hand seven stars: And out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: And His countenance was as the sun shining in His strength.And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead.  Then He laid His right hand upon me, saying to me, "Do not fear; I am the First and the Last:I am He that lives, and was dead; and behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks.  The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: And the seven candlesticks which you saw are the seven churches.""To the angel of the church of Ephesus write; 'These things says He that holds the seven stars in His right hand, Who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;"I know your works, your labor, your patience, and how you cannot bear those which are evil: And you have examined those which say they are apostles, and are not, and have found them liars:And have supported, and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake, and have not fainted.Nevertheless I have something against you, because you have left your first love.Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come to you quickly, and will remove your candlestick out of its place, unless you repent.But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches: To him that overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." ' ""And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write; 'These things says the First and the Last, which was dead, and is alive;"I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich), and I know the blasphemy of those which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.Fear none of those things which you shall suffer: Behold, the devil shall throw some of you into prison, that you may be proven; and you shall have tribulation ten days: Be faithful to death, and I will give you a crown of life.He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches; he that overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death." ' ""And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; 'These things says He which has the sharp sword with two edges;"I know your works, and where you dwell, even where Satan's seat is: And you hold firmly My name, and have not denied My faith, even in those days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells.But I have a few things against you, because you have there those that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication.You also even have those that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.Repent; or else I will come to you quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches: To him that overcomes I will give to eat from the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows except him that receives it." ' ""And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write; 'These things says the Son of God, Who has His eyes likened to a flame of fire, and His feet are like fine brass;"I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience, and your labor; and the last to be more than the first.Notwithstanding, I have a few things against you, because you let that woman Jezebel, which calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce My servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.And I gave her time to repent of her fornication; and she did not repent.Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and those that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am He which searches the inner reins and hearts: And I will give to every one of you according to your works.But to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they say; I will put no other burden upon you.But hold firmly to that which you already have until I come.And he that overcomes, and keeps My works to the end, to him I will give power over the nations:And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter, they shall be broken to pieces: Even as I received from My Father.And I will give him the morning star.He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." ' ""And to the angel of the church in Sardis write; 'These things says He that has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; "I know your works, that you have a name <FI>characterizing<Fi> as though you live, yet are dead.Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: For I have not found your works perfect before God.Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold firmly fixed, and repent.  If therefore you shall not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you shall not know what hour I will come upon you.You have a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white: For they are worthy.He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white garments; and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels.He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." ' ""And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; 'These things says He that is holy, He that is true, He that has the key of David, He that opens, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens;"I know your works: Behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it: For you have a little strength, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.Because you have kept the word of My patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to prove by testing those that dwell upon the earth.Behold, I come quickly: Hold firmly to that which you have, that no man take your crown.He that overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more: And I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God: And I will write upon him My new name.He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." ' ""And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; 'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the beginning of the creation of God;"I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I wish you were cold or hot.So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth.Because you say, 'I am rich, and am increased with goods, and have need of nothing'; but do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked:I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, so that the shame of your nakedness does not appear; and anoint your eyes with eye-salve, that you may see.As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: Therefore be zealous, and repent.Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: If any man hears My voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.To him that overcomes I will grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." ' "After this I looked, and behold, a door was opened in heaven: And the first voice which I heard was as <FI>if<Fi> a trumpet <FI>was<Fi> talking with me; which said, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must be in time to come."And immediately I was in the spirit: And behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.And He that sat there looked like a jasper and a sardius stone: And there was a rainbow all around the throne, that by sight looked like an emerald.<RF>sardius; or, ruby<Rf>And all around the throne were twenty-four seats: And upon the seats I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.And out of the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices: And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.And before the throne there was a sea of glass like crystal: And in the midst of the throne, and all around the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face like a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.And each of the four beasts had six wings around him; and they were full of eyes within: And they did not rest day and night, saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Which was, and is, and is to come."And when those beasts give glory and honor and thanks to Him that sat on the throne, who lives forever and ever,the twenty-four elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,"You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: For You have created all things, and for Your pleasure they are and were created."And I saw in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose its seals?"And no man in heaven, nor on earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, nor to look upon it.So I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look upon it.Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep: Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the book, and to loose its seven seals."And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.Then He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne.And when He had taken the book, the four beasts and twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, every one of them having harps, and golden vials full of incense, which are the prayers of saints.And they sang a new song, saying, "You are worthy to take the book, and to open its seals: For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation;and have made us kings and priests to our God: And we shall reign on the earth."Then I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels all around the throne, and the beasts, and the elders: And the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing."And I heard every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are within them, saying, "Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be to Him that sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb forever and ever."And the four beasts said, "Amen."  And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him that lives forever and ever.And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as if it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, "Come and see."And I saw, and behold a white horse: And he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given to him: And he went forth conquering, and to conquer.And when He had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, "Come and see."And another horse went out that was red: And power was given to him that sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: And there was given to him a great sword.And when He had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, "Come and see."  And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, "A measure of wheat for a silver coin, and three measures of barley for a silver coin; and see you do not harm the oil and the wine."<RF>A measure: The word choenix signifies a measure containing 1And when He had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, "Come and see."Then I looked, and behold a pale horse: And his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him.  And power was given to them over a quarter of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the wild beasts of the earth.And when He had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those that were slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held:And they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You not judge and avenge our blood on those that dwell on the earth?"Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until their fellow-servants and also their brothers, who shall be killed just as they were, should be fulfilled.And I beheld when He opened the sixth seal, and lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;and the stars of heaven fell to the earth, even as a fig tree casts out her untimely figs, when she is shaken by a mighty wind.And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:For the great day of His wrath has come; and who shall be able to stand?"Then after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: And he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,saying, "Do not hurt the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads."And I heard the number of those which were sealed: And there were sealed one hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.Of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed.  Of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed.  Of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed.Of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed.  Of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed.  Of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed.Of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed.  Of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed.  Of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed.Of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed.  Of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed.  Of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.After this I beheld, and lo, a large multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;And cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation to our God which sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb."And all the angels stood all around the throne, and around the elders and the four beasts, and fell on their faces before the throne, and worshiped God,saying, "Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be to our God forever and ever.  Amen."And one of the elders answered, saying to me, "What are these which are arrayed in white robes?  And where did they come from?"And I said to him, "Sir, you know."  So he said to me, "These are those which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: And He that sits on the throne shall dwell among them.They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them to living fountains of waters: And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."Then when He had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for a period of about half an hour.And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.Then another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given to him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.And the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and cast it into the earth: And there were voices, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: And a third of the trees were burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.Then the second angel sounded, and with all speed a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: And one third of the sea became blood;and a third of the creatures in the sea which had life died; and a third of the ships were destroyed.Then the third angel sounded, and a large star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell upon a third of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;and the name of the star is called Wormwood: And a third of the waters became wormwood; and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter.Then the fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun was smitten, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars; so that a third of them were darkened, and the day did not shine for a third of it, and likewise the night.And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabitants of the earth because of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!"Then the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven to the earth: And to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a large furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit.Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth: And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.And they were commanded that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which do not have the seal of God in their foreheads.And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: And their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he strikes a man.And in those days men shall seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.And the shapes of the locusts were like horses prepared to battle; and on their heads were <FI>things<Fi> like crowns of gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.And they had breastplates, even as breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots with many horses running to battle.And they had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: And their power was to hurt men five months.And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew language is Abaddon, but in the Greek language his name is Apollyon.<RF>Apollyon; that is to say, A destroyer<Rf>One woe is past; and behold, there come two more woes after <FI>this<Fi>.Then the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, "Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates."And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, to slay a third of men.And the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million: And I heard the number of them.And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and those who sat on them had breastplates of fire, and sapphire, and sulfur: And the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone.By these three a third of men were killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: For their tails were like serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.And the rest of the men who were not killed by these plagues yet did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: Which can neither see, nor hear, nor walk:Neither did they repent of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: And a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as <FI>if<Fi> it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:And he had a little book open in his hand: And he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the land,and cried out with a loud voice, as when a lion roars: And when he had cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices.And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them."And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,and swore by Him that lives forever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that are in it, the earth, and the things that are in it, and the sea, and the things which are in it, that there should not be time any longer:But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as He has declared to His servants the prophets.Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again, and said, "Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which stands upon the sea and upon the earth."So I went to the angel, and said to him, "Give me the little book."  And he said to me, "Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make your belly bitter, but it shall be sweet as honey in your mouth."Then I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was sweet as honey in my mouth: And as soon as I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter.And he said to me, "You must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings."Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod: And the angel stood, saying, "Rise and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and those that worship in it.But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it; for it is given to the Gentiles: And they shall tread the holy city under foot for forty-two months.And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth."These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.And if any man will hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth, and devours their enemies: And if any man will hurt them, he must be killed in this manner.These have power to shut heaven, that it does not rain in the days of their prophecy: And have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.And those of the people, tribes, tongues, and nations shall see their dead bodies three and a half days, and shall not let their dead bodies to be put in graves.And those that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts to one another; because these two prophets tormented those that dwelt on the earth.Then after three and a half days the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon those who saw them.And they heard a great voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here."  And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.And the same hour there was a strong earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell, and in the earthquake seven thousand men were slain: And the remnant were frightened, and gave glory to the God of heaven.The second woe is past; and behold, the third woe is coming quickly.Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever."And the twenty-four elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshiped God,saying, "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which is, and was, and is to come; because You have taken to Yourself Your great power, and have reigned.And the nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should give reward to Your servants the prophets, and to the saints, and those that fear Your name, small and great; and should destroy those which destroy the earth."Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His testament was seen in His temple: And there were lightnings, voices, thunderings, an earthquake, and large hail.Now there appeared a great sign in heaven: A woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.Then another sign appeared in heaven: And behold a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns on his heads.And his tail drew a third of the stars of heaven, and cast them to the earth: And the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, to devour her Child as soon as it was born.And she brought forth a man Child, Who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: And her Child was caught up to God, and to His throne.Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,but did not prevail; neither was their place found any more in heaven.And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: He was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come: For the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they did not love their lives to the death.Therefore rejoice, you heavens, and you that dwell in them.  Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea!  For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time."Then when the dragon saw that he was cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man Child.But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood.But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.Then I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: And the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.And I saw one of his heads, how it was wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: And all the world wondered after the beast.And they worshiped the dragon which gave power to the beast: And they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast?  Who is able to make war with him?"And there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given to him to continue for forty-two months.And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and those that dwell in heaven.And it was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: And power was given to him over all tribes, and tongues, and nations.And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.If any man has an ear, let him hear.He that leads into captivity shall go into captivity: He that kills with the sword must be killed with the sword.  Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.Then I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon.And he exercises all the power of the first beast before him, and causes the earth and those that dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.And he does great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,and deceives those that dwell on the earth by means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to those who dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and lived.And he had power to give life to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond-servants, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:And that no man might buy or sell, except he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.Here is wisdom.  Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, because it is the number of a man: And his number is six hundred and sixty six.Then I looked, and lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written in their foreheads.And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: And I heard the voice of harpists harping with their harps:And they sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four beasts, and the elders: And no man could learn that song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins.  These are they who follow the Lamb wherever He goes.  These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.And no guile was found in their mouths: For they are without fault before the throne of God.Then I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people,saying with a loud voice, "Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment has come: And worship Him that made heaven, and earth, the sea, and fountains of waters."And there followed another angel, saying, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication."Then the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If any man worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:And the smoke of their torment ascends up forever and ever: And they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."Here is the patience of the saints: Here are those that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write, 'Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from this time forward' ": "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them."Then I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud One sat like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him that sat on the cloud, "Thrust in Your sickle, and reap: For the time has come for You to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe."Then He that sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried out with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, "Thrust in your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe."Then the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the large winepress of the wrath of God.And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even up to the horse bridles, for the distance of one thousand and six hundred furlongs.<RF>1600 furlongs is approximately 200 miles or 322 kilometers.<Rf>Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: Seven angels having the seven last plagues, because in them the wrath of God is complete.And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: And those that had prevailed in victory over the beast, and over his image, over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Your ways, You King of saints.Who will not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name?  Because You alone are holy: For all nations will come and worship before You, because Your judgments are being manifested."And after that I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their chests girded with golden girdles.Then one of the four beasts gave to the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever.And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from His power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, until the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth."Then the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and a noxious and grievous sore fell upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon those who worshiped his image.And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: And every living soul in the sea died.And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.And I heard the angel of the waters say, "You are righteous, O Lord, which is, and was, and shall be, because You have judged thus.For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink; for they are worthy <FI>of such<Fi>."And I heard another out of the altar say, "Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments."And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given to him to scorch men with fire.And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which has power over these plagues: And they did not repent to give Him glory.And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues out of pain,and blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water of it was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty."Behold, I come as a thief.  Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame."And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and a great voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, "It is done."And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a large earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: And great Babylon came <FI>up<Fi> in remembrance before God, to give to her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.And there fell upon men a large hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: And men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague of this was exceedingly great.<RF>1 attic talent weighed 56 pounds 11 ounces English troy weight, or ~25.7 kilograms.<Rf>And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying to me, "Come here; I will show you the judgment of the great whore that sits upon many waters:With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication."So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness: And I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colors, and gilded with gold, and precious stones, and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication:And upon her forehead a name was written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: And when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.And the angel said to me, "Why did you marvel?  I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and ten horns.The beast that you saw was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: And those that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is."And here is the mind which has wisdom.  The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits.And there are seven kings: Five are fallen, and one is, and the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must continue a short while.And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goes into perdition."And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength to the beast.These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: For He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: And those that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful."And he said to me, "The waters which you saw, where the whore sits, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.And the ten horns which you saw upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.For God has put in their hearts to fulfill His will, and to agree, and give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.And the woman which you saw is that great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth."And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was instantaneously illuminated with his glory.And he cried out mightily with a strong voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become the habitation of devils, and the <FI>prison-<Fi>hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are made rich through the abundance of her delicacies."And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, "Come out of her, my people, that you are not partakers of her sins, and that you do not receive of her plagues.For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double to her two-fold more according to her works: With the cup which she has filled, pour out to her double.To the degree she has glorified herself, and lived deliciously, give her that much torment and sorrow: For she says in her heart, 'I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.'Therefore her plagues shall come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: For strong is the Lord God Who judges her.And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning,standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city!  For in one hour your judgment has come.'And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buys their merchandise anymore:The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all fragrant wood, and all sorts of ivory vessels, and all sorts of most precious wood vessels, and of brass, and iron, and marble,and cinnamon, and incense, and fragrant ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.And the fruits that your soul lusted after have departed from you, and all things which were dainty and gorgeous have departed from you, and you shall find them no more at all.The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,and saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!For in one hour so many riches have come to naught.'  And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,and cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What city is like this great city!'And they cast dust on their heads, and cried out, weeping and wailing, saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea were made rich because of her costliness!  For in one hour she is made desolate.'Rejoice over her, you heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets; for God has avenged you on her."And a mighty angel took up a stone like a large millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.And the voice of harpists, musicians, pipers, and trumpeters shall not be heard any more at all in you; and no craftsman, of whatever craft he is, shall be found anymore in you; and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard any more at all in you;and the light of a candle shall not shine any more at all in you; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall not be heard any more at all in you: For your merchants were the great men of the earth; for by your sorceries all nations were deceived.And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth."And after these things I heard a great voice of many people in heaven, saying, "Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, to the Lord our God:For His judgments are true and righteous: For He has judged the great whore, which corrupted the earth with her fornication, and has avenged the blood of His servants at her hand."And again they said, "Alleluia.  And her smoke rose up forever and ever."And the twenty-four elders and the four beasts fell down and worshiped God that sat on the throne, saying, "Amen; Alleluia."Then a voice came out of the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all you His servants, and you that fear Him, both small and great."And I heard as it were the voice of a large multitude, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia: For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns.Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: For the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.And he said to me, "Write, 'Blessed are those which are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb.' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God."And I fell at his feet to worship him.  And he said to me, "See <FI>that<Fi> you do not do it: I am your fellow-servant, and of your brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: Worship God: For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but he Himself.And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: And His name is called The Word of God.And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.And out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: And He shall rule them with a rod of iron: And He treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.And He has on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, "Come and gather yourselves together to the supper of the great God;that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses, and of those that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great."And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him that sat on the horse, and against His army.And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that worked miracles before him, with which he deceived those that had received the mark of the beast, and those that worshiped his image.  These two were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.And the remnant were slain with the sword of Him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: And all the fowls were filled with their flesh.And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a large chain in his hand.And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years are fulfilled: And after that he must be loosed <FI>for<Fi> a little season.And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them: And I saw the souls of those that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.  This is the first resurrection.Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: Upon such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: The number of whom is as the sand of the sea.And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed all around the camp of the saints, and the beloved city: And fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life: And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead that were in them: And they were judged, every man according to their works.Then death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.  This is the second death.And whoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: For the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.And I, John, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: For the former things are passed away."And He that sat upon the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new."  And He said to me, "Write: For these words are true and faithful."And He said to me, "It is done.  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.  I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him that is thirsty.He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son.But the fearful, unbelieving, the abominable, murderers, whoremongers, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: Which is the second death."And there came to me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, "Come over here, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife."And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,having the glory of God: And her light was like a most precious stone, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;and had a large and high wall, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.And the city is laid out as a square; and its length is as large as its breadth.  And he measured the city with the reed: Twelve thousand stadiums.  Its length, breadth, and height are equal.Then he measured its wall: One hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.And its wall was built of jasper: And the city was pure gold, like clear glass.And the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all manner of precious stones.  The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprase; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.<RF>sardius; or, ruby<Rf>And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: Each individual gate was of one pearl.  And the street of the city was pure gold, just like transparent glass.And I saw no temple in it: For the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: For the glory of God illuminates it, and the Lamb is the light of it.And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in the light of it: And the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.And its gates shall not be shut at all daily: For there shall be no night there.And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.And there shall in no case enter into it anything that defiles, neither anything that works abomination, or makes a lie: But those which are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, there was the tree of life, which bore twelve kinds of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.And there shall be no more curse: But the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him:And they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads.And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God gives them light: And they shall reign forever and ever.And he said to me, "These sayings are faithful and true": And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show to His servants the things which must shortly be done."Behold, I come quickly: Blessed is he that keeps the sayings of the prophecy of this book."And I John saw these things, and heard them.  And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things.Then he said to me, "See that you do not do it: For I am your fellow-servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: Worship God."And he said to me, "Do not seal the sayings of the prophecy of this book: For the time is at hand.He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: And he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: And he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: And he that is holy, let him be holy still.And behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according <FI>to<Fi> as his work shall be.I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the First and the Last.Blessed are those that do His commandments, that they may have <FI>the<Fi> right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.For outside are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whoever loves and <FI>fabricates<Fi> a lie.I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches.  I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the Bright and Morning Star."And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come."  And let him that hears say, "Come."  And let him that is thirsty come.  And whoever is willing, let him take the water of life freely.For I testify to every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add to these things, God shall add to him the plagues that are written in this book:And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.He which testifies these things says, "Surely I come quickly."  Amen.  Even so, come, Lord Jesus.The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  Amen.