82 Bible Verses about Gospel, Responses To

For Moses writes concerning the righteousness of the Law, saying, The man that doeth it shall live by it. But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way. Say not in thine heart, "Who shall ascend to heaven?"??hat is, to bring Christ down; Nor, ??ho shall descend into the abyss?"??hat is, to bring Christ up from the dead.read more.
But what does it say? The word is near thee, even in thy mouth and in thy heart. That is the very word of faith which we preach; Confess with your mouth "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God actually raised him from the dead, and you will be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. The Scriptures say, Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame. For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile, because the same Lord Jesus is all over, and is rich unto all who call upon Him; for Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.

"Be it known unto you therefore, brothers, that remission of sins is proclaimed to you through this man; "and that by him every one that believes is justified from all things from which you could never be justified by the law of Moses.

So he called for lights, and sprang in, and, trembling for fear, fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, saying, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" "Believe on the Lord Jesus," they answered, "and you will be saved, you and all your household."read more.
Then they spoke the message of the Lord to him, as well as to all who were in his house.

But now, quite apart from any law, a righteousness coming from God has been fully brought to light, continually witnessed to by the Law and the Prophets. I mean a righteousness coming from God through faith in Jesus Christ, for all who believe. For there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile, since all have sinned and lack the glory which comes from God;read more.
but they are now being justified by his free grace through the deliverance that is in Christ Jesus. For God openly set him forth for himself as an offering of atonement through faith, by means of his blood, in order to show forth his righteousness??ince in his forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed??o show forth his righteousness, I say, at this present time; that he himself might be just, and yet the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.

Then the Jews began to find fault with Jesus, because he said, "I am the bread which comes down out of heaven," and they kept asking. "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? How is it that he now says, 'I have come down from heaven'?" "Do not find fault with me among yourselves,"read more.
answered Jesus; "no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him; then I will raise him up on the last day. "It is written in the Prophets, "And they shall all of them be taught of God. Every one who has listened to the father and learns from him, comes to me. "Not that any one has seen the Father, except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. "I tell you solemnly that he who believes has eternal life. "I am the bread of life. "Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; yet they died. "This is the bread that comes down from heaven, that one may eat thereof and never die. "I myself am the living bread that has come down from heaven. Any one who eats this bread will live forever; and moreover, the bread which I will give is my flesh, given for the life of the world." Then the Jews began to dispute among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"

Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God; and every one who loves the Father, loves him also who is the Father's Child.

"Come unto me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

"The times of ignorance God overlooked, but he now commands all men that they should all, everywhere, repent;

"Store up for yourselves no treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; "but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. "For wherever your treasure is, there will your heart be also.read more.
"The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore if your eye is sound, your whole body will be well lighted; "but if your eye is unsound, your whole body will be darkened. If then the very light within you is darkness, how dense is that darkness! "No slave can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will pay heed to the one and despise the other. You cannot be the slaves both of God and of gold.

"The lamp of the body is your eye; when your eye is single then your whole body is full of light; but when it is evil your whole body is full of darkness. "Look carefully! Perhaps that very light of yours is darkness. "If, however, your whole body is full of light, without having any part dark, it will be wholly radiant with light, as when the lamp illumines you with its bright rays."

"Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. "For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks the door is opened. "What man of you is there who, when his son asks a loaf, will give him a stone?read more.
"or if his son asks for a fish, will offer him a snake? "If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him? "Therefore everything that you would have men do to you, do you also the same to them; for this is the Law and the Prophets.

"So I say to you. "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you. "For he that asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks the door shall be opened. "What father is there among you who, if his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish will give him instead a serpent?read more.
"Or if he asks for an egg, will offer him a scorpion? "If you give good gifts to your children, how much more shall the Father who is in heaven give the Holy spirit to those that ask him!"

"Every one who hears my words and does them I will liken to a wise man who built his house upon the rock. "And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon the house, but it fell not, for it was founded upon the rock. "And every one who hears these words of mine and does them not, I will liken to a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand.read more.
"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."

"I will show whom the man that comes to me, and listens to my works, and does them, is like. "He is like a man who is building a house who digged and went deep and laid a foundation upon rock. And, when a flood came, the torrent dashed against that house, but could not move, because it had been founded upon rock. "But he who listens but does not do, is like a man who built a house upon the soil, without foundations, against which the torrent burst, and at once it fell in, and the ruin of that house was great."

"All who drink of this water," Jesus answered, "will thirst again; but whoever once drinks of the water that I will give him, shall never thirst any more, but the water that I will give him shall become a living spring of water within him, welling up into eternal life."

"I myself am the bread of life," answered Jesus; "he who comes to me shall never hunger, and he that believes on me shall never thirst again. "But as I told you, you have seen me, and yet you do not believe. "Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me; and him who comes to me I will never reject.read more.
"For I am come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. "And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should not lose one of all those whom he has given me, but should raise them up at the last day. "For this is my Fathers will, that every one who beholds the Son and believes on him, shall have eternal life. and I will raise him up at the last day."

So Jesus spoke to the Jews that believed him, saying. "If you abide in my teaching, you are my true disciples; "and you shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

"I am the Door. Whoever enters by me shall be saved, and he shall go in and come out and find pasture. "The thief never comes except to steal and kill and destroy. I am come that they may have life, and may have it in abundance.

"I am the resurrection and the life," said Jesus. "He who believes in me, even if he has died, shall live. And every one who is living and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

Now Jesus, speaking in a loud voice, had said: "He who believes in me believes not in me, but in Him who sent me; and he who sees me sees him who sent me. Like light am I come into the world, so that no one who believes in me may remain in darkness.

And as he was passing along by the sea of Galilee he saw Simon and Andrew, Simon's brother, casting their net into the sea, for they were fishermen; so Jesus said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him.

And as he was walking by the see of Galilee, he saw two brothers??imon who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother??asting their net into the sea, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," said Jesus, "And I will make you fishers of men." And they dropped their nets at once, and followed him.read more.
As he went farther on he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. They immediately left the boat and their father, and followed him.

As he went a little farther on he saw James, the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in their boat mending the nets. Straightway he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants and went after him.

As Jesus was passing thence, he saw a man called Mathew sitting at the tax-office, and said to him, "Follow me."

As he was passing by he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting in the tax-office; and he said to him, "Follow me." So he rose and followed him.

After this he went forth and noticed a tax-gatherer, named Levi, sitting at the tax-office, and said to him, "Follow me." He rose, left everything, and followed him.

Then those who welcomed his message were baptized, and in that day about three thousand souls were added to them;

Then those who had been scattered by the trouble that arose over Stephen, traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch; but they preached the word to none except Jews. Some of them, however, were Cyprians and Cyrenaeans, who, on reaching Antioch, began to tell the Greeks also the Good News concerning the Lord Jesus. The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.

So Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly. "It was necessary," they said, "first to proclaim the word of God to you. But since you push it away from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. "For such is God's command to us, saying, "I have set thee for a light to the Gentiles, That thou shouldest be for salvation to the uttermost part of the earth." When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord, and all who had been ordained to eternal life, believed.

On the Sabbath Day we went outside the city gate, to a riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and talked to the women who had gathered there. Among them was a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, who belonged to the town of Thyatira. She, since she was a worshiper of God, listened to us, and the Lord opened her heart to attend to what Paul said. When she was baptized, and her household, she urged us, saying, "If in your judgment I am a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house." And she compelled us to come.

With these words Jesus went away and hid himself from them. But although he had wrought such signs in their presence, still they did not believe in him. So the words spoken by Isaiah, the prophet, were fulfilled. Lord, who hath believed our message, And to whom hath the Arm of the Lord been revealed? This was why they could not believe, because Isaiah said again.read more.
He hath blinded their eyes and make their hearts hard, Lest they should see with their eyes, perceive with their minds, And should turn, and I should heal them. Isaiah uttered these words because he saw his glory, and he spoke of him.

"This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. And in them is being fulfilled that prophecy of Isaiah which says. "Hearing you will hear and not understand; Seeing you will see and not perceive; For the heart of his people is made fat, Their ears are dull of hearing; Their eyes, too, have they closed, Lest some day their eyes should perceive, And their ears should hear, And their heart should understand and turn, And I should heal them.

When he was alone his followers and the Twelve began asking about the parables. He went on to say to them. "The secret truth concerning the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those outside everything is told in parables, so that, "for all their looking they may not see, and for all their hearing, they may not understand, lest perchance they should turn and be pardoned.

Then his disciples began to interrupt him, saying, "What does this parable mean?" He answered. "To you it is given to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of God; But all others are taught in parables so that seeing they shall not see, and hearing they shall not hear.

According as it is written, God has given them a spirit of slumber, Eyes that they should not see, Ears that they should not hear, unto this day.

This then I tell you and implore you in the Master's name, to pass your lives no longer as the Gentiles do in the perverseness of their minds; having their understanding darkened, alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their hearts. These being past feeling have given themselves over to sensuality, in order to practise every form of impurity with greedy zest.

"And the seed sown among thorns is he who hears the word, but the anxieties of the age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

There are others who are 'sown among thorns.' When they have heard the Word, the anxieties of life and the snares of wealth, and all sorts of other ambitions, come in to choke the Word, so that it proves unfruitful.

"And that which fell upon thorns is those who have heard, but as they go on their way of word is choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of life; so they bring no fruit of perfection.

"No slave can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will pay heed to the one and despise the other. You cannot be the slaves both of God and of gold.

"No one can be a household servants to two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will cling to the one and despise the other. You cannot be the slave of God and of Mammon."

for Demas has deserted me for love of this present world, and is gone to Thessalonica; Crescens is gone to Galatia; Titus to Dalmatia.

You adulteresses, do you not know that the friendship of the world is enmity to God? Whoever, then, desires to be a friend of the world, makes himself and enemy of God.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

"He who is not with me is against me; and he who is not gathering with me, scatters.

"He who is not for me is against me, and he who is not gathering with me is scattering.

To be earthly minded means death; To be spiritually minded means life and peace. For to be earthly minded is enmity against God; For such a mind is not subject to the Law of God, Nor can it be; And they who are earthly minded cannot please God.

No one, however, was speaking openly about him, for fear of the Jews. "But now I am coming to thee, and I am speaking these things while I am in the world, so that they may have my joy in all its fulness in themselves. But when it was already the middle of the feast, Jesus went up to the Temple and began to teach. "I have given them thy word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. The Jews were amazed. They said, "How does this fellow know the sacred writings when he has never learned them?" "I am not asking that thou wilt take them out of the world, but that thou wilt protect them from the Evil One.read more.
In reply Jesus said to them; "My teaching is not mine, but is his who sent me. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." "If any one wills to do God's will he shall know concerning my teaching, whether it is from God, or I speak my own authority. Dedicate them in thy truth; thy word is truth." "The man who speaks on his own authority is always seeking his own glory. But one who is eager for the glory of Him who sent him, he is true, and therefore is nothing false about him. "Did not Moses give you the Law? Yet none of you is keeping the Law. Why are you seeking to kill me?" The crowd answered. "You have a demon! Who is trying kill you?"

Then all the Jews encircled him and kept asking him. "How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered them. "I have told you, and you do not believe. The works which I am doing in my Father's name, these bear witness concerning me. "But you do not believe, because you are not of my sheep.read more.
"My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them and they follow me. "I am giving them eternal life, and they shall never perish, nor shall any one snatch them out of my hand. "My Father who has given them to me is stronger than all, and no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. "I and my Father are one." The Jews again took stones with which to stone him. Jesus said to them. "I have shown you many good deeds from my Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?" "We are not going to stone you for a good deed," answered the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, are making yourself God."

So they bade them withdraw from the Sanhedrin, while they conferred together. "What," said they, "shall we do with these men? For it is well known throughout Jerusalem that a notable miracle has been performed by them, and we cannot deny it. "But that the matter may spread no further among the people, let us threaten them not to speak to any one hereafter about this name."read more.
So they summoned them, and ordered them not to speak at all, nor to teach in the name of Jesus.

This aroused bitter indignation among the high priest and his followers who were of the sect of the Sadducees, and they apprehended the apostles, and threw them into the public prison. But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors during the night, and let them out.read more.
He said to them, "Go take your stand in the Temple, and continue to tell the people all the words of this Life." When they heard this they went at early dawn to the Temple, and began to teach. Meantime when the high priest and his followers arrived, they summoned the Sanhedrin and all the Council of the Elders of the sons of Israel, and sent to the prison to fetch the apostles. But the officers who went did not find them in the prison; so they came back and reported, "The prison we found locked fast, with the guards stationed at the doors, but when they were opened we found no one inside." When the officer in charge of the Temple and the high priest heard these words, they were perplexed concerning them, wondering what would come of it. And some one came and told them that the very men whom they had put in prison were standing in the Temple, and teaching to the people. On this the officer went off with his men and fetched them, not, however, by force, for they were afraid that the people would stone them. So they brought them, and stood them before the Sanhedrin. Then the high priest questioned them. "We strictly forbade you, did we not, to teach about this Name, and here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us."

"Stiff-necked, uncircumcised in heart and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Ghost! As your fathers did, so do you. "Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become??53 "you who received the law, given through angels, and obeyed it not."

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

But when the seven days were almost over, the Asiatic Jews caught sight of him in the temple, and began to stir up all the crowd, and laid hands on him, shouting. "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who goes everywhere preaching to everybody against the people, and the Law, and this place. And he has actually brought Gentiles even into the temple, and has desecrated the holy place." (For they had formerly seen Trophimus, the Ephesian, with him in the city, and supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)read more.
The whole city was thrown into uproar. The mob surged together, seized Paul, and began to drag him outside the temple. Whereupon the doors were at once shut. While they were attempting to kill him, news came to the tribune commander of the garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. At once he took soldiers and centurions, and rushed down upon them. When they saw the tribune and the troops, they left off beating Paul.

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

For this reason we must pay the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, for fear we should drift away. For if the word uttered through angels stood firm, so that every transgression and act of disobedience met with its just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? Which having begun to be spoken by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him;read more.
God himself corroborating their testimony by signs and wonders and a variety of miraculous powers, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit imparted in accordance with his own will.

For what shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own life? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his life? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this unfaithful and wicked generation, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

"I will warn you whom you ought to fear. Fear him who, after he was after he has killed, has power to throw you into Gehenna. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

So he went on his way through cities and villages, teaching as he journeyed toward Jerusalem. And a man came behind him and said, "Lord are there but few that are saved?" "Struggle to enter in by the narrow door," he answered, "for I tell you that many will try to enter and not be able,read more.
"when once the master of the house is risen up and has shut the door. You will begin to stand outside, and to knock at the door, crying, "'Lord, open to us.' "'I do not know were you came from,' he will reply. "Then you will begin saying, 'But we have eaten and drunk in your presence, and you have taught in our streets.' "But he will answer. "'I tell you I do not know were you came from; "'depart from me, all of you, you evil-doers.' There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you shall see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves cast out. "And people shall come from the Orient and from the Occident, from the north and from the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. "And lo, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last."

And if any one hears my words and does not keep them, it is not I who judge him; for I am not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects me, and does not receive my words, has indeed a judge. The message which I have spoken, that shall judge him in the Last Day, because I have never spoken on my own authority, but the Father himself who sent me gave me commandment what to say and what words to speak.read more.
And I know that his commandment is eternal life. So whatever I speak, I speak as the Father has told me."

For in the case of those who have been once for all enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the Future Age, and then fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance. For they repeatedly crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and expose him to an open shame.

How much surer, think you, will be the punishment of one who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has profaned that covenant blood with which he was sanctified, and has done despite to the spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, and again, The Lord will judge his people. IT IS A FEARFUL THING TO FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE LIVING GOD!

See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape punishment when they refused to listen to their instructor on earth, much less shall we escape if we turn away from him who is teaching us from heaven;

Such men are like waterless springs, or mists storm-driven; for them the blackness of darkness has been reserved. For speaking great swelling words of vanity, they entangle, by their lasciviousness, in the lusts of the flesh, those who are just about to escape from the men that live in misconduct. They promise them liberty, while they themselves are slaves of rottenness! (For indeed a man is the slave of anything which masters him.)read more.
For if, after having escaped the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, men are again entangled in them and overpowered, their last state is become worse than their first. Indeed it would have been better for them not to have known the Way of Righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy command delivered to them. In their case it has happened according to the true proverb, The dog returns again to his own vomit, and The sow, after washing, to her wallowing in the mire.

But look! a certain man came up to him and asked, "Teacher, what good thing shall I do to inherit eternal life?" "Why do you ask me about what is good?" asked Jesus. "There is but One who is good. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." "Which commandments?" asked the man. Jesus replied. "Thou shalt not kill; Thou shalt not commit adultery; Thou shalt not steal; Thou shalt not bear false witness;read more.
"Honor thy father and thy mother; and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." The young man answered. "I have carefully kept them all. What yet do I lack?" "If you want to be perfect," said Jesus, "go, sell your property, give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." But when the young man heard this teaching, he went away sorrowful, for he was one who had much property.

As he started to go forth into the road, a man came running up to him, and knelt down before him. "Good Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said to him. "Why do you call me 'good'? No one is good save one, God himself. You know the commandments. Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not cheat, honor your father and mother."read more.
"Teacher," he answered, "I have observed all these from my youth." Jesus loved him as he looked at him, and said: "One thing you lack. Go, sell all you have and give to the poor; and you shall have wealth in heaven; and come, follow me." But his face fell at these words, and he went away saddened, for he was one who had great wealth.

A ruler put this question to him. "Good teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" "Why are you calling me 'good'?" said Jesus to him; "no one is good but God. "You know the commandments. "Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother."read more.
"All of these," he replied, "I have kept from my youth up." And receiving this reply, Jesus said to him. "One thing you are still lacking. Sell all that you have and give it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me." But when he heard these words he became deeply grieved, for he was exceedingly rich.

But Peter and the apostles said in reply. "We must obey God rather than man. The God of our fathers has raised up Jesus, whom you slew by hanging him on a tree. "Him God has exalted at his right hand as Prince and Saviour, to give Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.read more.
"And we are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him." When they heard this they were infuriated, and were minded to kill the apostles;

"Stiff-necked, uncircumcised in heart and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Ghost! As your fathers did, so do you. "Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become??53 "you who received the law, given through angels, and obeyed it not." As they heard these words they became furious and gnashed their teeth at him.read more.
But he, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look, I see heaven open," he said, "And the Son of man standing at the right hand of God." With a loud outcry they stopped their ears, and rushed upon Stephen in a body, dragged him outside the city, and stoned him, the witnesses throwing off their outer garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.

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

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

Now just at this time, there arose no small commotion concerning the Way. There was a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, and brought rich profit to his workmen. He gathered them together with others of like occupation, and said: "Men, you know that by this business we make our money.read more.
"And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but almost throughout all of Asia, this fellow Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, by telling them that they are no gods at all who are made with hands. "So there is danger not only that our trade come into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana will be brought into disrepute, and that she herself may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world now worships." After listening to this they were filled with rage, and cried out again and again, saying,

Some days later Felix came, with his wife Drusilla, a Jewess; he sent for Paul, and listened to him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus. And as he reasoned about morality, self-control, and the future judgment, Felix was terrified, and said, "For the present go on your way, and when I find a convenient season, I will send for you."

As Paul thus made his defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice. "Paul, you are raving mad; your great learning is driving you mad." "I am not mad, most noble Festus," said Paul, "I am speaking words of sober truth. For the King, to whom I am speaking freely, knows of these matters. I am persuaded that not one of these things has escaped his notice; for these things were not done in a corner.read more.
"King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe." Agrippa answered, "In short, you are doing your best to persuade me to become a Christian."

I have given them thy word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

As soon as the Jews in Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul in Berea also, they came there, and stirred up and troubled the crowds.

But Elymas, "the sorcerer," for that is the translation of his name, opposed them, and tried to divert the proconsul from the faith.

But the Jews, moved with jealousy, called to their aid certain ill-favored and idle fellows, formed a mob, and began to set the town in an uproar. Assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them out to the people. And when they had failed to find Paul and Silas, they began to drag Jason and some of the brethren before the politarchs, shouting. "These fellows who have upset the habitable earth are come hither also. "Jason has received them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus."read more.
Both the crowd and the politarchs were disturbed when they heard this, but when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.

With these words he fell asleep. And Saul fully approved of his murder. On this very day there broke out a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostle were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentations over him. But Saul was laying waste the church. He was wont to enter into every house, and to drag off men and women, and to commit them to prison.

I have been comforted, my brothers, in regard to you, in spite of all my distress and affliction over your faith.

So the Lord's message went far and wide, through the whole district. But the Jews urged on the devout women of high rank, and the leading citizens, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of the district,

So that I myself am boasting about you among the churches of God, boasting of the stedfastness and faith which you are displaying in all the troubles and afflictions which you are enduring.