"Do not suppose that I have come to set aside the law or the prophets.

"Do not suppose that I have come to set aside the law or the prophets.

Then law crept in to multiply the offense. Though sin has multiplied, yet God's favor has surpassed it and overflowed,

Then law crept in to multiply the offense. Though sin has multiplied, yet God's favor has surpassed it and overflowed,

for you are always showing that you are a letter of Christ, produced by my service, written not in ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts.

for you are always showing that you are a letter of Christ, produced by my service, written not in ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts. Such is the confidence I have through Christ in the presence of God.

Such is the confidence I have through Christ in the presence of God. Not that I am myself qualified to consider anything as coming from me myself. No, my qualification comes from God, for

Not that I am myself qualified to consider anything as coming from me myself. No, my qualification comes from God, for He has qualified even me as a minister of the new covenant, which is not a written but a spiritual covenant. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

He has qualified even me as a minister of the new covenant, which is not a written but a spiritual covenant. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Now if the old religious service which resulted in death, although its law was carved in letters of stone, was introduced with a splendor so great that the Israelites could not keep their eyes fixed on Moses' face because of the splendor that was fading from it,

Now if the old religious service which resulted in death, although its law was carved in letters of stone, was introduced with a splendor so great that the Israelites could not keep their eyes fixed on Moses' face because of the splendor that was fading from it, why should not this spiritual service be attended with much greater splendor?

why should not this spiritual service be attended with much greater splendor? For if the service connected with condemnation had such splendor, the service resulting in right standing with God will surely far surpass it in splendor.

For if the service connected with condemnation had such splendor, the service resulting in right standing with God will surely far surpass it in splendor. For on account of its surpassing splendor, what was once so splendid has now no splendor at all.

For on account of its surpassing splendor, what was once so splendid has now no splendor at all. For if what passed away was introduced with splendor, with how much greater splendor must what is permanent be attended?

For if what passed away was introduced with splendor, with how much greater splendor must what is permanent be attended? So, as I have such a hope, I speak with the greatest boldness,

So, as I have such a hope, I speak with the greatest boldness, not as Moses did, who used to wear a veil over his face, to keep the Israelites from gazing at the end of what was passing away.

not as Moses did, who used to wear a veil over his face, to keep the Israelites from gazing at the end of what was passing away. Besides, their minds were made dull; for to this day that same veil remains unlifted, whenever they read the Old Covenant; because it is only through union with Christ that it is removed.

Besides, their minds were made dull; for to this day that same veil remains unlifted, whenever they read the Old Covenant; because it is only through union with Christ that it is removed. Indeed, to this very day, whenever Moses is read, a veil hangs over their hearts,

Indeed, to this very day, whenever Moses is read, a veil hangs over their hearts, but whenever anybody turns to the Lord, the veil is removed,

but whenever anybody turns to the Lord, the veil is removed, Now the Lord means the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Now the Lord means the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And all of us, with faces uncovered, because we continue to reflect like mirrors the splendor of the Lord, are being transformed into likeness to Him, from one degree of splendor to another, since it comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

And all of us, with faces uncovered, because we continue to reflect like mirrors the splendor of the Lord, are being transformed into likeness to Him, from one degree of splendor to another, since it comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Because the Scripture foresaw that God would bring the heathen into right standing with Himself on condition of faith, He beforehand proclaimed the good news to Abraham in the promise, "It is through you that all the heathen will be blessed."

Because the Scripture foresaw that God would bring the heathen into right standing with Himself on condition of faith, He beforehand proclaimed the good news to Abraham in the promise, "It is through you that all the heathen will be blessed." So the men of faith are blessed as partners with trusting Abraham.

So the men of faith are blessed as partners with trusting Abraham. For those who depend on what the law commands are under a curse, for the Scripture says, "Cursed be everyone who does not continue in all the commands that are written in the book of the law, to do them."

For those who depend on what the law commands are under a curse, for the Scripture says, "Cursed be everyone who does not continue in all the commands that are written in the book of the law, to do them." Now it is evident that through the law no man is brought into right standing with God, for "The man in right standing with God will live by faith,"

Now it is evident that through the law no man is brought into right standing with God, for "The man in right standing with God will live by faith," and the law has nothing to do with faith, but it says, "It is the man who does these things that will live by doing them."

and the law has nothing to do with faith, but it says, "It is the man who does these things that will live by doing them." Christ ransomed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us -- for the Scripture says, "Cursed be everyone who is hanged on a tree" --

Christ ransomed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us -- for the Scripture says, "Cursed be everyone who is hanged on a tree" -- that the blessing promised to Abraham might through Jesus Christ come to the heathen, so that through faith we might receive the promised Spirit.

that the blessing promised to Abraham might through Jesus Christ come to the heathen, so that through faith we might receive the promised Spirit. Brothers, I am going to use a human illustration: Even a human contract, once it has been ratified, no one can annul or change.

Brothers, I am going to use a human illustration: Even a human contract, once it has been ratified, no one can annul or change. Now the promises were made to Abraham and his descendant. It does not say, "and to your descendants," in the plural, but in the singular, "and to your descendant," that is, Christ.

Now the promises were made to Abraham and his descendant. It does not say, "and to your descendants," in the plural, but in the singular, "and to your descendant," that is, Christ. I mean this: The law which was given four hundred and thirty years later could not annul the contract which had already been ratified by God, so as to cancel the promise.

I mean this: The law which was given four hundred and thirty years later could not annul the contract which had already been ratified by God, so as to cancel the promise. For if our inheritance depends on the law, it can no longer depend on the promise. But it was by promise that God so graciously bestowed it upon Abraham.

For if our inheritance depends on the law, it can no longer depend on the promise. But it was by promise that God so graciously bestowed it upon Abraham. Then what about the law? It was added later on to increase transgressions, until the descendant to whom the promise was made should come, enacted through the agency of angels in the person of an intermediary.

Then what about the law? It was added later on to increase transgressions, until the descendant to whom the promise was made should come, enacted through the agency of angels in the person of an intermediary. Though an intermediary implies more than one party, yet God is only one.

Though an intermediary implies more than one party, yet God is only one. Is the law then contrary to God's promises? Of course not. For if a law had been given that was able to impart life, surely, then, right standing would have come through law.

Is the law then contrary to God's promises? Of course not. For if a law had been given that was able to impart life, surely, then, right standing would have come through law. But the Scripture pictures all mankind as prisoners of sin, so that the promised blessing through faith in Christ might be given to those who have faith.

But the Scripture pictures all mankind as prisoners of sin, so that the promised blessing through faith in Christ might be given to those who have faith. But before this faith came, we were kept locked up under the law, in preparation for the faith which was to be unveiled.

But before this faith came, we were kept locked up under the law, in preparation for the faith which was to be unveiled. So the law has been our attendant to lead us to Christ, so that we might through faith obtain right standing with God.

So the law has been our attendant to lead us to Christ, so that we might through faith obtain right standing with God. But now that this faith has come, we are no longer in the charge of the attendant.

But now that this faith has come, we are no longer in the charge of the attendant.

However, if He were still on earth, He would not be a priest at all, because there are those who officiate in accordance with the law in offering the gifts;

However, if He were still on earth, He would not be a priest at all, because there are those who officiate in accordance with the law in offering the gifts; and yet they officiate in a sanctuary that is a mere copy and shadow of the heavenly one, as Moses, when he was about to make the tent of worship, was warned, for, said He, "See to it that you make it all just like the pattern shown you on the mountain."

and yet they officiate in a sanctuary that is a mere copy and shadow of the heavenly one, as Moses, when he was about to make the tent of worship, was warned, for, said He, "See to it that you make it all just like the pattern shown you on the mountain." But, as the case with Him now stands, He has entered upon a priestly service as much superior to theirs as the covenant of which He is the Mediator is superior to theirs, superior because it has been enacted upon superior promises.

But, as the case with Him now stands, He has entered upon a priestly service as much superior to theirs as the covenant of which He is the Mediator is superior to theirs, superior because it has been enacted upon superior promises. For if the first covenant had been faultless, there could have been no room for a second one.

For if the first covenant had been faultless, there could have been no room for a second one. For, because He was dissatisfied with His people, He said: "'See; the time is coming,' says the Lord, 'When I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah,

For, because He was dissatisfied with His people, He said: "'See; the time is coming,' says the Lord, 'When I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, Unlike the one that I made with their forefathers the day I took them by the hand to lead them out from the land of Egypt, for they did not abide by their covenant with me, so I did not care for them,' says the Lord.

Unlike the one that I made with their forefathers the day I took them by the hand to lead them out from the land of Egypt, for they did not abide by their covenant with me, so I did not care for them,' says the Lord. 'For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel in those days,' says the Lord; 'I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. And nevermore will each one need to teach his fellow-citizen,

'For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel in those days,' says the Lord; 'I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. And nevermore will each one need to teach his fellow-citizen, And each one teach his brother, saying, "Know the Lord," For all will know me, from the lowest to the highest.

And each one teach his brother, saying, "Know the Lord," For all will know me, from the lowest to the highest. For I will be merciful to their deeds of wrong, and never, never any more will I recall their sins,'"

For I will be merciful to their deeds of wrong, and never, never any more will I recall their sins,'" In speaking of a new covenant He makes the first one obsolete; and whatever is obsolete and antiquated is on the verge of vanishing.

In speaking of a new covenant He makes the first one obsolete; and whatever is obsolete and antiquated is on the verge of vanishing.

For since the law cast only a shadow of the blessings to come and did not possess the reality itself of those blessings, the priests with the same sacrifices that are perpetually offered year after year cannot make perfect those who come to worship.

For since the law cast only a shadow of the blessings to come and did not possess the reality itself of those blessings, the priests with the same sacrifices that are perpetually offered year after year cannot make perfect those who come to worship. Otherwise, would they not have ceased offering them, because those who offered them, having once been purified, would have had no further consciousness of sins?

Otherwise, would they not have ceased offering them, because those who offered them, having once been purified, would have had no further consciousness of sins? On the other hand, through these sacrifices there is given a real reminder of their sins,

On the other hand, through these sacrifices there is given a real reminder of their sins, for the blood of bulls and goats is unable to take away sins.

for the blood of bulls and goats is unable to take away sins. So, when Christ was coming into the world, He said:

So, when Christ was coming into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not wish, but a body you have prepared for me; in burnt-offerings and sin-offerings you never took delight.

"Sacrifice and offering you did not wish, but a body you have prepared for me; in burnt-offerings and sin-offerings you never took delight. Then I said, 'See, I have come, just as the Scripture writes about me in the book, O God, to do your will.'"

Then I said, 'See, I have come, just as the Scripture writes about me in the book, O God, to do your will.'" Although at first He said, "You never wished or took delight in sacrifices and offerings, burnt-offerings and sin-offerings" -- all of which are repeatedly offered in accordance with the law --

Although at first He said, "You never wished or took delight in sacrifices and offerings, burnt-offerings and sin-offerings" -- all of which are repeatedly offered in accordance with the law -- He afterward said, "See, I have come to do your will." He is taking away the first to let the second take its place.

He afterward said, "See, I have come to do your will." He is taking away the first to let the second take its place. It is by this will of God that we are consecrated through the offering of Jesus' body once for all.

It is by this will of God that we are consecrated through the offering of Jesus' body once for all.

Now the Holy Spirit, too, gives us the testimony, for after saying:

Now the Holy Spirit, too, gives us the testimony, for after saying: "'This is the covenant that I will make with them: In those last days,' says the Lord, 'I will put my laws into their hearts, and write them on their minds,'"

"'This is the covenant that I will make with them: In those last days,' says the Lord, 'I will put my laws into their hearts, and write them on their minds,'" He continues to say: "I will never, never any more recall their sins and deeds of wrong."

He continues to say: "I will never, never any more recall their sins and deeds of wrong." For when these are forgiven, there is no more need of an offering for sin.

For when these are forgiven, there is no more need of an offering for sin.

And she will have a son, and you must name Him Jesus, for it is He who is to save His people from their sins."

Then He went all over Galilee, as He continued teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and curing any disease or malady among the people.

"Do not suppose that I have come to set aside the law or the prophets.

"You have heard that it was said to the men of old, 'You must not murder,' and 'Whoever murders will have to answer to the court.'

"You have heard that it was said to the men of old, 'You must not murder,' and 'Whoever murders will have to answer to the court.'

"You have heard it was said, 'You must not commit adultery.'

"You have heard it was said, 'You must not commit adultery.'

"Again, you have heard that it was said to the men of old, 'You must not swear falsely, but you must perform your oaths as a religious duty.'

"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'

"You have heard that it was said, 'You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'

"You have heard that it was said, 'You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'

"You have heard that it was said, 'You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'

So you, my followers, ought to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is."

So you must recognize them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will get into the kingdom of heaven, but only those who practice doing the will of my Father in heaven.

When Jesus had closed this address, the result was that the crowds were dumbfounded at His teaching,

Jesus kept visiting all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and curing every sort of sickness and ailment.

The queen of the south will rise with the leaders of this age at the judgment and condemn them, for she came from the farthest limits of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and there is more than Solomon here!

The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all those who cause wrongdoing, and the wrongdoers,

And I, yes I, tell you, your name from now on is to be Peter, Rock, and on a massive rock like this I will build my church, and the powers of the underworld shall never overthrow it.

And if he refuses to listen to the church, treat him as a heathen and as a tax-collector.

Then they asked Him, "Why did Moses command us to give a written divorce charge, and in this way to divorce a wife?"

"Teacher, Moses said, 'If a man dies without children, his brother must marry his widow and raise up a family for him.'

And when the Pharisees came together, Jesus asked them,

Now after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God:

For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the people that are lost."

The real light, which sheds light upon everyone, was just coming into the world.

You Samaritans do not know what you are worshiping; we Jews do know what we are worshiping; for salvation comes from the Jews.

Then Jesus said to them, "I most solemnly say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the real bread out of heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the real bread out of heaven,

Then Jesus again addressed them and said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever continues to follow me need never walk in darkness, but he will enjoy the light that means life."

You are not greater than our forefather Abraham, are you? He is dead and the prophets are dead. Who do you claim to be?"

I give you a new command, to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you too must love one another.

I give you a new command, to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you too must love one another.

Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you disciples so long, and yet you, Philip, have not recognized me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Let us see the Father'?

You must remain in union with me and I will remain in union with you. Just as no branch by itself can bear fruit unless it remains united to the vine, so you cannot unless you remain in union with me.

By your continuously bearing abundant fruit and in this way proving yourselves to be real disciples of mine, my Father is glorified.

This is my command to you, to keep on loving one another as I have loved you.

This is my command to you, to keep on loving one another as I have loved you.

"What I command you to do is, to keep on loving one another.

"Therefore, let all the descendants of Israel understand beyond a doubt that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ."

Peter said to them, "You must repent -- and, as an expression of it, let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ -- that you may have your sins forgiven; and then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,

and you killed the Prince of life, but God raised Him from the dead, to which fact we are witnesses.

but still a vast number of people, both men and women, who believed in the Lord, continued to join them,

Omitted Text.

Then the Jewish believers who had gone along with Peter were astounded because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been showered upon the heathen too,

But there were some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who on reaching Antioch began to speak to the Greeks too, and proceeded to tell them the good news about the Lord Jesus.

and after he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. Now for a whole year their meeting with the church lasted, and they taught large numbers of people. It was at Antioch too that the disciples first came to be known as "Christians."

So, my brothers, you must understand that through Him the forgiveness of your sins is now proclaimed to you,

But the Jews who refused to accept their message aroused and exasperated the minds of the heathen against the brothers.

though He did not fail to furnish evidences about Himself, in constantly showing His kindness to you, in sending you rain from heaven and fruit-producing seasons, in giving you food and happiness to your heart's content."

Now he went to Derbe and Lystra too. At Lystra there was a disciple named Timothy, whose mother was a Christian Jewess, but his father was a Greek.

After leading them out of the jail, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you and your household will be saved."

So Paul stood up in the center of the auditorium and said: "Men of Athens, at every turn I make I see that you are very religious.

so that they might search for God, possibly they might grope for Him, and find Him, though He is really not far from any of us. For it is through union with Him that we live and move and exist, as some of your own poets have said, "'For we are His offspring too.'

Forever since the creation of the world, His invisible characteristics -- His eternal power and divine nature -- have been made intelligible and clearly visible by His works. So they are without excuse, because, although they once knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give Him thanks, but became silly in their senseless speculations, and so their insensible hearts have been shrouded in darkness.

for they show that the deeds the law demands are written on their hearts, because their consciences will testify for them, and their inner thoughts will either accuse or defend them,

But God proves His love for us by the fact that Christ died for us while we were still sinners.

For if while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, it is much more certain that since we have been reconciled we shall finally be saved through His new life.

so we, though many, are united in one body through union with Christ, and we are individually parts of one another.

Stop owing anybody anything, except the obligation to love one another, for whoever practices loving others has perfectly satisfied the law.

Love never does a wrong to one's neighbor; so love is the perfect satisfaction of the law.

For God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in my heart, to give me the light of the knowledge of God's glory, reflected on the face of Christ.

For it was through Christ that God was reconciling the world to Himself instead of debiting men's offenses against them, and He has committed to me the message of this reconciliation.

For it was through Christ that God was reconciling the world to Himself instead of debiting men's offenses against them, and He has committed to me the message of this reconciliation.

So the law has been our attendant to lead us to Christ, so that we might through faith obtain right standing with God.

but when the proper time had come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born subject to law, to ransom those who were subject to law, so that we might be adopted as sons.

For the whole law is summed up in one saying, "You must love your neighbor as you do yourself."

It is through union with Him that we have redemption by His blood and the forgiveness of our shortcomings, in accordance with the generosity of His unmerited favor

And so He has put all things under His feet and made Him the supreme Head of the church,

and that Christ in His love, through your faith, may make His permanent home in your hearts. You must be deeply rooted, your foundations must be strong,

But, on the other hand, we shall go on holding to the truth and in love growing up into perfect union with Him, that is, Christ Himself who is the Head.

for a husband is the head of his wife, just as Christ is the Head of the church, His body, and Saviour of it.

that He might present the church to Himself as a splendid bride without a blot or wrinkle or anything like it, but to be consecrated and faultless.

Keep on fostering the same disposition that Christ Jesus had.

But when the goodness and lovingkindness of God our Saviour were brought to light,

keeping our eyes on Jesus, the perfect leader and example of faith, who, instead of the joy which lay before Him, endured the cross with no regard for its shame, and since has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

So he carried me off under the power of the Spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down out of heaven from God;

So they accepted his message and were baptized, and about three thousand persons united with them on that day.

But many of those who heard their message believed, and the number of the men grew to about five thousand.

So God's message continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem continued to grow rapidly; a large number, even of priests, continued to surrender to the faith.

Saul heartily approved of his being put to death. So on that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all of them, except the apostles, were scattered over Judea and Samaria.

Now Saul, as he was still breathing threats of murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

and at once he began to preach in their synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.

About that time Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, in order to do them violence.

They gave the glory to God, when they heard it, and said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousand believers there are among the Jews, all of them zealous champions of the law.