and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.

So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

For we also have received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard did not benefit them, since they were not united with those who heard it in faith

For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, became companions with the Holy Spirit,

Now if He were on earth, He wouldn’t be a priest, since there are those offering the gifts prescribed by the law.

For a tabernacle was set up, and in the first room, which is called the holy place, were the lampstand, the table, and the presentation loaves.

The cherubim of glory were above it overshadowing the mercy seat. It is not possible to speak about these things in detail right now.

Sometimes you were publicly exposed to taunts and afflictions, and at other times you were companions of those who were treated that way.

For our ancestors won God’s approval by it.

These all died in faith without having received the promises, but they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth.

By faith they crossed the Red Sea as though they were on dry land. When the Egyptians attempted to do this, they were drowned.

Women received their dead—they were raised to life again. Some men were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might gain a better resurrection,

They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they died by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, destitute, afflicted, and mistreated.

All these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised,

Remember the prisoners, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodily.