And they love the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues

and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets,

it seemed best to me also--[because I] have followed all [things] carefully from the beginning--to write [them] down in orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus,

Woe to you, Pharisees, because you love the best seat in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces!

But [his] father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put [it] on him, and put a ring on his finger and sandals on [his] feet!

"Beware of the scribes, who like walking around in long robes and who love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets,

who in generations that are past permitted all the nations to go their [own] ways.

And they passed through Pisidia [and] came to Pamphylia.

Then it seemed best to the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, to send men chosen from among them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas--Judas who was called Barsabbas and Silas, men [who were] leaders among the brothers--

it seemed best to us, {having reached a unanimous decision}, [and] having chosen men, to send [them] to you together with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul,

For it seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us to place on you no greater burden except these necessary things:

For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so that he would not be [having] to spend time in Asia. For he was hurrying if it could be possible for him to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.

{For this reason} also myself {always} do my best to have a clear conscience toward God and people.

But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God

Who boast in the law, by the transgression of the law you dishonor God!

For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

through whom also we have [obtained] access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

And not only [this], but we also boast in our afflictions, [because we] know that affliction produces patient endurance,

do not boast against the branches. But if you boast against [them], you do not support the root, but the root [supports] you.

so that all flesh may not boast before God.

so that, just as it is written, "The one who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."

So then, let no one boast in people. For all [things] are yours,

For who concedes you [superiority]? And what do you have that you did not receive? But if indeed you received [it], why do you boast as [if you] did not receive [it]?

But if anyone thinks he is behaving dishonorably concerning his virgin, if she is past her prime and it ought to be thus, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin. Let them marry.

Love is patient, love is kind, love is not jealous, [it] does not boast, [it] does not become conceited,

We are not commending ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to boast about us, in order that you may have [an answer] for those who boast in appearance and not in heart.

For even if I boast somewhat more about our authority that the Lord gave [us] {for building you up and not for tearing you down}, I will not be put to shame,

But we will not boast {beyond limits}, but according to the measure of the assignment that God has assigned to us as a measure to reach even as far as you.

so that we may proclaim the gospel in the regions that lie beyond you, [and] not boast in the things accomplished in the [area] assigned to someone else.

But "the one who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."

Again I say, do not let anyone think I am foolish. But indeed, if [you do], accept me even as foolish, in order that I also may boast a little.

Since many are boasting according to human standards, I also will boast.

I say [this] to [my] shame, namely, that we have been weak. But in whatever anyone dares to [boast]--I am speaking in foolishness--I also dare to [boast].

If it is necessary to boast, I will boast [about] {the things related to my weakness}.

It is necessary to boast; [it is] not profitable, but I will proceed to visions and revelations of the Lord.

On behalf of such a person I will boast, but on behalf of myself I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.

For if I want to boast, I will not be foolish, because I will be telling the truth, but I am refraining, so that no one can credit to me more than what he sees [in] me or hears anything from me,

And he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, because the power is perfected in weakness." Therefore rather I will boast most gladly in my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may reside in me.

For not even those who are circumcised observe the law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised in order that they may boast in your flesh.

But [as] for me, may it never be [that I] boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

[it is] not from works, so that no one can boast.

For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and do not [put] confidence in the flesh,

so that we ourselves boast in you in the churches of God about your patient endurance and faith in all your persecutions and the afflictions that you are enduring,

By faith also, {with Sarah}, he received {the ability to procreate} even {past the normal age}, because he regarded the one who had promised [to be] faithful.

Now let the brother of humble circumstances boast in his high position,

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth.

But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

And when they have completed their testimony, the beast that comes up from the abyss will make war with them and will conquer them and will kill them.

And I saw coming up out of the sea a beast that had ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns ten royal headbands, and on its heads a blasphemous name.

And the beast that I saw was similar to a leopard, and its feet [were] like a bear's, and its mouth [was] like the mouth of a lion, and the dragon gave it his power and his throne and great authority.

And one of its heads [appeared] as though slaughtered to death, and its {fatal wound} had been healed. And the whole earth was astonished [and followed] after the beast.

And they worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who [is] like the beast, and who is able to make war with him?

And I saw another beast coming up from the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb, and he was speaking like a dragon.

And he exercises all the authority of the first beast on behalf of him, and he causes the earth and those who live in it to worship the first beast {whose fatal wound had been healed}.

And he deceives those who live on the earth because of the signs that it has been granted to him to perform on behalf of the beast, telling those who live on the earth to make an image to the beast who has the wound of the sword and [yet] lived.

And it was given to him to put breath into the image of the beast, in order that the image of the beast both spoke and caused that all those, unless they worshiped the image of the beast, should be killed.

and that no one was able to buy or to sell except the one who had the mark--the name of the beast or the number of his name.

Here is wisdom: the one who has understanding, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number, and his number [is] six hundred sixty-six.

And another third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand,

And the smoke of their torture went up {forever and ever}, and those who worshiped the beast and his image did not have rest day and night, {along with anyone who received} the mark of his name.

And I saw [something] like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had conquered the beast and his image and the number of his name were standing by the glassy sea, holding harps from God.

And the first went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and there was an evil and painful sore on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.

And the fifth poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became darkened, and they began chewing their tongues because of the pain.

And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet three unclean spirits like frogs.

And he carried me away into the wilderness in the Spirit, and I saw a woman seated on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.

And the angel said to me, "Why are you astonished? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that has the seven heads and the ten horns that carries her.

The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is going to come up from the abyss, and he is going to destruction. And those who live on the earth, whose names are not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will be astonished [when they] see the beast that was, and is not, and will be present.

And the beast that was, and is not, is also himself an eighth, and is of the seven, and he is going to destruction.

And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom, but they will receive authority as kings [for] one hour with the beast.

These have one opinion, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.

And the ten horns that you saw and the beast, these will hate the prostitute and will make her desolate and naked, and they will eat her flesh and will burn her up with fire.

For God put into their hearts to carry out his purpose and to make {a unanimous decision} and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.

And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war with the one who is seated on the horse and with his army.

And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs before him, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who had worshiped his image. The two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulphur.

And I saw thrones, and they sat down on them, and authority to judge was granted to them. And [I saw] the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and did not receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand, and they came to life and reigned with Christ [for] a thousand years.

And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulphur, where the beast and the false prophet also [are], and they will be tormented day and night {forever and ever}.