"I'm telling you to keep away from these men for now. Leave them alone, because if this plan or movement is of human origin, it will fail.

They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

It was my hand that made all these things, wasn't it?'"

While they were listening to these things, they became more and more furious and began to grind their teeth at him.

"No one can stop us from using water to baptize these people who have received the Holy Spirit in the same way that we did, can they?"

The Spirit told me to go with them without hesitating. These six brothers went with me, too, and we entered the house of the man from Caesarea.

and for many days he appeared to those who had come with him to Jerusalem from Galilee. These are now his witnesses to the people.

"Men, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings with natures like yours. We are telling you the good news so you'll turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.

so that the rest of the people may search for the Lord, including all the gentiles who are called by my name,' declares the Lord. "He is the one who has been doing these things

"Therefore, I have decided that we should not trouble these gentiles who are turning to God.

Then the apostles, the elders, and the whole church decided to choose some of their men to send with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. These were Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, who were leaders among the brothers.

For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place on you any burden but these essential requirements:

to keep away from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from anything strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you avoid these things, you will do well. Goodbye."

She would follow Paul and us and shout, "These men are servants of the Most High God and are proclaiming to you a way of salvation!"

They brought them before the magistrates and said, "These men are stirring up a lot of trouble in our city. They are Jews

Having received these orders, he put them into the inner cell and fastened their feet in leg irons.

The jailer reported these words to Paul, and added, "The magistrates have sent word to release you. So come out now and go in peace."

The guards reported these words to the magistrates, and they became afraid when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.

When they didn't find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials and shouted, "These fellows who have turned the world upside down have come here, too,

These people were more receptive than those in Thessalonica. They were very willing to receive the message, and every day they carefully examined the Scriptures to see if those things were so.

But since it is a question about words, names, and your own Law, you will have to take care of that yourselves. I refuse to be a judge in these matters."

After these things had happened, Paul decided to go through Macedonia and Achaia and then to go on to Jerusalem. "After I have gone there," he told them, "I must also see Rome."

He called a meeting of these men and others who were engaged in similar trades and said, "Men, you well know that we get a good income from this business.

Since these things cannot be denied, you must be quiet and not do anything reckless.

For you have brought these men here, although they neither rob temples nor blaspheme our goddess.

These men went on ahead and were waiting for us in Troas.

Take these men, go through the purification ceremony with them, and pay their expenses to shave their heads. Then everyone will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you are carefully observing and keeping the Law.

When these men came to Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him.

The Jewish leaders supported his accusations by asserting that these things were true.

They found me in the Temple doing these things just as I had completed the purification ceremony. No crowd or noisy mob was present.

Otherwise, these men themselves should tell what wrong they found when I stood before the Council

Then Festus, wanting to do the Jewish leaders a favor, asked Paul, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to be tried there before me on these charges?"

I was puzzled how I should investigate such matters, so I asked if he would like to go to Jerusalem and be tried there for these things.

Indeed, the king knows about these things, and I can speak to him freely. For I'm certain that none of these things has escaped his notice, since this wasn't done in a corner.

Paul replied, "Whether quickly or not, I wish to God that not only you but everyone listening to me today would become what I am except for these chains!"

Paul told the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men remain onboard, you cannot be saved."

Although they know God's just requirement that those who practice such things deserve to die they not only do these things but even applaud others who practice them.

So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on those who practice these things and then do them yourself, do you think you will escape God's judgment?

In all these things we are triumphantly victorious due to the one who loved us.

For Moses writes about the righteousness that comes from the Law as follows: "The person who obeys these things will find life by them."

After all, if you were cut off from what is naturally a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much easier it will be for these natural branches to be grafted back into their own olive tree!

For we have many parts in one body, but these parts do not all have the same function.

But now, having no further opportunities in these regions, I want to come to you, as I've desired to do for many years.

We don't speak about these things with words taught us by human wisdom, but with words taught by the Spirit, as we explain spiritual things to spiritual people.

But I will come to you soon if it's the Lord's will. Then I'll discover not only what these arrogant people are saying but also what power they have,

But if you do get married, you have not sinned. And if a virgin gets married, she has not sinned. However, these people will experience trouble in this life, and I want to spare you from that.

But I have not used any of these rights, and I'm not writing this so that they may be applied in my case. I would rather die than let anyone deprive me of my reason for boasting.

These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down as a warning for us in whom the culmination of the ages has been attained.

But one and the same Spirit produces all these results and gives what he wants to each person.

Right now three things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.

to submit yourselves to people like these and to anyone else who shares their labor and hard work.

Since we have these promises, dear friends, let's cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit by becoming mature in our holy fear of God.

Therefore, I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to visit you ahead of me, to make arrangements in advance for this gift you promised, and to have it ready as something given generously and not forced.

To keep me from becoming conceited because of the exceptional nature of these revelations, a thorn was given to me and placed in my body. It was Satan's messenger to keep on tormenting me so that I would not become conceited.

These people who have been instructing you are devoted to you, but not in a good way. They want you to avoid me so that you will be devoted to them.

This is being said as an allegory, for these women represent two covenants. The one woman, Hagar, is from Mount Sinai, and her children are born into slavery.

Look at how large these letters are because I am writing with my own hand!

These people who want to impress others by their external appearance are trying to force you to be circumcised, simply to avoid being persecuted for the cross of the Messiah.

Do not let anyone deceive you with meaningless words, for it is because of these things that God becomes angry with those who disobey.

For it is shameful even to mention what is done by these disobedient people in secret.

In addition to having clothed yourselves with these things, having taken up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to put out all the flaming arrows of the evil one,

But whatever things were assets to me, these I now consider a loss for the sake of the Messiah.

What is more, I continue to consider all these things to be a loss for the sake of what is far more valuable, knowing the Messiah Jesus, my Lord. It is because of him that I have experienced the loss of all those things. Indeed, I consider them rubbish in order to gain the Messiah

Yes, I also ask you, my true partner, to help these women. They have worked hard with me to advance the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is fair, whatever is pure, whatever is acceptable, whatever is commendable, if there is anything of excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy keep thinking about these things.

Likewise, keep practicing these things: what you have learned, received, heard, and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.

These are a shadow of the things to come, but the reality belongs to the Messiah.

All of these things will be destroyed as they are used, because they are based on human commands and teachings.

These things have the appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion, humility, and harsh treatment of the body, but they have no value against self-indulgence.

It is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient.

Jesus, who is called Justus, also greets you. These are the only ones of the circumcision who are fellow workers for the kingdom of God. They have been an encouragement to me.

so that no one would be shaken by these persecutions, for which you are aware that we were destined.

Furthermore, you must never take advantage of or exploit a brother in this regard, because the Lord avenges all these things, just as we already told you and warned you.

So then, encourage one another with these words.

Don't you remember that I repeatedly told you about these things when I was still with you?

and occupying themselves with myths and endless genealogies. These things promote controversies rather than God's ongoing purpose, which involves faith.

Some people have left these qualities behind and have turned to fruitless discussion.

These include Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I handed over to Satan so that they may learn not to blaspheme.

If you continue to point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good servant of the Messiah Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith and the healthy teaching that you have followed closely.

These are the things you must insist on and teach.

Think on these things. Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress.

Pay close attention to your life and your teaching. Persevere in these things, because if you do so, you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.

Continue to give these instructions, so that they may be blameless.

With God as my witness, as well as the Messiah Jesus and the chosen angels, I solemnly call on you to carry out these instructions without prejudice, doing nothing on the basis of partiality.

Moreover, those who have believing masters should be respectful to them, because they are fellow believers. In fact, they must serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers and dear to them. These are the things you must teach and exhort.

But you, man of God, must flee from all these things. Instead, you must pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness.

to keep these commands stainlessly and blamelessly until the appearance of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah.

Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you to understand all these things.

Remind others about these things, and warn them before God not to argue over words. Arguing does not do any good but only destroys those who are listening.

Therefore, if anyone stops associating with these people, he will become a special utensil, set apart for the owner's use, prepared for every good action.

For some of these men go into homes and deceive foolish women who are burdened with sins and swayed by all kinds of desires.

These women are always studying but are never able to arrive at a full knowledge of the truth.

Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men oppose the truth. They are depraved in mind and their faith is a counterfeit.

These are the things you should teach. Encourage and refute with full authority. Do not let anyone look down on you.

This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have put their faith in God may devote themselves to good actions. These things are good and helpful to other people.

But avoid foolish controversies, arguments about genealogies, quarrels, and fights about the Law. These things are useless and worthless.

has in these last days spoken to us by a Son whom he appointed to be the heir of everything and through whom he also made the universe.

so that by these two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to prove false, we who have taken refuge in him might be encouraged to seize the hope set before us.

Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the place of atonement. (We cannot discuss these things in detail now.)

Thus it was necessary for these earthly copies of the things in heaven to be cleansed by these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves are made clean with better sacrifices than these.