In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents [that is, changes his inner self—his old way of thinking, regrets past sins, lives his life in a way that proves repentance; and seeks God’s purpose for his life].”

But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

how many years have I serv'd you, without having ever disobey'd your orders? and yet you never bestow'd a kid upon me, to make merry with my friends:

"You are they," He said to them, "who boast of their own goodness before men, but God sees your hearts; for that which holds a proud position among men is detestable in God's sight.

He replied, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent [they will change their old way of thinking and seek God and His righteousness].’

And the apostles said unto the Lord - Bestow on us faith!

People were bringing babies to Jesus so He could touch them [i.e., to bestow a blessing on them], but when His disciples saw this, they spoke harshly to these people.

He heard a crowd of people going past, and inquired what it all meant.

“Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes [displaying their prominence], and love respectful greetings in the [crowded] market places, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets.

And he went and discussed with the Chief Priests and Officers in charge at the Temple the best way of betraying Jesus to them.

I bestow on you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one on Me,

And they beset him with loud cries, demanding that he should be crucified; and their cries, and those of the chief priests, prevailed;

The one whose name was Cleopas answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who doesn't know what happened there in the past few days?"

And they urged him, saying, Remain with us, for it is near evening, and the day is already past. And he went in to remain with them;

and said to him, “Everyone else serves his best wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then he serves that which is not so good; but you have kept back the good wine until now.”

The one who has the bride is the groom; but the best man, who stands up with him and listens to him [take his vows], is very happy when he hears him speak. So, [now] my joy is complete [i.e. over hearing about Jesus' ministry].

Bestow your pains not on the food which perishes, but on the food that remains unto the Life of the Ages--that food which will be the Son of Man's gift to you; for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal."

Then said the Jews to him, Thou hast not yet fifty years, and bast thou seen Abraham

Out of age-past time, hath it never been heard, that anyone opened the eyes of one who, blind, had been born.

"If you were blind," answered Jesus, "you would have no sin; but as a matter of fact you boast that you see. So your sin remains!"

Jesus answers, This is he to whom I, having dipped a small morsel, shall bestow. And having dipped the small morsel, he gives to Judas Iscariot, of Simon.

Greater love than this hath no man, than that a man bestow his life for his friends.

Now we know that thou knowest all things, and bast no need that any ask thee: by this we believe that thou earnest forth from God.

even as Thou hast given Him authority over all mankind, so that on all whom Thou hast given Him He may bestow the Life of the Ages.

It was Caiaphas who had counseled the Jews, that it was best that one man should die for the people.

Jesus answered, Thou bast no power against me, if it were not given thee from above: therefore he delivering me to thee has greater sin.

Jesus says to her, Woman, why weepest thou a whom seekest thou? She, thinking that it is the gardener, says to him, Lord, if thou didst bear him away, say where thou bast laid him, and I will take him away.

Jesus says to him, Because thou bast seen me, Thomas, thou hast believed: happy they not having seen, and having believed.

when a man lame from birth was carried past, who used to be laid every day at what was called the 'Beautiful Gate' of the temple, to ask alms from those who entered the temple.

whom heaven must keep until the time for the [complete] restoration of all things about which God promised through the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.

And the multitude also of the cities round about came together to Jerusalem, bringing sick persons and persons beset by unclean spirits, who were all healed.

God exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior and Deliverer, in order to grant repentance to Israel, and [to grant] forgiveness of sins.

For in the recent past Theudas appeared, claiming that he was important, and about 400 men joined him. He was killed, and all his followers were dispersed and disappeared.

Therefore, brethren, do ye look out for seven men from among yourselves, the best approved, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint to superintend this business.

But he gave him no inheritance in it, no, not a single square yard of ground. And yet He promised to bestow the land as a permanent possession on him and his posterity after him--and promised this at a time when Abraham was childless.

Now for some time past there had been a man named Simon living there, who had been practising magic and astonishing the Samaritans, pretending that he was more than human.

And when he came [back] to Jerusalem, Saul attempted to associate himself with the disciples but they were afraid of him [because of his past], and could not believe that he was a [true] disciple.

if therefore God has bestow'd the same favour upon them, as on us, after we had believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, how could I make any opposition to the divine will?

When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.

But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.

On the following Sabbath day almost everyone in the town [of Antioch in Pisidia] gathered to listen to the message of God.

We also are men of like passions with you, and preach to you, to turn from these vanities unto the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all things that are therein: Who, in times past, suffered all nations to walk in their own ways:

Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

But Jews came to [Lystra] from Antioch [in Pisidia] and Iconium. When they persuaded the crowds [to reject Paul's message] they stoned him and dragged him out of town, assuming he was dead.

When they had preached the good news to that town, and had led many to become disciples, they returned to Lystra, [then] to Derbe, and [then on] to Antioch [in Pisidia].

And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.

And, when much discussion had arisen, Peter standing up, said unto them - Brethren! Ye yourselves, well know that, in days long past, amongst you, God chose that, through my mouth, the nations should hear the word of the glad tidings, and believe.

Says the Lord, who has been making these things known from ages long past.'

For Moses, from times long past, has his preachers in every town, reading his law in the Synagogues every Sabbath.

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:

But Paul kept insisting that they should not take along with them the one who had quit and deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work.

And going past Mysia, they came down to Troas.

And went to the prison, and did their best to conciliate them. Then they took them out, and begged them to leave the city.

But the Jews having been stirred up to jealousy, and taken to themselves certain wicked men of the lowest rabble, and having got a crowd together, set the city in confusion; and having beset the house of Jason sought to bring them out to the people;

They made Jason and the others post bail, then released them.

Therefore God overlooked and disregarded the former ages of ignorance; but now He commands all people everywhere to repent [that is, to change their old way of thinking, to regret their past sins, and to seek God’s purpose for their lives],

many that believed came to confess, and give an account of their past actions.

There is danger, therefore, not only that this business of ours will be discredited, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be neglected and the magnificence of her whom all Asia and the world worship will be a thing of the past!"

These things therefore being indisputable, it is best to be quiet, and do nothing rashly.

And after leaving there, the next day we sailed past Chios [i.e., another small island on the way], and the next day past Samos [i.e., another small island], until [finally] on the following day we arrived at Miletus [i.e., another seaport town near Ephesus].

For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.

And when we had come in view of Cyprus, going past it on our left, we went on to Syria, and came to land at Tyre: for there the goods which were in the ship had to be taken out.

What then should be done? They will certainly hear that you have arrived.

For finding this man a pest, and moving sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a leader of the sect of the Nazaraeans;

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

They know, because they have known me from time past, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee.

Why is it deemed with all of you a thing past belief if God raises the dead to life?

Agrippa answered, "In brief, you are doing your best to persuade me to become a Christian."

When we had sailed slowly for many days [and] had trouble passing Cnidus because of an unfavorable wind, we sailed on the sheltered side of Crete and on past Salmone.

Sailing past it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.

Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,

When the south wind blew, they supposing to obtain their purpose loosed unto Assos, and sailed past all Crete.

And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.

And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.

For I long to see you, that I might bestow among you some spiritual gift, to strengthen you withal.

So, to the best of my ability, I am eager to preach the Gospel to all of you in Rome also.

Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,

and know his will, and approve of what is best because you have been instructed in the Law;

Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?

Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

What, then, is there to boast about? That has been eliminated. On what principle? On that of actions? No, but on the principle of faith.

For if Abraham has been justified on the principle of works, he has whereof to boast: but not before God;

For it was not through [obedience to] law [See 3:31] that the promise to Abraham or his descendants of inheriting [the best of] the world [was made], but through their being considered righteous because of faith [in God].

Who, past hope, upon hope believed, so that he became father of many nations, - according to what had been said - So shall be thy seed; -

And he fainted not in the faith, nor yet considered his own body, which was now dead, even when he was almost a hundred years old: neither yet that Sara was past childbearing.

by whom we have also access by faith into this favour in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God.

And not only that, but we also boast in tribulations, knowing that tribulation works endurance;

And not only that, but we are making our boast in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom now we have received the reconciliation.

For we know well that all things work for the best unto them that love God, which also are called of purpose.

He, at least, who his own Son did not spare, but in behalf of us all delivered him up, how shall he not also, with him, all things upon us in favour bestow?

so as to make known the riches of His glory for the objects of His mercy, whom He prepared in ages past to share His glory --

But if some of the branches were broken off, and thou a wild-olive wert grafted in among them, and art made a partaker together with them of the root and fatness of the olive; boast not against the branches:

Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

For God hath shut up all together, in a refusal to yield, in order that, upon all, he may bestow mercy.

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

in business be not slothful, but of an active mind, making the best use of every incident.

The night is past and the day is come nigh. Let us therefore cast away the deeds of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.