Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible




not that we have not a right [to a support], but that we may make ourselves an example for you to follow us. Verse ConceptsImitatingMinisters, Should BeImitating Good PeopleExample Of Believers





And each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send help to the brethren living in Judea; which they also did, sending to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

AND certain persons having come down from Judea taught the brothers, If you are not circumcised according to the custom of Moses you cannot be saved. There being therefore no little dissension and disputation of Paul and Barnabas with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to the apostles and elders at Jerusalem, concerning this question. They, therefore, being sent forward by the church, went to Phenicia and Samaria, relating the conversion of the gentiles, and caused great joy to all the brothers. read more.
And when they came to Jerusalem they were received by the church, and the apostles, and the elders, and related what things God had done with them. But some of those of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed, rose and said, that it is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders were assembled together to see about this matter. And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, Men and brothers, you know that in former days God chose among you that the gentiles should hear by my mouth the word of the gospel and believe. And the heart-searching God testified to them, giving to them the Holy Spirit even as to us, and made no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by the faith. Now, therefore, why do you try God, to put on the necks of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we could bear? But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same manner as they. And all the multitude was silent, and heard Barnabas and Paul relate what miracles and prodigies God performed among the gentiles through them. And after they were silent, James answered, saying, Men and brothers, hear me. Simeon has related how God first visited the gentiles to take a people for his name. And with this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written, After this will I return and build up the tabernacle of David which had fallen down, and rebuild its ruins, and set it up, that the rest of men may seek the Lord, even all the nations on whom my name has been called, says the Lord who does these things, known from eternity. Wherefore I judge that we ought not to trouble those who turned to God from the gentiles, but to send to them to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and fornication, and things strangled, and blood. For Moses from ancient times has those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every sabbath. Then it seemed good to the apostles and elders, with all the assembly [the church], to send delegates from themselves to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, writing by their hand, The apostles and elders and brothers, to the brothers in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, who are of the gentiles, greeting. Since we heard that some going out from us have troubled you with words subverting your souls, to whom we gave no charge, it seemed good to us, being of one opinion, to send delegates to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent, therefore, Judas and Silas, and they will tell you the same things by word. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to put no greater burden upon you except these necessary things; that you should abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and blood, and things strangled, and fornication, from which if you keep yourselves you will do well. Farewell. They, therefore, being dismissed went to Antioch, and assembling the multitude delivered the epistle. And reading it they rejoiced at the exhortation. And Judas and Silas being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brothers with much argument, and confirmed them. And having staid [some] time, they were dismissed in peace by the brothers to those that sent them. (Added verse not retained in Sawyer) But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, teaching and preaching with many others the word of the Lord.



And when he went through the cities he gave them the ordinances to observe which had been determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. Then the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.

And from Miletus sending to Ephesus he called for the elders of the church. Verse ConceptsAttending Churchelders, in the churchOfficersChurch GovernmentChurch, Examples Ofeldersgoodbyes

Take heed to yourselves, therefore, and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he has purchased with his blood. For I know that after my departure grievous wolves will come among you, not sparing the flock, and of yourselves men will arise speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. read more.
Wherefore watch, remembering that for three years, night and day, I ceased not to admonish every one of you with tears. And now I commend you to God, and the word of his grace, who is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance with all the sanctified.

And on the following day Paul went with us to James, and all the elders were present. Verse Conceptselders, in the churchGoing To ChurchThe Elderlyelders

Let the elders who rule well be accounted worthy of a double compensation, especially those who labor in word and teaching. For the Scripture says, You shall not muzzle the ox that threshes; and, The laborer is worthy of his reward. Against an elder receive not an accusation, except by two or three witnesses.

For this cause I left you in Crete, that you might regulate things which are deficient, and appoint elders in every city, as I charged you, if any one is blameless, a husband of one wife, having faithful children, not accused of intemperance or of insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless as a steward of God, not self-indulgent, not soon angry, not given to wine, not contentious, not devoted to base gain, read more.
but a lover of hospitality, kind, sober, just, holy, self-denying, holding firmly the faithful word taught, that he may be able both to exhort with sound instruction and to convince those who contradict.

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For by it the ancients obtained a good repute. Verse ConceptsApprovalPeople Commended By God

if any one is sick among you, let him send for the elders of the church, and let them pray for him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

The elders among you I exhort, who am a co-elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker of the glory to be revealed; feed the flock of God which is among you, not by constraint but willingly, not for base gain but of a ready mind, not as having a lordship over God's inheritance but being examples to the flock; read more.
and when the chief shepherd shall appear, you shall receive an unfading crown of glory. Let the younger in like manner be subject to the elder, and do you all be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility; for God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

THE elder to the elect Curia and her children, whom I love in truth, and not I only but also all who have known the truth, Verse ConceptsElection, Description OfLove Exists Between PeopleKnowing God's TruthLove And RelationshipsLove And FamilyLoving Children

THE elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. Verse ConceptsAffection, GoodThose Who Loved




presenting yourself as an example of good works in all things, in teaching [exhibiting] integrity, gravity, sound argument not to be condemned, that the adversary may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of us.



And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you the word of the Lord was proclaimed not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith with respect to God went into every place, so that we had no need to say any thing;

You have the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord, my brothers, as an example of patience and long-suffering. Behold, we account them blessed who are patient. You have heard of the patience of Job, and you know the purpose of the Lord, that he is very merciful and compassionate.

BELOVED, I exhort you as strangers and foreigners, abstain from carnal desires, which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the gentiles, that wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, from the good works which they see they may glorify God in the day of visitation, Be subject therefore to every human government, for the Lord's sake, whether to the king, as superior, read more.
to governors, sent by him for the punishment of evil doers and the praise of those who do well; for this is the will of God, that by well-doing you may silence the ignorance of foolish men; as free, and not using freedom for a cloak of vice, but as servants of God. Honor all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. Let servants be subject with all fear to masters, not only to the good and gentle but also to the perverse. For this deserves thanks, if on account of a knowledge of God one endures pain, suffering unjustly. For what glory is it if when you sin and are punished you bear it patiently? But if you do well and suffer and bear it patiently, [this deserves thanks], for it is acceptable to God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you a copy that you should follow his steps, who committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth, who being reviled reviled not, suffering threatened not, but committed himself to him that judges righteously, who himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, that we having died to sins, may live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like lost sheep, but are now returned to the shepherd and bishop of your souls.

For so formerly also the holy women who hoped in God adorned themselves, being subject to their husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord, whose children you are, doing good and having no fear.


not that we have not a right [to a support], but that we may make ourselves an example for you to follow us. Verse ConceptsImitatingMinisters, Should BeImitating Good PeopleExample Of Believers