Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible



"Pay attention, now! I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as serpents and as innocent as doves. Watch out for people who will hand you over to the local councils and whip you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings because of me, to testify to them and to unbelievers.

But all these things are only the beginning of the birth pains." "Then they'll hand you over to suffer and will kill you, and you'll be hated by all the nations because of my name. Then many people will fall away, will betray one another, and will hate one another. read more.
Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people, and because lawlessness will increase, the love of many people will grow cold. But the person who endures to the end will be saved.





"Pay attention, now! I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as serpents and as innocent as doves. Watch out for people who will hand you over to the local councils and whip you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings because of me, to testify to them and to unbelievers.

"Beware of your neighbors, and don't trust any of your relatives. For all of your relatives act deceitfully, and every friend goes around as a slanderer. People deceive their friends, and they don't tell the truth. They have taught their tongues to tell lies. They exhaust themselves practicing evil. You yourself live in the midst of deception, and because they are deceived they do not know me," declares the LORD.


Then someone in the crowd told him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." But Jesus asked him, "Mister, who appointed me to be a judge or arbitrator over you people?" Then he told them, "Be careful to guard yourselves against every kind of greed, because a person's life doesn't consist of the amount of possessions he has." read more.
Then he told them a parable. He said, "The land of a certain rich man produced good crops. So he began to think to himself, "What should I do, since I have no place to store my crops?' Then he said, "This is what I'll do. I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and I'll store all my grain and goods in them. Then I'll say to myself, "You've stored up plenty of good things for many years. Take it easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself."' But God told him, "You fool! This very night your life will be demanded back from you. Now who will get the things you've accumulated?' That's how it is with the person who stores up treasures for himself rather than with God."









The hired worker, who isn't the shepherd and doesn't own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, deserts the sheep, and runs away. So the wolf snatches them and scatters them,

I know that when I'm gone, savage wolves will come among you and not spare the flock.






When you men lie down among the sheepfolds, you are like the wings of the dove covered with silver, with its feathers in glittering gold."

but my dove, my perfect one, is unique. She's unique to her mother, she's pure to the one who gave birth to her. Young women see her and call her blessed, queens and mistresses praise her.

At this, he permitted him to be baptized. When Jesus had been baptized, he immediately came up out of the water. Suddenly, the heavens opened up for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him.


After Moses, the servant of the LORD, had died, the LORD spoke to Nun's son Joshua, announcing to him, "My servant Moses is dead. Now get ready to cross the Jordan River you and all the people to the land that I'm giving the Israelis. I'm giving you every place where the sole of your foot falls, just as I promised Moses. read more.
Your territorial border will extend from the wilderness to the Lebanon Mountains, to the river that great River Euphrates all the land of the Hittites as far as the Mediterranean Sea where the sun sets. No one will be victorious against you for the rest of your life. I'll be with you just like I was with Moses I'll neither fail you nor abandon you. "Be strong and courageous, because you'll be leading this people to inherit the land that I promised to give their ancestors. Only be strong and very courageous to ensure that you obey all the instructions that my servant Moses gave you turn neither to the right nor to the left from it so that you may succeed wherever you go. This set of instructions is not to cease being a part of your conversations. Meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to carry out everything that's written in it, for then you'll prosper and succeed. I've commanded you, haven't I? Be strong and courageous. Don't be fearful or discouraged, because the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

Later, the LORD told Aaron, "You, your sons, and your father's tribe with you are to bear the iniquity of the sanctuary. Also, you and your sons with you are to bear the iniquity of your priesthood. Moreover, bring your brothers from your father's tribe of Levi with you, so they may join you and minister to you while you and your sons with you stand in the presence of the Tent of Testimony. They are to take care of your concerns and all the responsibilities involved with the tent. But they're not to approach the holy vessels or the altar. That way, neither you nor they will die. read more.
They are to join you to maintain services related to the Tent of Meeting, for all the responsibilities involved with the tent. But no unauthorized person is to approach you. Take care of the sanctuary and the services of the altar so that there won't be any more wrath on the Israelis. Notice that I've taken your brothers, the descendants of Levi, from among the Israelis, giving them to you as a gift from the LORD to perform the service of the Tent of Meeting. Now you and your sons with you are to maintain your priestly duties and all matters that concern the altar and what is housed within the veil. You are to perform these services. I'm giving you the priesthood as a gift of service, but any unauthorized person who approaches is to be put to death."

"Select Nun's son Joshua. The Spirit is in that man," the LORD answered Moses. "You are to lay your hand on him and make him stand in front of Eleazar the priest and the entire community. Then you are to set him in charge right before their eyes, turning over your authority to him so that the entire community of Israel knows to obey him. read more.
You are to make him stand in the presence of Eleazar the priest, who is to inquire on his behalf using the Urim in the presence of the LORD regarding a decision of judgment, because by his command he and all the Israelis with him will go out or come in." So Moses did what the LORD had commanded him. He took Joshua, made him stand in the presence of Eleazar the priest and the entire community, laid his hands on him, and charged him, just as the LORD had commanded, using Moses' authority.

Then Moses called on Joshua and told him in the presence of everyone in Israel, "Be strong and courageous, because you'll bring this people to the land that the LORD your God had promised to give your ancestors. You will be the one who causes them to possess it. Indeed, the LORD is the one who will keep on walking in front of you. He'll be with you and won't leave you or abandon you, so never be afraid and never be dismayed."

Then the LORD told Moses: "Look! Because your time to die is approaching, call Joshua, present yourselves at the Tent of Meeting, and then I will commission him." Moses and Joshua complied and presented themselves at the Tent of Meeting. So the LORD appeared at the tent in a pillar of cloud that stood above the entrance. Then the LORD told Moses, "Look! You are about to join your ancestors. Afterwards, this people will rebel and commit prostitution with the foreign gods of the land that they are about to enter to possess. They will abandon me and break my covenant that I made with them. read more.
When that happens, my anger will burn against them, because they will have abandoned me. I'll hide my face from them, they will be consumed, and many evils and distresses will find them. When this happens, they will say, "These troubles have happened to us because God isn't among us.' I'll surely hide my face in that day on account of the evil that they will have done for they turned to other gods." "Now write this song and teach it to the Israelis. Put this song in their very mouths, so that it will be a witness for me against the Israelis, because after I've brought them to the land flowing with milk and honey that I promised to their ancestors by an oath, they'll eat, grow fat, and then they'll turn to other gods and serve them, while despising me and breaking my covenant. Then, when many evils and troubles will have come upon them, this song will serve as a witness against them, since their descendants won't fail to sing it. I know the plan that they are devising even before I bring them into the land that I promised them by an oath." So Moses wrote the song that very day and taught it to the Israelis. Then the LORD charged Nun's son Joshua, "Be strong and courageous, because you'll bring the Israelis to the land that I promised to them by an oath. I'll be with you."

Then he told me, "Son of Man, go to the house of Israel and tell them what I have to say to them,

These were the Twelve whom Jesus sent out after he had given them these instructions: "Don't turn on to the road that leads to the unbelievers, and don't enter Samaritan towns. Instead, go to the lost sheep of the nation of Israel. As you go, make this announcement: "The kingdom from heaven is near!' read more.
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. You have received without payment, so give without payment. Don't take any gold, silver, or copper in your moneybags, or a traveling bag for the trip, or an extra shirt, or sandals, or a walking stick, because a worker deserves his food. "Whatever town or village you enter, find out who is receptive in it and stay there until you leave. As you enter the house, greet its occupants. If the household is receptive, let your blessing of peace come on it. But if it isn't receptive, let your blessing of peace return to you. If no one welcomes you or listens to your words, as you leave that house or town, shake its dust off your feet. I tell all of you with certainty, it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town!" "Pay attention, now! I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as serpents and as innocent as doves. Watch out for people who will hand you over to the local councils and whip you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings because of me, to testify to them and to unbelievers. When they hand you over, don't worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say, because in that hour what you are to say will be given to you. It won't be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. "Brother will hand brother over for execution, and a father his child. Children will rebel against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the person who endures to the end will be saved. So when they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, because I tell all of you with certainty that you will not have gone through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. "A disciple is not above his teacher, and a slave is not above his master. It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher and a slave to be like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they do the same to those of his household!" "So never be afraid of them, because there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing secret that will not be made known. What I tell you in darkness you must speak in the daylight, and what is whispered in your ear you must shout from the housetops. Stop being afraid of those who kill the body but can't kill the soul. Instead, be afraid of the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell. "Two sparrows are sold for a penny, aren't they? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's permission. Indeed, even the hairs on your head have all been counted! So stop being afraid. You are worth more than a bunch of sparrows." "Therefore, everyone who acknowledges me before people I, too, will acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever denies me before people I, too, will deny before my Father in heaven." "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword! I came to turn "a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A person's enemies will include members of his own family.' "The one who loves his father or mother more than me isn't worthy of me, and the one who loves a son or daughter more than me isn't worthy of me. The one who doesn't take up his cross and follow me isn't worthy of me. The one who finds his life will lose it, and the one who loses his life because of me will find it." "The one who receives you receives me, and the one who receives me receives the one who sent me. The one who receives a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. I tell all of you with certainty, whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple will never lose his reward."

If any place will not welcome you and the people refuse to listen to you, when you leave, shake its dust off your feet as a testimony against them."

After this, the Lord appointed 70 other disciples and was about to send them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place that he intended to go. So he instructed them, "The harvest is vast, but the workers are few. So ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers out into his harvest. Get going! See, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. read more.
Don't carry a wallet, a traveling bag, or sandals, and don't greet anyone on the way. "Whatever house you go into, first say, "May there be peace in this house.' If a peaceful person lives there, your greeting of peace will remain with him. But if that's not the case, your greeting will come back to you. Stay with the same family, eating and drinking whatever they provide, because the worker deserves his pay. Don't move from house to house. "Whenever you go into a town and the people welcome you, eat whatever they serve you, heal the sick that are there, and tell them, "The kingdom of God is near you!' But whenever you go into a town and people don't welcome you, go out into its streets and say, "We're wiping off your town's dust that clings to our feet in protest against you! But realize this: the kingdom of God is near!' I tell you, on the last day it will be easier for Sodom than for that town!" "How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible it will be for you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that happened in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. It will be easier for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you! And you, Capernaum! You won't be lifted up to heaven, will you? You'll go down to Hell! The person who listens to you listens to me, and the person who rejects you rejects me. The person who rejects me rejects the one who sent me."

Timothy, my child, I am instructing you in keeping with the prophecies made earlier about you, so that by following them you may continue to fight the good fight with faith and a good conscience. By ignoring their consciences, some people have destroyed their faith like a wrecked ship. These include Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I handed over to Satan so that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him as if he were your father. Treat younger men like brothers, older women like mothers, and younger women like sisters, with absolute purity. Honor widows who have no other family members to care for them. read more.
But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to respect their own family by repaying their parents, for this is pleasing in God's sight. A woman who has no other family members to care for her and who is left all alone has placed her hope in God and devotes herself to petitions and prayers night and day. But the self-indulgent widow is just as good as dead. Continue to give these instructions, so that they may be blameless. If anyone does not take care of his own relatives, especially his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. A widow may be put on the widows' list if she is at least sixty years old and has been the wife of one husband. She must be well known for her good actions as a woman who has raised children, welcomed strangers, washed the saints' feet, helped the suffering, and devoted herself to doing good in every way. But do not include younger widows on your list. For whenever their natural desires cause them to lose their devotion to the Messiah, they want to remarry. They receive condemnation because they have set aside their prior commitment to the Messiah. At the same time, they also learn how to be lazy while going from house to house. Not only this, but they even become gossips and keep busy by interfering in other people's lives, saying things they should not say. Therefore, I want younger widows to remarry, have children, manage their homes, and not give the enemy any chance to ridicule them. For some widows have already turned away to follow Satan. If any woman is a believer and has relatives who are widows, she should help them. The church should not be burdened, so it can help those widows who have no other family members to care for them. Elders who handle their duties well should be considered worthy of double compensation, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, "You must not muzzle an ox while it is treading out grain," and, "A worker deserves his pay." Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported "by two or three witnesses." As for those who keep on sinning, rebuke them in front of everyone so that the rest will also be afraid. 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. Do not ordain anyone hastily. Do not participate in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

For this reason, I am reminding you to fan into flames the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but one of power, love, and self-discipline. Therefore, never be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me, his prisoner. Instead, by God's power, join me in suffering for the sake of the gospel. read more.
He saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our own accomplishments, but according to his own purpose and the grace that was given to us in the Messiah Jesus before time began. Now, however, that grace has been revealed through the coming of our Savior the Messiah Jesus, who has destroyed death and through the gospel has brought life and release from death into full view. For the sake of this gospel I was appointed to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the gentiles. That is why I suffer as I do. However, I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I'm convinced that he is able to protect what he has entrusted to me until the day that he comes. Hold on to the pattern of healthy teachings that you have heard from me, along with the faith and love that are in the Messiah Jesus.

In the presence of God and the Messiah Jesus, who is going to judge those who are living and those who are dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly appeal to you to proclaim the message. Be ready to do this whether or not the time is convenient. Refute, warn, and encourage with the utmost patience when you teach. For the time will come when people will not tolerate healthy doctrine, but with itching ears will surround themselves with teachers who cater to their people's own desires. read more.
They will refuse to listen to the truth and will turn to myths. But you must be clear-headed about everything. Endure suffering. Do the work of an evangelist. Devote yourself completely to your ministry. I am already being poured out as an offering, and the time for my departure has come. I have fought the good fight. I have completed the race. I have kept the faith. The victor's crown of righteousness is now waiting for me, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on the day that he comes, and not only to me but also to all who eagerly wait for his appearing.


But when they began to oppose him and insult him, he shook out his clothes in protest and told them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the gentiles."

"Son of Man," he said, "I've appointed you to be a watchman over the house of Israel. Therefore when you hear a message that comes from me, you are to warn them for me. "So when I say to a wicked person, "You're about to die,' if you don't warn or instruct that wicked person that his behavior is wicked so he can live, that wicked person will die in his sin, but I'll hold you responsible for his death. If you warn the wicked person, and he doesn't repent of his wickedness or of his wicked behavior, he'll die in his sin, but you will have saved your own life. read more.
"When a righteous man abandons his righteousness to practice unrighteousness, I'll set a stumbling block before him. He'll die. If you don't warn him, he'll die in his sin and the righteous deeds that he had practiced won't be remembered, but you'll be held responsible for his death. If you warn the righteous person, so that he doesn't commit sin, then he'll live, since he had been warned. And you will have saved your life."

If I should say to a certain wicked person, "You wicked man, you're certainly about to die,' but you don't warn him to turn from his wicked behavior, he'll die in his guilt, but I'll seek retribution for his bloodshed from you.

If no one welcomes you or listens to your words, as you leave that house or town, shake its dust off your feet. I tell all of you with certainty, it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town!" "Pay attention, now! I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as serpents and as innocent as doves. read more.
Watch out for people who will hand you over to the local councils and whip you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings because of me, to testify to them and to unbelievers. When they hand you over, don't worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say, because in that hour what you are to say will be given to you. It won't be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. "Brother will hand brother over for execution, and a father his child. Children will rebel against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the person who endures to the end will be saved. So when they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, because I tell all of you with certainty that you will not have gone through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. "A disciple is not above his teacher, and a slave is not above his master. It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher and a slave to be like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they do the same to those of his household!" "So never be afraid of them, because there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing secret that will not be made known. What I tell you in darkness you must speak in the daylight, and what is whispered in your ear you must shout from the housetops. Stop being afraid of those who kill the body but can't kill the soul. Instead, be afraid of the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell. "Two sparrows are sold for a penny, aren't they? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's permission. Indeed, even the hairs on your head have all been counted! So stop being afraid. You are worth more than a bunch of sparrows." "Therefore, everyone who acknowledges me before people I, too, will acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever denies me before people I, too, will deny before my Father in heaven." "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword! I came to turn "a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A person's enemies will include members of his own family.' "The one who loves his father or mother more than me isn't worthy of me, and the one who loves a son or daughter more than me isn't worthy of me. The one who doesn't take up his cross and follow me isn't worthy of me. The one who finds his life will lose it, and the one who loses his life because of me will find it." "The one who receives you receives me, and the one who receives me receives the one who sent me.

I therefore declare to you today that I'm not responsible for the blood of any of you, because I never shrank from telling you the whole plan of God.





For your obedience has become known to everyone, and I am full of joy for you. But I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.



"Pay attention, now! I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as serpents and as innocent as doves. Watch out for people who will hand you over to the local councils and whip you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings because of me, to testify to them and to unbelievers. read more.
When they hand you over, don't worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say, because in that hour what you are to say will be given to you. It won't be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. "Brother will hand brother over for execution, and a father his child. Children will rebel against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the person who endures to the end will be saved. So when they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, because I tell all of you with certainty that you will not have gone through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.







When you men lie down among the sheepfolds, you are like the wings of the dove covered with silver, with its feathers in glittering gold."

but my dove, my perfect one, is unique. She's unique to her mother, she's pure to the one who gave birth to her. Young women see her and call her blessed, queens and mistresses praise her.

At this, he permitted him to be baptized. When Jesus had been baptized, he immediately came up out of the water. Suddenly, the heavens opened up for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him.





But all these things are only the beginning of the birth pains." "Then they'll hand you over to suffer and will kill you, and you'll be hated by all the nations because of my name. Then many people will fall away, will betray one another, and will hate one another. read more.
Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people, and because lawlessness will increase, the love of many people will grow cold. But the person who endures to the end will be saved.

"You are the ones who have always stood by me in my trials. And I confer a kingdom on you, just as my Father has conferred a kingdom on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit down on thrones to govern the twelve tribes of Israel."

"Pay attention, now! I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as serpents and as innocent as doves. Watch out for people who will hand you over to the local councils and whip you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings because of me, to testify to them and to unbelievers. read more.
When they hand you over, don't worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say, because in that hour what you are to say will be given to you. It won't be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. "Brother will hand brother over for execution, and a father his child. Children will rebel against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the person who endures to the end will be saved.

Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated continuously by everyone because of my name. But the person who endures to the end will be saved."


Jesus called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. Then he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

The eleven disciples went into Galilee to the hillside to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshipped him, though some had doubts. Then Jesus approached them and told them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. read more.
Therefore, as you go, disciple people in all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I've commanded you. And remember, I am with you each and every day until the end of the age."

Finally he appeared to his eleven disciples while they were eating. He rebuked them for their unbelief and stubbornness, because they had not believed those who had seen him after he had risen. Then he told them, "As you go into the entire world, proclaim the gospel to everyone. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever doesn't believe will be condemned. read more.
These are the signs that will accompany those who believe: In my name they'll drive out demons, they'll speak in new languages, and they'll pick up snakes with their hands.Even if they drink any deadly poison, it won't hurt them, and they'll place their hands on the sick, and they'll recover." So the Lord Jesus, after talking with his disciples, was taken up to heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. Then his disciples went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the message by the signs that accompanied it.

After this, the Lord appointed 70 other disciples and was about to send them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place that he intended to go. So he instructed them, "The harvest is vast, but the workers are few. So ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers out into his harvest. Get going! See, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. read more.
Don't carry a wallet, a traveling bag, or sandals, and don't greet anyone on the way. "Whatever house you go into, first say, "May there be peace in this house.' If a peaceful person lives there, your greeting of peace will remain with him. But if that's not the case, your greeting will come back to you. Stay with the same family, eating and drinking whatever they provide, because the worker deserves his pay. Don't move from house to house. "Whenever you go into a town and the people welcome you, eat whatever they serve you, heal the sick that are there, and tell them, "The kingdom of God is near you!' But whenever you go into a town and people don't welcome you, go out into its streets and say, "We're wiping off your town's dust that clings to our feet in protest against you! But realize this: the kingdom of God is near!' I tell you, on the last day it will be easier for Sodom than for that town!"

Then he told them, "These are the words that I spoke to you while I was still with you that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms had to be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds so that they might understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is how it is written: the Messiah was to suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, read more.
and then repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am sending to you what my Father promised, so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."

This is what I mean: Each of you is saying, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to the Messiah." Is the Messiah divided? Paul wasn't crucified for you, was he? You weren't baptized in Paul's name, were you? I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, read more.
so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. (Oh yes, I also baptized the family of Stephanas. Beyond that, I'm not sure whether I baptized anyone else.) For the Messiah did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, not with eloquent wisdom, so the cross of the Messiah won't be emptied of its power.

These were the Twelve whom Jesus sent out after he had given them these instructions: "Don't turn on to the road that leads to the unbelievers, and don't enter Samaritan towns. Instead, go to the lost sheep of the nation of Israel. As you go, make this announcement: "The kingdom from heaven is near!' read more.
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. You have received without payment, so give without payment. Don't take any gold, silver, or copper in your moneybags, or a traveling bag for the trip, or an extra shirt, or sandals, or a walking stick, because a worker deserves his food. "Whatever town or village you enter, find out who is receptive in it and stay there until you leave. As you enter the house, greet its occupants. If the household is receptive, let your blessing of peace come on it. But if it isn't receptive, let your blessing of peace return to you. If no one welcomes you or listens to your words, as you leave that house or town, shake its dust off your feet. I tell all of you with certainty, it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town!" "Pay attention, now! I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as serpents and as innocent as doves.

Jesus had been telling them, "A prophet is without honor only in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own home." He couldn't perform a miracle there except to lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went around to the villages and continued teaching. read more.
He called the Twelve and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing along on the trip except a walking stick no bread, no traveling bag, nothing in their moneybag. They could wear sandals but not take along an extra shirt. He told them repeatedly, "Whenever you go into a home, stay there until you leave that place. If any place will not welcome you and the people refuse to listen to you, when you leave, shake its dust off your feet as a testimony against them." So they went and preached that people should repent.



Then Jesus told them, "All of you will turn against me this very night, because it is written, "I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'

It's to him the gatekeeper opens the gate, and it's his voice the sheep hear. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

He will put the sheep on his right but the goats on his left.


Then we, your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you always, from generation to generation. We will declare your praise. For the Director of Music: According to "The Lilies". A testimony of Asaph. A psalm.





"Pay attention, now! I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as serpents and as innocent as doves. Watch out for people who will hand you over to the local councils and whip you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings because of me, to testify to them and to unbelievers. read more.
When they hand you over, don't worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say, because in that hour what you are to say will be given to you. It won't be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. "Brother will hand brother over for execution, and a father his child. Children will rebel against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the person who endures to the end will be saved.

As Jesus left the Temple and was walking away, his disciples came up to him to point out to him the Temple buildings. But he told them, "You see all these things, don't you? I tell all of you with certainty, there isn't a single stone here that will be left standing on top of another. They will all be torn down." While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately and said, "Tell us, when will these things take place, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" read more.
Jesus answered them, "See to it that no one deceives you, because many will come in my name and say, "I'm the Messiah,' and they will deceive many people. You'll hear of wars and rumors of wars. See to it that you aren't alarmed. These things must take place, but the end hasn't come yet, because nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are only the beginning of the birth pains." "Then they'll hand you over to suffer and will kill you, and you'll be hated by all the nations because of my name.

As Jesus was leaving the Temple, one of his disciples told him, "Look, Teacher, what large stones and what beautiful buildings!" "Do you see these large buildings?" Jesus responded. "Not one stone here will be left on another that will not be torn down." As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives facing the Temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew were asking him privately, read more.
"Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign when these things will be put into effect?" Jesus began to say to them, "See to it that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name and say, "I AM,' and they will deceive many people. But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, stop being alarmed. These things must take place, but the end hasn't come yet, because nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes and famines in various places. These things are only the beginning of the birth pains." "As for yourselves, be on your guard! People will hand you over to local councils, and you will be beaten in their synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings to testify to them because of me. But first, the gospel must be proclaimed to all nations. When they take you away and hand you over for trial, don't worry ahead of time about what you will say. Instead, say whatever is given to you at that time, because it won't be you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated continuously by everyone because of my name. But the person who endures to the end will be saved."

Now while some people were talking about the Temple how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God he said, "As for these things that you see, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another that won't be knocked down." Then they asked him, "Teacher, when will these things take place, and what will be the sign that these things are about to take place?" read more.
He said, "Be careful that you are not deceived, because many will come in my name and say, "I AM' and, "The time has come.' Don't follow them. When you hear of wars and revolutions, never be alarmed, because these sort of things must take place first, but the end won't come right away." Then he went on to say to them, "Nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places, and there will be fearful events and awful signs from heaven." "But before all these things take place, people will arrest you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. It will give you an opportunity to testify. So purpose in your hearts not to prepare your defense ahead of time, because I will give you the ability to speak, along with wisdom, that none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated continuously by everyone because of my name.

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vintner. He cuts off every branch that does not produce fruit in me, and he cuts back every branch that does produce fruit, so that it might produce more fruit. You are already clean because of what I've spoken to you. read more.
"Abide in me, and I will abide in you. Just as the branch cannot produce fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who abides in me while I abide in him produces much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Unless a person abides in me, he is thrown away like a pruned branch and dries up. People gather such branches, throw them into a fire, and they are burned up. "If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you can ask for anything you want, and you'll receive it. This is how my Father is glorified, when you produce a lot of fruit and so prove to be my disciples. Just as the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. So abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you'll abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. I've told you this, so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. "This is my commandment: that you love one another as I have loved you. No one shows greater love than when he lays down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do what I command you. I don't call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn't know what his master is doing. But I've called you friends, because I've made known to you everything that I've heard from my Father. "You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you. I have appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give it to you. I am giving you these commandments so that you may love one another." "If the world hates you, you should realize that it hated me before you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as one of its own. But because you do not belong to the world and I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you.

After Jesus had said this, he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, so that the Son may glorify you. For you have given him authority over all humanity so that he might give eternal life to all those you gave him. And this is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent Jesus the Messiah. read more.
I glorified you on earth by completing the task you gave me to do. "So now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world existed. I have made your name known to these men whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they realize that everything you gave me comes from you, because the words that you gave me I passed on to them. They have received them and know for sure that I came from you. They have believed that you sent me. "I am asking on their behalf. I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those you gave me, because they are yours. All that is mine is yours, and what is yours is mine, and I have been glorified through them. I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by your Name, the Name that you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them by the authority that you gave me. I guarded them, and not one of them became lost except the one who was destined for destruction, so that the Scripture might be fulfilled. "And now I am coming to you, and I say these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them, because they do not belong to the world, just as I don't belong to the world.

This is the message that you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who was from the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because what he was doing was evil and his brother's actions were righteous. So do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you.








For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display in last place, like men condemned to death. We have become a spectacle for the world, for angels, and for people to stare at. We are fools for the Messiah's sake, but you are wise in the Messiah. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored. We are hungry, thirsty, dressed in rags, brutally treated, and homeless, right up to the present. read more.
We wear ourselves out from working with our own hands. When insulted, we bless. When persecuted, we endure. When slandered, we answer with kind words. Even now we have become the filth of the world, the scum of the universe.

As Jesus was leaving the Temple, one of his disciples told him, "Look, Teacher, what large stones and what beautiful buildings!" "Do you see these large buildings?" Jesus responded. "Not one stone here will be left on another that will not be torn down." As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives facing the Temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew were asking him privately, read more.
"Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign when these things will be put into effect?" Jesus began to say to them, "See to it that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name and say, "I AM,' and they will deceive many people. But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, stop being alarmed. These things must take place, but the end hasn't come yet, because nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes and famines in various places. These things are only the beginning of the birth pains." "As for yourselves, be on your guard! People will hand you over to local councils, and you will be beaten in their synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings to testify to them because of me. But first, the gospel must be proclaimed to all nations. When they take you away and hand you over for trial, don't worry ahead of time about what you will say. Instead, say whatever is given to you at that time, because it won't be you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated continuously by everyone because of my name. But the person who endures to the end will be saved."

"Pay attention, now! I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as serpents and as innocent as doves. Watch out for people who will hand you over to the local councils and whip you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings because of me, to testify to them and to unbelievers. read more.
When they hand you over, don't worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say, because in that hour what you are to say will be given to you. It won't be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. "Brother will hand brother over for execution, and a father his child. Children will rebel against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the person who endures to the end will be saved. So when they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, because I tell all of you with certainty that you will not have gone through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. "A disciple is not above his teacher, and a slave is not above his master. It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher and a slave to be like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they do the same to those of his household!"

As Jesus left the Temple and was walking away, his disciples came up to him to point out to him the Temple buildings. But he told them, "You see all these things, don't you? I tell all of you with certainty, there isn't a single stone here that will be left standing on top of another. They will all be torn down." While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately and said, "Tell us, when will these things take place, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" read more.
Jesus answered them, "See to it that no one deceives you, because many will come in my name and say, "I'm the Messiah,' and they will deceive many people. You'll hear of wars and rumors of wars. See to it that you aren't alarmed. These things must take place, but the end hasn't come yet, because nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are only the beginning of the birth pains." "Then they'll hand you over to suffer and will kill you, and you'll be hated by all the nations because of my name. Then many people will fall away, will betray one another, and will hate one another.

Now while some people were talking about the Temple how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God he said, "As for these things that you see, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another that won't be knocked down." Then they asked him, "Teacher, when will these things take place, and what will be the sign that these things are about to take place?" read more.
He said, "Be careful that you are not deceived, because many will come in my name and say, "I AM' and, "The time has come.' Don't follow them. When you hear of wars and revolutions, never be alarmed, because these sort of things must take place first, but the end won't come right away." Then he went on to say to them, "Nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places, and there will be fearful events and awful signs from heaven." "But before all these things take place, people will arrest you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. It will give you an opportunity to testify. So purpose in your hearts not to prepare your defense ahead of time, because I will give you the ability to speak, along with wisdom, that none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated continuously by everyone because of my name. And yet not a hair on your head will be lost. By your endurance you will protect your lives."

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vintner. He cuts off every branch that does not produce fruit in me, and he cuts back every branch that does produce fruit, so that it might produce more fruit. You are already clean because of what I've spoken to you. read more.
"Abide in me, and I will abide in you. Just as the branch cannot produce fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who abides in me while I abide in him produces much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Unless a person abides in me, he is thrown away like a pruned branch and dries up. People gather such branches, throw them into a fire, and they are burned up. "If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you can ask for anything you want, and you'll receive it. This is how my Father is glorified, when you produce a lot of fruit and so prove to be my disciples. Just as the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. So abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you'll abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. I've told you this, so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. "This is my commandment: that you love one another as I have loved you. No one shows greater love than when he lays down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do what I command you. I don't call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn't know what his master is doing. But I've called you friends, because I've made known to you everything that I've heard from my Father. "You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you. I have appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give it to you. I am giving you these commandments so that you may love one another." "If the world hates you, you should realize that it hated me before you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as one of its own. But because you do not belong to the world and I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you. Remember what I told you: "A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

"I have told you this to keep you from falling away. You'll be thrown out of the synagogues. Yes, a time is coming when the one who kills you will think he's serving God. They'll do this because they haven't known the Father or me. read more.
But I've told you this, so that when the time comes you'll remember that I told you about them. I didn't tell you this in the beginning, because I was still with you."








Whoever digs a pit may fall into it, and whoever breaks through a wall may suffer a snake bite.








Then Jesus told them, "All of you will turn against me this very night, because it is written, "I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'

It's to him the gatekeeper opens the gate, and it's his voice the sheep hear. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

He will put the sheep on his right but the goats on his left.


Then we, your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you always, from generation to generation. We will declare your praise. For the Director of Music: According to "The Lilies". A testimony of Asaph. A psalm.





The hired worker, who isn't the shepherd and doesn't own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, deserts the sheep, and runs away. So the wolf snatches them and scatters them,

I know that when I'm gone, savage wolves will come among you and not spare the flock.



Get going! See, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.




The hired worker, who isn't the shepherd and doesn't own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, deserts the sheep, and runs away. So the wolf snatches them and scatters them,

I know that when I'm gone, savage wolves will come among you and not spare the flock.


"Pay attention, now! I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as serpents and as innocent as doves. Watch out for people who will hand you over to the local councils and whip you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings because of me, to testify to them and to unbelievers. read more.
When they hand you over, don't worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say, because in that hour what you are to say will be given to you. It won't be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. "Brother will hand brother over for execution, and a father his child. Children will rebel against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the person who endures to the end will be saved.

As Jesus left the Temple and was walking away, his disciples came up to him to point out to him the Temple buildings. But he told them, "You see all these things, don't you? I tell all of you with certainty, there isn't a single stone here that will be left standing on top of another. They will all be torn down." While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately and said, "Tell us, when will these things take place, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" read more.
Jesus answered them, "See to it that no one deceives you, because many will come in my name and say, "I'm the Messiah,' and they will deceive many people. You'll hear of wars and rumors of wars. See to it that you aren't alarmed. These things must take place, but the end hasn't come yet, because nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are only the beginning of the birth pains." "Then they'll hand you over to suffer and will kill you, and you'll be hated by all the nations because of my name.

As Jesus was leaving the Temple, one of his disciples told him, "Look, Teacher, what large stones and what beautiful buildings!" "Do you see these large buildings?" Jesus responded. "Not one stone here will be left on another that will not be torn down." As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives facing the Temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew were asking him privately, read more.
"Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign when these things will be put into effect?" Jesus began to say to them, "See to it that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name and say, "I AM,' and they will deceive many people. But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, stop being alarmed. These things must take place, but the end hasn't come yet, because nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes and famines in various places. These things are only the beginning of the birth pains." "As for yourselves, be on your guard! People will hand you over to local councils, and you will be beaten in their synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings to testify to them because of me. But first, the gospel must be proclaimed to all nations. When they take you away and hand you over for trial, don't worry ahead of time about what you will say. Instead, say whatever is given to you at that time, because it won't be you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated continuously by everyone because of my name. But the person who endures to the end will be saved."

Now while some people were talking about the Temple how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God he said, "As for these things that you see, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another that won't be knocked down." Then they asked him, "Teacher, when will these things take place, and what will be the sign that these things are about to take place?" read more.
He said, "Be careful that you are not deceived, because many will come in my name and say, "I AM' and, "The time has come.' Don't follow them. When you hear of wars and revolutions, never be alarmed, because these sort of things must take place first, but the end won't come right away." Then he went on to say to them, "Nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places, and there will be fearful events and awful signs from heaven." "But before all these things take place, people will arrest you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. It will give you an opportunity to testify. So purpose in your hearts not to prepare your defense ahead of time, because I will give you the ability to speak, along with wisdom, that none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated continuously by everyone because of my name.

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vintner. He cuts off every branch that does not produce fruit in me, and he cuts back every branch that does produce fruit, so that it might produce more fruit. You are already clean because of what I've spoken to you. read more.
"Abide in me, and I will abide in you. Just as the branch cannot produce fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who abides in me while I abide in him produces much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Unless a person abides in me, he is thrown away like a pruned branch and dries up. People gather such branches, throw them into a fire, and they are burned up. "If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you can ask for anything you want, and you'll receive it. This is how my Father is glorified, when you produce a lot of fruit and so prove to be my disciples. Just as the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. So abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you'll abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. I've told you this, so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. "This is my commandment: that you love one another as I have loved you. No one shows greater love than when he lays down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do what I command you. I don't call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn't know what his master is doing. But I've called you friends, because I've made known to you everything that I've heard from my Father. "You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you. I have appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give it to you. I am giving you these commandments so that you may love one another." "If the world hates you, you should realize that it hated me before you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as one of its own. But because you do not belong to the world and I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you.

After Jesus had said this, he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, so that the Son may glorify you. For you have given him authority over all humanity so that he might give eternal life to all those you gave him. And this is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent Jesus the Messiah. read more.
I glorified you on earth by completing the task you gave me to do. "So now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world existed. I have made your name known to these men whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they realize that everything you gave me comes from you, because the words that you gave me I passed on to them. They have received them and know for sure that I came from you. They have believed that you sent me. "I am asking on their behalf. I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those you gave me, because they are yours. All that is mine is yours, and what is yours is mine, and I have been glorified through them. I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by your Name, the Name that you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them by the authority that you gave me. I guarded them, and not one of them became lost except the one who was destined for destruction, so that the Scripture might be fulfilled. "And now I am coming to you, and I say these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them, because they do not belong to the world, just as I don't belong to the world.

This is the message that you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who was from the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because what he was doing was evil and his brother's actions were righteous. So do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you.