Thematic Bible: Select readings
Thematic Bible
Christ » Devotions of » Select readings
He was praying at a certain place, and when he stopped one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say, Father, thy name be revered, thy Reign begin; give us our bread for the morrow day by day, read more.
and forgive us our sins for we do forgive everyone who has offended us; and lead us not into temptation." And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, let me have three loaves; for a friend of mine travelling has come to my house and I have nothing to set before him.' And suppose he answers from the inside, 'Don't bother me; the door is locked by this time, and my children are in bed with me. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give you anything because you are a friend of his, he will at least rise and give you whatever you want, because you persist. So I tell you, ask and the gift will be yours, seek and you will find, knock and the door will open to you; for everyone who asks receives, the seeker finds, the door is opened to anyone who knocks. What father among you, if asked by his son for a loaf, will hand him a stone? Or, if asked for a fish, will hand him a serpent instead of a fish? Or, if asked for an egg, will he hand him a scorpion? Well, if for all your evil you know to give your children what is good, how much more will your Father give the holy Spirit from heaven to those who ask him?"
and forgive us our sins for we do forgive everyone who has offended us; and lead us not into temptation." And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, let me have three loaves; for a friend of mine travelling has come to my house and I have nothing to set before him.' And suppose he answers from the inside, 'Don't bother me; the door is locked by this time, and my children are in bed with me. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give you anything because you are a friend of his, he will at least rise and give you whatever you want, because you persist. So I tell you, ask and the gift will be yours, seek and you will find, knock and the door will open to you; for everyone who asks receives, the seeker finds, the door is opened to anyone who knocks. What father among you, if asked by his son for a loaf, will hand him a stone? Or, if asked for a fish, will hand him a serpent instead of a fish? Or, if asked for an egg, will he hand him a scorpion? Well, if for all your evil you know to give your children what is good, how much more will your Father give the holy Spirit from heaven to those who ask him?"
He also told them a parable about the need of always praying and never losing heart. "In a certain town," he said, "there was a judge who had no reverence for God and no respect even for man. And in that town there was a widow who used to go and appeal to him for 'Justice against my opponent!' read more.
For a while he would not, but afterwards he said to himself, 'Though I have no reverence for God and no respect even for man, still, as this widow is bothering me, I will see justice done to her ??not to have her for ever coming and pestering me.' Listen," said the Lord, "to what this unjust judge says! And will not God see justice done to his elect who cry to him by day and night? Will he be tolerant to their opponents? I tell you, he will quickly see justice done to his elect! And yet, when the Son of man does come, will he find faith on earth?"
For a while he would not, but afterwards he said to himself, 'Though I have no reverence for God and no respect even for man, still, as this widow is bothering me, I will see justice done to her ??not to have her for ever coming and pestering me.' Listen," said the Lord, "to what this unjust judge says! And will not God see justice done to his elect who cry to him by day and night? Will he be tolerant to their opponents? I tell you, he will quickly see justice done to his elect! And yet, when the Son of man does come, will he find faith on earth?"
Daily duty » Select readings
see that none of you pays back evil for evil, but always aim at what is kind to one another and to all the world; rejoice at all times, never give up prayer, read more.
thank God for everything ??such is his will for you in Christ Jesus; never quench the fire of the Spirit, never disdain prophetic revelations but test them all, retaining what is good and abstaining from whatever kind is evil. May the God of peace consecrate you through and through! Spirit, soul, and body, may you be kept without break or blame till the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ! He who calls you is faithful, he will do this. Pray for us too, brothers. Salute everyone of the brothers with a holy kiss. I adjure you by the Lord to have this letter read aloud to all the [holy] brothers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. [Amen.]
thank God for everything ??such is his will for you in Christ Jesus; never quench the fire of the Spirit, never disdain prophetic revelations but test them all, retaining what is good and abstaining from whatever kind is evil. May the God of peace consecrate you through and through! Spirit, soul, and body, may you be kept without break or blame till the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ! He who calls you is faithful, he will do this. Pray for us too, brothers. Salute everyone of the brothers with a holy kiss. I adjure you by the Lord to have this letter read aloud to all the [holy] brothers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. [Amen.]
The Dead » Resurrection of » Select readings
We would like you, brothers, to understand about those who are asleep in death. You must not grieve for them, like the rest of men who have no hope. Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, then it follows that by means of Jesus God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For we tell you, as the Lord has told us, that we the living, who survive till the Lord comes, are by no means to take precedence of those who have fallen asleep. read more.
The Lord himself will descend from heaven with a loud summons, when the archangel calls and the trumpet of God sounds; the dead in Christ will rise first; then we the living, who survive, will be caught up along with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall be with the Lord for ever. Now then, encourage one another with these words.
The Lord himself will descend from heaven with a loud summons, when the archangel calls and the trumpet of God sounds; the dead in Christ will rise first; then we the living, who survive, will be caught up along with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall be with the Lord for ever. Now then, encourage one another with these words.
Now there was a man ill, Lazarus of Bethany ??the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (The Mary whose brother Lazarus was ill was the Mary who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair.) so the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill." read more.
When Jesus heard it, he said, "This illness is not to end in death; the end of it is the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified thereby." [Relocated to follow vs 2] Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus; So, when he heard of the illness, he stayed where he was for two days; then, after that, he said to the disciples, "Let us go back to Judaea." "Rabbi," said the disciples, "the Jews were trying to stone you only the other day; are you going back there?" Jesus replied, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If one walks during the day he does not stumble, for he sees the light of this world: but if one walks during the night he does stumble, for the light is not in him." This he said, then added, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; I am going to waken him." "Lord," said the disciples, "if he has fallen asleep, he will get better." Jesus, however, had been speaking of his death; but as they imagined he meant natural sleep, he then told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead; and for your sakes I am glad I was not there, that you may believe. Come now, let us go to him." Whereupon Thomas (called 'the Twin') said to his fellow-disciples, "Let us go too, let us die along with him!" Now when Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had been buried for four days. [vss & placed between vss a number of Jews had gone to condole with Martha and Mary about their brother; Then Martha, hearing of the arrival of Jesus, went out to meet him, while Mary sat at home. Said Martha to Jesus, "Had you been here, Lord, my brother would not have died. But now ??well, I know whatever you ask God for, he will grant you." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." "I know," said Martha, "he will rise at the resurrection, on the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am myself resurrection and life: he who believes in me will live, even if he dies, and no one who lives and believes in me will ever die. You believe that?" "Yes, Lord," she said, "I do believe you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world" ??28 and with these words she went off to call her sister Mary, telling her secretly, "The Teacher is here, and he is calling for you." So, on hearing this, Mary rose hurriedly and went to him. & 31] Now as Bethany is not far from Jerusalem, only about two miles away, Jesus had not entered the village yet, he was still at the spot where Martha had met him. and when the Jews who were condoling with her inside the house noticed her rise hurriedly and go out, they followed her, as they imagined she was going to wail at the tomb. But when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she dropped at his feet, crying, "Had you been here, Lord, my brother would not have died." Now when Jesus saw her wailing and saw the Jews who accompanied her wailing, he chafed in spirit and was disquieted. "Where have you laid him?" he asked. They answered, "Come and see, sir." Jesus burst into tears. Whereupon the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" ??37 though some of them asked, "Could he not have prevented him from dying, when he could open a blind man's eyes?" This made Jesus chafe afresh, so he went to the tomb; it was a cave with a boulder to close it. Jesus said, "Remove the boulder." "Lord," said Martha, the dead man's sister, "he will be stinking by this time; he has been dead four days." "Did I not tell you," said Jesus, "if you will only believe, you shall see the glory of God?" Then they removed the boulder, and Jesus, lifting his eyes to heaven, said, "Father, I thank thee for listening to me. (I knew thou wouldst always listen to me, but I spoke on account of the crowd around, that they might believe thou hast sent me.)" So saying, he exclaimed with a loud cry, "Lazarus, come out!" Out came the dead man, his feet and hands swathed in bandages, and his face tied up with a towel. Jesus said, "Untie him, and let him move."
When Jesus heard it, he said, "This illness is not to end in death; the end of it is the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified thereby." [Relocated to follow vs 2] Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus; So, when he heard of the illness, he stayed where he was for two days; then, after that, he said to the disciples, "Let us go back to Judaea." "Rabbi," said the disciples, "the Jews were trying to stone you only the other day; are you going back there?" Jesus replied, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If one walks during the day he does not stumble, for he sees the light of this world: but if one walks during the night he does stumble, for the light is not in him." This he said, then added, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; I am going to waken him." "Lord," said the disciples, "if he has fallen asleep, he will get better." Jesus, however, had been speaking of his death; but as they imagined he meant natural sleep, he then told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead; and for your sakes I am glad I was not there, that you may believe. Come now, let us go to him." Whereupon Thomas (called 'the Twin') said to his fellow-disciples, "Let us go too, let us die along with him!" Now when Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had been buried for four days. [vss & placed between vss a number of Jews had gone to condole with Martha and Mary about their brother; Then Martha, hearing of the arrival of Jesus, went out to meet him, while Mary sat at home. Said Martha to Jesus, "Had you been here, Lord, my brother would not have died. But now ??well, I know whatever you ask God for, he will grant you." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." "I know," said Martha, "he will rise at the resurrection, on the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am myself resurrection and life: he who believes in me will live, even if he dies, and no one who lives and believes in me will ever die. You believe that?" "Yes, Lord," she said, "I do believe you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world" ??28 and with these words she went off to call her sister Mary, telling her secretly, "The Teacher is here, and he is calling for you." So, on hearing this, Mary rose hurriedly and went to him. & 31] Now as Bethany is not far from Jerusalem, only about two miles away, Jesus had not entered the village yet, he was still at the spot where Martha had met him. and when the Jews who were condoling with her inside the house noticed her rise hurriedly and go out, they followed her, as they imagined she was going to wail at the tomb. But when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she dropped at his feet, crying, "Had you been here, Lord, my brother would not have died." Now when Jesus saw her wailing and saw the Jews who accompanied her wailing, he chafed in spirit and was disquieted. "Where have you laid him?" he asked. They answered, "Come and see, sir." Jesus burst into tears. Whereupon the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" ??37 though some of them asked, "Could he not have prevented him from dying, when he could open a blind man's eyes?" This made Jesus chafe afresh, so he went to the tomb; it was a cave with a boulder to close it. Jesus said, "Remove the boulder." "Lord," said Martha, the dead man's sister, "he will be stinking by this time; he has been dead four days." "Did I not tell you," said Jesus, "if you will only believe, you shall see the glory of God?" Then they removed the boulder, and Jesus, lifting his eyes to heaven, said, "Father, I thank thee for listening to me. (I knew thou wouldst always listen to me, but I spoke on account of the crowd around, that they might believe thou hast sent me.)" So saying, he exclaimed with a loud cry, "Lazarus, come out!" Out came the dead man, his feet and hands swathed in bandages, and his face tied up with a towel. Jesus said, "Untie him, and let him move."
And when the sabbath had passed Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought some spices in order to go and anoint him; and very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb, after sunrise. They said to themselves, "Who will roll away the boulder for us at the opening of the tomb?" (for it was a very large boulder). read more.
But when they looked they saw the boulder had been rolled to one side, and on entering the tomb they saw a youth sitting on the right dressed in a white robe. They were bewildered, but he said to them, "Do not be bewildered. You are looking for Jesus of Nazaret, who was crucified? He has risen, he is not here. That is the place where he was laid. Go you and tell his disciples and Peter, 'He precedes you to Galilee; you shall see him there, as he told you.'" And they fled out of the tomb, for they were seized with terror and beside themselves. They said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid of ??. (a) Now after he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary of Magdala out of whom he had cast seven daemons. She went and reported it to those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept; but although they heard he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. After this he appeared in another form to two of them as they were walking on their way to the country. They too went and reported it to the rest, but they would not believe them either. Afterwards he appeared at table to the eleven themselves and reproached them for their unbelief and dulness of mind, because they had not believed those who saw him risen from the dead. [But they excused themselves, saying, "This age of lawlessness and unbelief lies under the sway of Satan, who will not allow what lies under the unclean spirits to understand the truth and power of God; therefore," they said to Christ, "reveal your righteousness now." Christ answered them, "The term of years for Satan's power has now expired, but other terrors are at hand. I was delivered to death on behalf of sinners, that they might return to the truth and sin no more, that they might inherit that glory of righteousness which is spiritual and imperishable in heaven."]
But when they looked they saw the boulder had been rolled to one side, and on entering the tomb they saw a youth sitting on the right dressed in a white robe. They were bewildered, but he said to them, "Do not be bewildered. You are looking for Jesus of Nazaret, who was crucified? He has risen, he is not here. That is the place where he was laid. Go you and tell his disciples and Peter, 'He precedes you to Galilee; you shall see him there, as he told you.'" And they fled out of the tomb, for they were seized with terror and beside themselves. They said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid of ??. (a) Now after he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary of Magdala out of whom he had cast seven daemons. She went and reported it to those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept; but although they heard he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. After this he appeared in another form to two of them as they were walking on their way to the country. They too went and reported it to the rest, but they would not believe them either. Afterwards he appeared at table to the eleven themselves and reproached them for their unbelief and dulness of mind, because they had not believed those who saw him risen from the dead. [But they excused themselves, saying, "This age of lawlessness and unbelief lies under the sway of Satan, who will not allow what lies under the unclean spirits to understand the truth and power of God; therefore," they said to Christ, "reveal your righteousness now." Christ answered them, "The term of years for Satan's power has now expired, but other terrors are at hand. I was delivered to death on behalf of sinners, that they might return to the truth and sin no more, that they might inherit that glory of righteousness which is spiritual and imperishable in heaven."]
On the sabbath they rested in obedience to God's command, but on the first day of the week at early dawn they took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. The boulder they found rolled away from the tomb, but when they went inside they could not find the body of the Lord Jesus. read more.
They were puzzling over this, when two men flashed on them in dazzling raiment. They were terrified and bent their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look among the dead for him who is alive? He is not here, he has risen. Remember how he told you when he was still in Galilee that the Son of man had to be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and rise on the third day." Then they remembered what he had said, and turning away from the tomb they reported all this to the eleven and all the others. (It was Mary of Magdala, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James who with the rest of the women told this to the apostles.) But this story of the women seemed in their opinion to be nonsense; they would not believe them. Peter did get up and run to the tomb, but when he looked in he saw nothing except the linen bandages; so he went away home wondering what had happened. That very day two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were conversing about all these events, and during their conversation and discussion Jesus himself approached and walked beside them, though they were prevented from recognizing him. He said to them, "What is all this you are debating on your walk?" They stopped, looking downcast, and one of them, called Cleopas, answered him, "Are you a lone stranger in Jerusalem, not to know what has been happening there?" "What is that?" he said to them. They replied, "All about Jesus of Nazaret! To God and all the people he was a prophet strong in action and utterance, but the high priests and our rulers delivered him up to be sentenced to death and crucified him. Our own hope was that he would be the redeemer of Israel; but he is dead, and that is three days ago! Though some women of our number gave us a surprise; they were at the tomb early in the morning and could not find his body, but they came to tell us they had actually seen a vision of angels who declared he was alive. Some of our company did go to the tomb and found things exactly as the women had said, but they did not see him." He said to them, "O foolish men, with hearts so slow to believe, after all the prophets have declared! Had not the Christ to suffer thus and so enter his glory?" Then he began with Moses and all the prophets and interpreted to them the passages referring to himself throughout the scriptures. Now they approached the village to which they were going. He pretended to be going further on, but they pressed him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is getting towards evening and the day has now declined." So he went in to stay with them. And as he lay at table with them he took the loaf, blessed it, broke it and handed it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. And they said to one another, "Did not our hearts glow within us when he was talking to us on the road, opening up the scriptures for us?" So they got up and returned that very hour to Jerusalem, where they found the eleven and their friends all gathered, who told them that the Lord had really risen and that he had appeared to Simon. Then they related their own experience on the road and how they had recognized him when he broke the loaf. Just as they were speaking He stood among them [and said to them, "Peace to you!"] They were scared and terrified, imagining it was a ghost they saw; but he said to them, "Why are you upset? Why do doubts invade your mind? Look at my hands and feet. It is I! Feel me and see; a ghost has not flesh and bones as you see I have." [With these words he showed them his hands and feet.] Even yet they could not believe it for sheer joy; they were lost in wonder. So he said to them, "Have you any food here?" And when they handed him a piece of broiled fish, he took and ate it in their presence. Then he said to them, "When I was still with you, this is what I told you, that whatever is written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. "Thus," he said, "it is written that the Christ has to suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,
They were puzzling over this, when two men flashed on them in dazzling raiment. They were terrified and bent their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look among the dead for him who is alive? He is not here, he has risen. Remember how he told you when he was still in Galilee that the Son of man had to be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and rise on the third day." Then they remembered what he had said, and turning away from the tomb they reported all this to the eleven and all the others. (It was Mary of Magdala, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James who with the rest of the women told this to the apostles.) But this story of the women seemed in their opinion to be nonsense; they would not believe them. Peter did get up and run to the tomb, but when he looked in he saw nothing except the linen bandages; so he went away home wondering what had happened. That very day two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were conversing about all these events, and during their conversation and discussion Jesus himself approached and walked beside them, though they were prevented from recognizing him. He said to them, "What is all this you are debating on your walk?" They stopped, looking downcast, and one of them, called Cleopas, answered him, "Are you a lone stranger in Jerusalem, not to know what has been happening there?" "What is that?" he said to them. They replied, "All about Jesus of Nazaret! To God and all the people he was a prophet strong in action and utterance, but the high priests and our rulers delivered him up to be sentenced to death and crucified him. Our own hope was that he would be the redeemer of Israel; but he is dead, and that is three days ago! Though some women of our number gave us a surprise; they were at the tomb early in the morning and could not find his body, but they came to tell us they had actually seen a vision of angels who declared he was alive. Some of our company did go to the tomb and found things exactly as the women had said, but they did not see him." He said to them, "O foolish men, with hearts so slow to believe, after all the prophets have declared! Had not the Christ to suffer thus and so enter his glory?" Then he began with Moses and all the prophets and interpreted to them the passages referring to himself throughout the scriptures. Now they approached the village to which they were going. He pretended to be going further on, but they pressed him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is getting towards evening and the day has now declined." So he went in to stay with them. And as he lay at table with them he took the loaf, blessed it, broke it and handed it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. And they said to one another, "Did not our hearts glow within us when he was talking to us on the road, opening up the scriptures for us?" So they got up and returned that very hour to Jerusalem, where they found the eleven and their friends all gathered, who told them that the Lord had really risen and that he had appeared to Simon. Then they related their own experience on the road and how they had recognized him when he broke the loaf. Just as they were speaking He stood among them [and said to them, "Peace to you!"] They were scared and terrified, imagining it was a ghost they saw; but he said to them, "Why are you upset? Why do doubts invade your mind? Look at my hands and feet. It is I! Feel me and see; a ghost has not flesh and bones as you see I have." [With these words he showed them his hands and feet.] Even yet they could not believe it for sheer joy; they were lost in wonder. So he said to them, "Have you any food here?" And when they handed him a piece of broiled fish, he took and ate it in their presence. Then he said to them, "When I was still with you, this is what I told you, that whatever is written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. "Thus," he said, "it is written that the Christ has to suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,
God » Wisdom of » Select readings
spiritual Growth » Encouraged » Select readings
On this point I have a great deal to say, which it is hard to make intelligible to you. For you have grown dull of hearing. Though by this time you should be teaching other people, you still need someone to teach you once more the rudimentary principles of the divine revelation. You are in need of milk, not of solid food. (For anyone who is fed on milk is unskilled in moral truth; he is a mere babe. read more.
Whereas solid food is for the mature, for those who have their faculties trained by exercise to distinguish good and evil.)
Whereas solid food is for the mature, for those who have their faculties trained by exercise to distinguish good and evil.)
Let us pass on then to what is mature, leaving elementary Christian doctrine behind, instead of laying the foundation over again with repentance from dead works, with faith in God, with instruction about ablutions and the laying on of hands, about the resurrection of the dead and eternal punishment. With God's permission, we will take this step. read more.
For in the case of people who have been once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly Gift, who participated in the holy Spirit, who tasted the goodness of God's word and the powers of the world to come, and then fell away ??6 it is impossible to make them repent afresh, since they crucify the Son of God in their own persons and hold him up to obloquy. For land which absorbs the rain that often falls on it, and bears plants that are useful to those for whom it is tilled, receives a blessing from God; whereas, if it produces thorns and thistles, it is reprobate and on the verge of being cursed ??its fate is to be burned. Though I say this, beloved, I feel sure you will take the better course that means salvation. God is not unfair; he will not forget what you have done, or the love you have shown for his sake in ministering, as you still do, to the saints. It is my heart's desire that each of you would prove equally keen upon realizing your full hope to the very end, so that instead of being slack you may imitate those who inherit the promises by their stedfast faith. For in making a promise to Abraham God swore by himself (since he could swear by none greater), I will indeed bless you and multiply you. Thus it was that Abraham by his stedfastness obtained what he had been promised. For as men swear by a greater than themselves, and as an oath means to them a guarantee that ends any dispute,
For in the case of people who have been once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly Gift, who participated in the holy Spirit, who tasted the goodness of God's word and the powers of the world to come, and then fell away ??6 it is impossible to make them repent afresh, since they crucify the Son of God in their own persons and hold him up to obloquy. For land which absorbs the rain that often falls on it, and bears plants that are useful to those for whom it is tilled, receives a blessing from God; whereas, if it produces thorns and thistles, it is reprobate and on the verge of being cursed ??its fate is to be burned. Though I say this, beloved, I feel sure you will take the better course that means salvation. God is not unfair; he will not forget what you have done, or the love you have shown for his sake in ministering, as you still do, to the saints. It is my heart's desire that each of you would prove equally keen upon realizing your full hope to the very end, so that instead of being slack you may imitate those who inherit the promises by their stedfast faith. For in making a promise to Abraham God swore by himself (since he could swear by none greater), I will indeed bless you and multiply you. Thus it was that Abraham by his stedfastness obtained what he had been promised. For as men swear by a greater than themselves, and as an oath means to them a guarantee that ends any dispute,
Heavenly » Home heavenly home the final dwelling place of the saints » Select readings
And I tell you, use mammon, dishonest as it is, to make friends for yourselves, so that when you die they may welcome you to the eternal abodes.
Verse Concepts
Importunity » Select readings
He was praying at a certain place, and when he stopped one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say, Father, thy name be revered, thy Reign begin; give us our bread for the morrow day by day, read more.
and forgive us our sins for we do forgive everyone who has offended us; and lead us not into temptation." And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, let me have three loaves; for a friend of mine travelling has come to my house and I have nothing to set before him.' And suppose he answers from the inside, 'Don't bother me; the door is locked by this time, and my children are in bed with me. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give you anything because you are a friend of his, he will at least rise and give you whatever you want, because you persist. So I tell you, ask and the gift will be yours, seek and you will find, knock and the door will open to you; for everyone who asks receives, the seeker finds, the door is opened to anyone who knocks. What father among you, if asked by his son for a loaf, will hand him a stone? Or, if asked for a fish, will hand him a serpent instead of a fish? Or, if asked for an egg, will he hand him a scorpion? Well, if for all your evil you know to give your children what is good, how much more will your Father give the holy Spirit from heaven to those who ask him?"
and forgive us our sins for we do forgive everyone who has offended us; and lead us not into temptation." And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, let me have three loaves; for a friend of mine travelling has come to my house and I have nothing to set before him.' And suppose he answers from the inside, 'Don't bother me; the door is locked by this time, and my children are in bed with me. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give you anything because you are a friend of his, he will at least rise and give you whatever you want, because you persist. So I tell you, ask and the gift will be yours, seek and you will find, knock and the door will open to you; for everyone who asks receives, the seeker finds, the door is opened to anyone who knocks. What father among you, if asked by his son for a loaf, will hand him a stone? Or, if asked for a fish, will hand him a serpent instead of a fish? Or, if asked for an egg, will he hand him a scorpion? Well, if for all your evil you know to give your children what is good, how much more will your Father give the holy Spirit from heaven to those who ask him?"
He also told them a parable about the need of always praying and never losing heart. "In a certain town," he said, "there was a judge who had no reverence for God and no respect even for man. And in that town there was a widow who used to go and appeal to him for 'Justice against my opponent!' read more.
For a while he would not, but afterwards he said to himself, 'Though I have no reverence for God and no respect even for man, still, as this widow is bothering me, I will see justice done to her ??not to have her for ever coming and pestering me.' Listen," said the Lord, "to what this unjust judge says! And will not God see justice done to his elect who cry to him by day and night? Will he be tolerant to their opponents? I tell you, he will quickly see justice done to his elect! And yet, when the Son of man does come, will he find faith on earth?"
For a while he would not, but afterwards he said to himself, 'Though I have no reverence for God and no respect even for man, still, as this widow is bothering me, I will see justice done to her ??not to have her for ever coming and pestering me.' Listen," said the Lord, "to what this unjust judge says! And will not God see justice done to his elect who cry to him by day and night? Will he be tolerant to their opponents? I tell you, he will quickly see justice done to his elect! And yet, when the Son of man does come, will he find faith on earth?"
Prayer » Select readings
He was praying at a certain place, and when he stopped one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say, Father, thy name be revered, thy Reign begin; give us our bread for the morrow day by day, read more.
and forgive us our sins for we do forgive everyone who has offended us; and lead us not into temptation." And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, let me have three loaves; for a friend of mine travelling has come to my house and I have nothing to set before him.' And suppose he answers from the inside, 'Don't bother me; the door is locked by this time, and my children are in bed with me. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give you anything because you are a friend of his, he will at least rise and give you whatever you want, because you persist. So I tell you, ask and the gift will be yours, seek and you will find, knock and the door will open to you; for everyone who asks receives, the seeker finds, the door is opened to anyone who knocks. What father among you, if asked by his son for a loaf, will hand him a stone? Or, if asked for a fish, will hand him a serpent instead of a fish? Or, if asked for an egg, will he hand him a scorpion? Well, if for all your evil you know to give your children what is good, how much more will your Father give the holy Spirit from heaven to those who ask him?"
and forgive us our sins for we do forgive everyone who has offended us; and lead us not into temptation." And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, let me have three loaves; for a friend of mine travelling has come to my house and I have nothing to set before him.' And suppose he answers from the inside, 'Don't bother me; the door is locked by this time, and my children are in bed with me. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give you anything because you are a friend of his, he will at least rise and give you whatever you want, because you persist. So I tell you, ask and the gift will be yours, seek and you will find, knock and the door will open to you; for everyone who asks receives, the seeker finds, the door is opened to anyone who knocks. What father among you, if asked by his son for a loaf, will hand him a stone? Or, if asked for a fish, will hand him a serpent instead of a fish? Or, if asked for an egg, will he hand him a scorpion? Well, if for all your evil you know to give your children what is good, how much more will your Father give the holy Spirit from heaven to those who ask him?"
He also told them a parable about the need of always praying and never losing heart. "In a certain town," he said, "there was a judge who had no reverence for God and no respect even for man. And in that town there was a widow who used to go and appeal to him for 'Justice against my opponent!' read more.
For a while he would not, but afterwards he said to himself, 'Though I have no reverence for God and no respect even for man, still, as this widow is bothering me, I will see justice done to her ??not to have her for ever coming and pestering me.' Listen," said the Lord, "to what this unjust judge says! And will not God see justice done to his elect who cry to him by day and night? Will he be tolerant to their opponents? I tell you, he will quickly see justice done to his elect! And yet, when the Son of man does come, will he find faith on earth?"
For a while he would not, but afterwards he said to himself, 'Though I have no reverence for God and no respect even for man, still, as this widow is bothering me, I will see justice done to her ??not to have her for ever coming and pestering me.' Listen," said the Lord, "to what this unjust judge says! And will not God see justice done to his elect who cry to him by day and night? Will he be tolerant to their opponents? I tell you, he will quickly see justice done to his elect! And yet, when the Son of man does come, will he find faith on earth?"
Select readings » The raising of lazarus
Now there was a man ill, Lazarus of Bethany ??the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (The Mary whose brother Lazarus was ill was the Mary who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair.) so the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill."
[vss & placed between vss read more.
a number of Jews had gone to condole with Martha and Mary about their brother; Then Martha, hearing of the arrival of Jesus, went out to meet him, while Mary sat at home. Said Martha to Jesus, "Had you been here, Lord, my brother would not have died. But now ??well, I know whatever you ask God for, he will grant you." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." "I know," said Martha, "he will rise at the resurrection, on the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am myself resurrection and life: he who believes in me will live, even if he dies, and no one who lives and believes in me will ever die. You believe that?" "Yes, Lord," she said, "I do believe you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world" ??28 and with these words she went off to call her sister Mary, telling her secretly, "The Teacher is here, and he is calling for you." So, on hearing this, Mary rose hurriedly and went to him. & 31] Now as Bethany is not far from Jerusalem, only about two miles away, Jesus had not entered the village yet, he was still at the spot where Martha had met him. and when the Jews who were condoling with her inside the house noticed her rise hurriedly and go out, they followed her, as they imagined she was going to wail at the tomb. But when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she dropped at his feet, crying, "Had you been here, Lord, my brother would not have died." Now when Jesus saw her wailing and saw the Jews who accompanied her wailing, he chafed in spirit and was disquieted. "Where have you laid him?" he asked. They answered, "Come and see, sir." Jesus burst into tears. Whereupon the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" ??37 though some of them asked, "Could he not have prevented him from dying, when he could open a blind man's eyes?" This made Jesus chafe afresh, so he went to the tomb; it was a cave with a boulder to close it. Jesus said, "Remove the boulder." "Lord," said Martha, the dead man's sister, "he will be stinking by this time; he has been dead four days." "Did I not tell you," said Jesus, "if you will only believe, you shall see the glory of God?" Then they removed the boulder, and Jesus, lifting his eyes to heaven, said, "Father, I thank thee for listening to me. (I knew thou wouldst always listen to me, but I spoke on account of the crowd around, that they might believe thou hast sent me.)" So saying, he exclaimed with a loud cry, "Lazarus, come out!" Out came the dead man, his feet and hands swathed in bandages, and his face tied up with a towel. Jesus said, "Untie him, and let him move." Now a number of the Jews who had come to visit Mary and who witnessed what he had done, believed in him. But some of them went off to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done;
a number of Jews had gone to condole with Martha and Mary about their brother; Then Martha, hearing of the arrival of Jesus, went out to meet him, while Mary sat at home. Said Martha to Jesus, "Had you been here, Lord, my brother would not have died. But now ??well, I know whatever you ask God for, he will grant you." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." "I know," said Martha, "he will rise at the resurrection, on the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am myself resurrection and life: he who believes in me will live, even if he dies, and no one who lives and believes in me will ever die. You believe that?" "Yes, Lord," she said, "I do believe you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world" ??28 and with these words she went off to call her sister Mary, telling her secretly, "The Teacher is here, and he is calling for you." So, on hearing this, Mary rose hurriedly and went to him. & 31] Now as Bethany is not far from Jerusalem, only about two miles away, Jesus had not entered the village yet, he was still at the spot where Martha had met him. and when the Jews who were condoling with her inside the house noticed her rise hurriedly and go out, they followed her, as they imagined she was going to wail at the tomb. But when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she dropped at his feet, crying, "Had you been here, Lord, my brother would not have died." Now when Jesus saw her wailing and saw the Jews who accompanied her wailing, he chafed in spirit and was disquieted. "Where have you laid him?" he asked. They answered, "Come and see, sir." Jesus burst into tears. Whereupon the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" ??37 though some of them asked, "Could he not have prevented him from dying, when he could open a blind man's eyes?" This made Jesus chafe afresh, so he went to the tomb; it was a cave with a boulder to close it. Jesus said, "Remove the boulder." "Lord," said Martha, the dead man's sister, "he will be stinking by this time; he has been dead four days." "Did I not tell you," said Jesus, "if you will only believe, you shall see the glory of God?" Then they removed the boulder, and Jesus, lifting his eyes to heaven, said, "Father, I thank thee for listening to me. (I knew thou wouldst always listen to me, but I spoke on account of the crowd around, that they might believe thou hast sent me.)" So saying, he exclaimed with a loud cry, "Lazarus, come out!" Out came the dead man, his feet and hands swathed in bandages, and his face tied up with a towel. Jesus said, "Untie him, and let him move." Now a number of the Jews who had come to visit Mary and who witnessed what he had done, believed in him. But some of them went off to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done;
Select readings » David's lament over absalom
Select readings » The betrayal of jesus by judas iscariot
While he was still speaking, there came a mob headed by the man called Judas, one of the twelve. He approached in order to kiss Jesus, but Jesus said to him, "Judas! would you betray the Son of man with a kiss?" Now when the supporters of Jesus saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, shall we strike with our swords?" read more.
And one of them did strike the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. Jesus said, "Let me do this at least," and cured him by touching his ear. Then he said to the high priests and commanders of the temple and elders who had appeared to take him, "Have you sallied out to arrest me like a robber, with swords and cudgels? Day after day I was beside you in the temple, and you never stretched a hand against me. But this is your hour, and the dark Power has its way." Then they arrested him and led him away inside the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance and sat down among some people who had lit a fire in the courtyard and were sitting round it. A maidservant who noticed him sitting by the fire took a long look at him and said, "That fellow was with him too." But he disowned him, saying, "Woman, I know nothing about him." Shortly afterwards another man noticed him and said, "Why, you are one of them!" "Man," said Peter, "I am not." About an hour had passed when another man insisted, "That fellow really was with him. Why, he is a Galilean!" "Man," said Peter, "I do not know what you mean." Instantly, just as he was speaking, the cock crowed; the Lord turned round and looked at Peter, and then Peter remembered what the Lord had told him, that 'Before cock-crow to-day you will disown me three times.' And he went outside and wept bitterly.
And one of them did strike the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. Jesus said, "Let me do this at least," and cured him by touching his ear. Then he said to the high priests and commanders of the temple and elders who had appeared to take him, "Have you sallied out to arrest me like a robber, with swords and cudgels? Day after day I was beside you in the temple, and you never stretched a hand against me. But this is your hour, and the dark Power has its way." Then they arrested him and led him away inside the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance and sat down among some people who had lit a fire in the courtyard and were sitting round it. A maidservant who noticed him sitting by the fire took a long look at him and said, "That fellow was with him too." But he disowned him, saying, "Woman, I know nothing about him." Shortly afterwards another man noticed him and said, "Why, you are one of them!" "Man," said Peter, "I am not." About an hour had passed when another man insisted, "That fellow really was with him. Why, he is a Galilean!" "Man," said Peter, "I do not know what you mean." Instantly, just as he was speaking, the cock crowed; the Lord turned round and looked at Peter, and then Peter remembered what the Lord had told him, that 'Before cock-crow to-day you will disown me three times.' And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Select readings » The parable of the good samaritan
Now a jurist got up to tempt him. "Teacher," he said, "what am I to do to inherit life eternal?" He said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" He replied, "You must love the Lord your God with your whole heart, with your whole soul, with your whole strength, and with your whole mind. Also your neighbour as yourself." read more.
"A right answer!" said Jesus; "do that and you will live." Anxious to make an excuse for himself, however, he said to Jesus, "But who is my neighbour?" Jesus rejoined, "A man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho fell among robbers who stripped and belaboured him and then went off leaving him half-dead. Now it so chanced that a priest was going down the same road, but on seeing him he went past on the opposite side. So did a Levite who came to the spot; he looked at him but passed on the opposite side. However a Samaritan traveller came to where he was and felt pity when he saw him; he went to him, bound his wounds up, pouring oil and wine into them, mounted him on his own steed, took him to an inn, and attended to him. Next morning he took out a couple of shillings and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Attend to him, and if you are put to any extra expense I will refund you on my way back.' Which of these three men, in your opinion, proved a neighbour to the man who fell among the robbers?" He said, "The man who took pity on him." Jesus said to him, "Then go and do the same."
"A right answer!" said Jesus; "do that and you will live." Anxious to make an excuse for himself, however, he said to Jesus, "But who is my neighbour?" Jesus rejoined, "A man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho fell among robbers who stripped and belaboured him and then went off leaving him half-dead. Now it so chanced that a priest was going down the same road, but on seeing him he went past on the opposite side. So did a Levite who came to the spot; he looked at him but passed on the opposite side. However a Samaritan traveller came to where he was and felt pity when he saw him; he went to him, bound his wounds up, pouring oil and wine into them, mounted him on his own steed, took him to an inn, and attended to him. Next morning he took out a couple of shillings and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Attend to him, and if you are put to any extra expense I will refund you on my way back.' Which of these three men, in your opinion, proved a neighbour to the man who fell among the robbers?" He said, "The man who took pity on him." Jesus said to him, "Then go and do the same."
Select readings » Elijah's miraculous preservation
Select readings » The parable of the prodigal son
He also said: "There was a man who had two sons, and the younger said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.' So he divided his means among them. Not many days later, the younger son sold off everything and went abroad to a distant land, where he squandered his means in loose living. read more.
After he had spent his all, a severe famine set in throughout that land, and he began to feel in want; so he went and attached himself to a citizen of that land, who sent him to his fields to feed swine. And he was fain to fill his belly with the pods the swine were eating; no one gave him anything. But when he came to his senses he said, 'How many hired men of my father have more than enough to eat, and here am I perishing of hunger! I will be up and off to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I don't deserve to be called your son any more; only make me like one of your hired men."' So he got up and went off to his father. But when he was still far away his father saw him and felt pity for him and ran to fall upon his neck and kiss him. The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I don't deserve to be called your son any more.' But the father said to his servants, 'Quick, bring the best robe and put it on him, give him a ring for his hand and sandals for his feet, and bring the fatted calf, kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for my son here was dead and he has come to life, he was lost and he is found.' So they began to make merry. Now his elder son was out in the field, and as he came near the house he heard music and dancing; so, summoning one of the servants, he asked what this meant. The servant told him, 'Your brother has arrived, and your father has killed the fatted calf because he has got him back safe and sound.' This angered him, and he would not go in. His father came out and tried to appease him, but he replied, 'Look at all the years I have been serving you! I have never neglected any of your orders, and yet you have never given me so much as a kid, to let me make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours arrives, after having wasted your means with harlots, you kill the fatted calf for him!' The father said to him, 'My son, you and I are always together, all I have is yours. We could not but make merry and rejoice, for your brother here was dead and has come to life again, he was lost but he has been found.' "
After he had spent his all, a severe famine set in throughout that land, and he began to feel in want; so he went and attached himself to a citizen of that land, who sent him to his fields to feed swine. And he was fain to fill his belly with the pods the swine were eating; no one gave him anything. But when he came to his senses he said, 'How many hired men of my father have more than enough to eat, and here am I perishing of hunger! I will be up and off to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I don't deserve to be called your son any more; only make me like one of your hired men."' So he got up and went off to his father. But when he was still far away his father saw him and felt pity for him and ran to fall upon his neck and kiss him. The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I don't deserve to be called your son any more.' But the father said to his servants, 'Quick, bring the best robe and put it on him, give him a ring for his hand and sandals for his feet, and bring the fatted calf, kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for my son here was dead and he has come to life, he was lost and he is found.' So they began to make merry. Now his elder son was out in the field, and as he came near the house he heard music and dancing; so, summoning one of the servants, he asked what this meant. The servant told him, 'Your brother has arrived, and your father has killed the fatted calf because he has got him back safe and sound.' This angered him, and he would not go in. His father came out and tried to appease him, but he replied, 'Look at all the years I have been serving you! I have never neglected any of your orders, and yet you have never given me so much as a kid, to let me make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours arrives, after having wasted your means with harlots, you kill the fatted calf for him!' The father said to him, 'My son, you and I are always together, all I have is yours. We could not but make merry and rejoice, for your brother here was dead and has come to life again, he was lost but he has been found.' "
Select readings » The brevity of life
Select readings » Paul on mars' hill
So Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I observe at every turn that you are a most religious people. Why, as I passed along and scanned your objects of worship, I actually came upon an altar with the inscription TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Well, I proclaim to you what you worship in your ignorance. The God who made the world and all things in it, he, as Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in shrines that are made by human hands; read more.
he is not served by human hands as if he needed anything, for it is he who gives life and breath and all things to all men. All nations he has created from a common origin, to dwell all over the earth, fixing their allotted periods and the boundaries of their abodes, meaning them to seek for God on the chance of finding him in their groping for him. Though indeed he is close to each one of us, for it is in him that we live and move and exist ??as some of your own poets have said, 'We too belong to His race.' Well, as the race of God, we ought not to imagine that the divine nature resembles gold or silver or stone, the product of human art and invention. Such ages of ignorance God overlooked, but he now charges men that they are all everywhere to repent, inasmuch as he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world justly by a man whom he has destined for this. And he has given proof of this to all by raising him from the dead."
he is not served by human hands as if he needed anything, for it is he who gives life and breath and all things to all men. All nations he has created from a common origin, to dwell all over the earth, fixing their allotted periods and the boundaries of their abodes, meaning them to seek for God on the chance of finding him in their groping for him. Though indeed he is close to each one of us, for it is in him that we live and move and exist ??as some of your own poets have said, 'We too belong to His race.' Well, as the race of God, we ought not to imagine that the divine nature resembles gold or silver or stone, the product of human art and invention. Such ages of ignorance God overlooked, but he now charges men that they are all everywhere to repent, inasmuch as he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world justly by a man whom he has destined for this. And he has given proof of this to all by raising him from the dead."
Select readings » Judah's defense
Select readings » Paul and silas in prison
Now it happened as we went to the place of prayer that a slave-girl met us, possessed by a spirit of ventriloquism, and a source of great profit to her owners by her power of fortune-telling. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shrieking, "These men are servants of the Most High God, they proclaim to you the way of salvation!" She did this for a number of days. Then Paul turned in annoyance and told the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I order you out of her!" And it left her that very moment. read more.
But when her owners saw their chance of profit was gone, they caught hold of Paul and Silas and dragged them before the magistrates in the forum. Bringing them before the praetors they declared, "These fellows are Jews who are making an agitation in our town; they are proclaiming customs which as Romans we are not allowed to accept or observe!" The crowd also joined in the attack upon them, while the praetors, after having them stripped and after ordering them to be flogged with rods, had many lashes inflicted on them and put them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safe. On receiving so strict a charge, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks. But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing to God, while the prisoners listened, all of a sudden there was a great earthquake which shook the very foundations of the prison; the doors all flew open in an instant and the fetters of all the prisoners were unfastened. When the jailer started from his sleep and saw the prison-doors open, he drew his sword and was on the point of killing himself, supposing the prisoners had made their escape; but Paul shouted aloud, "Do not harm yourself, we are all here!" So calling for lights he rushed in, fell in terror before Paul and Silas, and brought them out (after securing the other prisoners). "Sirs," he said, "what must I do to be saved?" "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ," they said, "and then you will be saved, you and your household as well." And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all in his house. Then he took them at that very hour of the night and washed their wounds and got baptized instantly, he and all his family. He took them up to his house and put food before them, overjoyed like all his household at having believed in God. When day broke, the praetors sent the lictors with the message, "Release these men." The jailer repeated this to Paul. "The praetors," he said, "have sent to release you. So come out and go in peace?" But Paul replied, "They flogged us in public and without a trial, flogged Roman citizens! They put us in prison, and now they are going to get rid of us secretly! No indeed! Let them come here themselves and take us out!" The lictors reported this to the praetors, who, on hearing the men were Roman citizens, became alarmed; they went to appease them and after taking them out of prison begged them to leave the town. So they left the prison and went to Lydia's house, where they saw the brothers and encouraged them; then they departed.
But when her owners saw their chance of profit was gone, they caught hold of Paul and Silas and dragged them before the magistrates in the forum. Bringing them before the praetors they declared, "These fellows are Jews who are making an agitation in our town; they are proclaiming customs which as Romans we are not allowed to accept or observe!" The crowd also joined in the attack upon them, while the praetors, after having them stripped and after ordering them to be flogged with rods, had many lashes inflicted on them and put them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safe. On receiving so strict a charge, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks. But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing to God, while the prisoners listened, all of a sudden there was a great earthquake which shook the very foundations of the prison; the doors all flew open in an instant and the fetters of all the prisoners were unfastened. When the jailer started from his sleep and saw the prison-doors open, he drew his sword and was on the point of killing himself, supposing the prisoners had made their escape; but Paul shouted aloud, "Do not harm yourself, we are all here!" So calling for lights he rushed in, fell in terror before Paul and Silas, and brought them out (after securing the other prisoners). "Sirs," he said, "what must I do to be saved?" "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ," they said, "and then you will be saved, you and your household as well." And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all in his house. Then he took them at that very hour of the night and washed their wounds and got baptized instantly, he and all his family. He took them up to his house and put food before them, overjoyed like all his household at having believed in God. When day broke, the praetors sent the lictors with the message, "Release these men." The jailer repeated this to Paul. "The praetors," he said, "have sent to release you. So come out and go in peace?" But Paul replied, "They flogged us in public and without a trial, flogged Roman citizens! They put us in prison, and now they are going to get rid of us secretly! No indeed! Let them come here themselves and take us out!" The lictors reported this to the praetors, who, on hearing the men were Roman citizens, became alarmed; they went to appease them and after taking them out of prison begged them to leave the town. So they left the prison and went to Lydia's house, where they saw the brothers and encouraged them; then they departed.
Select readings » The majesty of God
Select readings » Song of moses when pharaoh and his army were overthrown
Select readings » The deliverance of the israelites from pharaoh
Select readings » The prophetic blessing of zacharias
And Zechariah his father was filled with the holy Spirit; he prophesied in these words, "Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, for he has cared for his people and wrought them redemption; he has raised up a strong saviour for us in the house of his servant David read more.
as he promised of old by the lips of his prophets to save us from our foes and from the hand of all who hate us, to deal mercifully with our fathers and to be mindful of his holy covenant, of the oath he swore to Abraham our father, that freed from fear and from the hand of our foes we should worship him in holiness and uprightness all our days within his presence. And you, my child, shall be called a prophet of the Most High; for you shall go in front of the Lord to make his ways ready, to bring his people the knowledge of salvation through the remission of their sins by the tender mercy of our God, who will make the Dawn visit us from on high, to shine on those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our steps into the way of peace." And the child grew, he became strong in the Spirit and remained in the desert till the day when he made his appearance before Israel.
as he promised of old by the lips of his prophets to save us from our foes and from the hand of all who hate us, to deal mercifully with our fathers and to be mindful of his holy covenant, of the oath he swore to Abraham our father, that freed from fear and from the hand of our foes we should worship him in holiness and uprightness all our days within his presence. And you, my child, shall be called a prophet of the Most High; for you shall go in front of the Lord to make his ways ready, to bring his people the knowledge of salvation through the remission of their sins by the tender mercy of our God, who will make the Dawn visit us from on high, to shine on those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our steps into the way of peace." And the child grew, he became strong in the Spirit and remained in the desert till the day when he made his appearance before Israel.
Select readings » Joseph revealing his identity
Select readings » Mankind in extremity
Select readings » Mary's magnificat
Then Mary said "My soul magnifies the Lord, My spirit has joy in God my Saviour: for he has considered the humiliation of his servant. From this time forth all generations will call me blessed, read more.
for He who is Mighty has done great things for me. His name is holy, his mercy is on generation after generation, for those who reverence him. He has done a deed of might with his arm, he has scattered the proud with their purposes, princes he has dethroned and the poor he has uplifted, he has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. He has succoured his servant Israel, mindful of his mercy as he promised our fathers, to have mercy on Abraham and his offspring for ever." Mary stayed with her about three months and then returned home.
for He who is Mighty has done great things for me. His name is holy, his mercy is on generation after generation, for those who reverence him. He has done a deed of might with his arm, he has scattered the proud with their purposes, princes he has dethroned and the poor he has uplifted, he has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. He has succoured his servant Israel, mindful of his mercy as he promised our fathers, to have mercy on Abraham and his offspring for ever." Mary stayed with her about three months and then returned home.
Select readings » God's providence
Look at the wild birds; they sow not, they reap not, they gather nothing in granaries, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than birds? Which of you can add an ell to his height by troubling about it? And why should you trouble over clothing? Look how the lilies of the field grow; they neither toil nor spin, read more.
and yet, I tell you, even Solomon in all his grandeur was never robed like one of them. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field which blooms to-day and is thrown to-morrow into the furnace, will not he much more clothe you? O men, how little you trust him! Do not be troubled, then, and cry, 'What are we to eat?' or 'what are we to drink?' or 'how are we to be clothed?' (pagans make all that their aim in life) for your heavenly Father knows quite well you need all that. Seek God's Realm and his goodness, and all that will be yours over and above. So do not be troubled about to-morrow; to-morrow will take care of itself. The day's own trouble is quite enough for the day.
and yet, I tell you, even Solomon in all his grandeur was never robed like one of them. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field which blooms to-day and is thrown to-morrow into the furnace, will not he much more clothe you? O men, how little you trust him! Do not be troubled, then, and cry, 'What are we to eat?' or 'what are we to drink?' or 'how are we to be clothed?' (pagans make all that their aim in life) for your heavenly Father knows quite well you need all that. Seek God's Realm and his goodness, and all that will be yours over and above. So do not be troubled about to-morrow; to-morrow will take care of itself. The day's own trouble is quite enough for the day.
Select readings » Naaman the leper
Select readings » The resurrection of jesus Christ
On the sabbath they rested in obedience to God's command, but on the first day of the week at early dawn they took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. The boulder they found rolled away from the tomb, but when they went inside they could not find the body of the Lord Jesus. read more.
They were puzzling over this, when two men flashed on them in dazzling raiment. They were terrified and bent their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look among the dead for him who is alive? He is not here, he has risen. Remember how he told you when he was still in Galilee that the Son of man had to be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and rise on the third day." Then they remembered what he had said, and turning away from the tomb they reported all this to the eleven and all the others. (It was Mary of Magdala, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James who with the rest of the women told this to the apostles.) But this story of the women seemed in their opinion to be nonsense; they would not believe them. Peter did get up and run to the tomb, but when he looked in he saw nothing except the linen bandages; so he went away home wondering what had happened.
They were puzzling over this, when two men flashed on them in dazzling raiment. They were terrified and bent their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look among the dead for him who is alive? He is not here, he has risen. Remember how he told you when he was still in Galilee that the Son of man had to be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and rise on the third day." Then they remembered what he had said, and turning away from the tomb they reported all this to the eleven and all the others. (It was Mary of Magdala, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James who with the rest of the women told this to the apostles.) But this story of the women seemed in their opinion to be nonsense; they would not believe them. Peter did get up and run to the tomb, but when he looked in he saw nothing except the linen bandages; so he went away home wondering what had happened.
Select readings » Wise and foolish builders
It is not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord!', who will get into the Realm of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me at that Day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? did we not cast out daemons in your name? did we not perform many miracles in your name?' Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from my presence, you workers of iniquity.' read more.
Now, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts upon them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. The rain came down, the floods rose, the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, for it was founded on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act upon them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the floods rose, the winds blew and beat upon that house, and down it fell ??with a mighty crash."
Now, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts upon them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. The rain came down, the floods rose, the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, for it was founded on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act upon them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the floods rose, the winds blew and beat upon that house, and down it fell ??with a mighty crash."
Select readings » Peter on the day of pentecost
During the course of the day of Pentecost they were all together, when suddenly there came a sound from heaven like a violent blast of wind, which filled the whole house where they were seated. They saw tongues like flames distributing themselves, one resting on the head of each, read more.
and they were all filled with the holy Spirit ??they began to speak in foreign tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to express themselves. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. So when this sound was heard, the multitude gathered in bewilderment, for each heard them speaking in his own language. All were amazed and astonished. "Are these not all Galileans," they said, "who are speaking? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native tongue? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, residents in Mesopotamia, in Judaea and Cappadocia, in Pontus and Asia, in Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt and the districts of Libya round Cyrene, visitors from Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we hear these men talking of the triumphs of God in our own languages!" They were all amazed and quite at a loss. "What can it mean?" they said to one another. Some others sneered, "They are brim-full of new wine!" But Peter stood up along with the eleven, and raising his voice he addressed them thus: "Men of Judaea and residents in Jerusalem, let everyone of you understand this ??attend to what I say: these men are not drunk, as you imagine. Why, it is only nine in the morning! No, this is what was predicted by the prophet Joel ??17 In the last days, saith God, then will I pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams: on my very slaves and slave-girls in those days will I pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will display wonders in heaven above and signs on earth below, blood and fire and vapour of smoke: the sun shall be changed into darkness and the moon into blood, ere the great, open Day of the Lord arrives. And everyone who invokes the name of the Lord shall be saved. Men of Israel, listen to my words. Jesus the Nazarene, a man accredited to you by God through miracles, wonders, and signs which God performed by him among you (as you yourselves know), this Jesus, betrayed in the predestined course of God's deliberate purpose, you got wicked men to nail to the cross and murder; but God raised him by checking the pangs of death. Death could not hold him. For David says of him, I saw the Lord before me evermore; lest I be shaken, he is at my right hand. My heart is glad, my tongue exults, my very flesh will rest in hope, because thou wilt not forsake my soul in the grave, nor let thy holy one suffer decay. Thou hast made known to me the paths of life, thou wilt fill me with delight in thy presence. Brothers, I can speak quite plainly to you about the patriarch David; he died and was buried and his tomb remains with us to this day. (He was a prophet; he knew God had sworn an oath to him that he would seat one of his descendants on his throne; so he spoke with a prevision of the resurrection of the Christ, when he said that he was not forsaken in the grave nor did his flesh suffer decay. This Jesus God raised, as we can all bear witness. Uplifted then by God's right hand, and receiving from the Father the long-promised holy Spirit, he has poured on us what you now see and hear.) For it was not David who ascended to heaven; David says, The Lord said to my Lord, 'Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies a footstool for your feet'. So let all the house of Israel understand beyond a doubt that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this very Jesus whom you have crucified."
and they were all filled with the holy Spirit ??they began to speak in foreign tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to express themselves. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. So when this sound was heard, the multitude gathered in bewilderment, for each heard them speaking in his own language. All were amazed and astonished. "Are these not all Galileans," they said, "who are speaking? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native tongue? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, residents in Mesopotamia, in Judaea and Cappadocia, in Pontus and Asia, in Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt and the districts of Libya round Cyrene, visitors from Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we hear these men talking of the triumphs of God in our own languages!" They were all amazed and quite at a loss. "What can it mean?" they said to one another. Some others sneered, "They are brim-full of new wine!" But Peter stood up along with the eleven, and raising his voice he addressed them thus: "Men of Judaea and residents in Jerusalem, let everyone of you understand this ??attend to what I say: these men are not drunk, as you imagine. Why, it is only nine in the morning! No, this is what was predicted by the prophet Joel ??17 In the last days, saith God, then will I pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams: on my very slaves and slave-girls in those days will I pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will display wonders in heaven above and signs on earth below, blood and fire and vapour of smoke: the sun shall be changed into darkness and the moon into blood, ere the great, open Day of the Lord arrives. And everyone who invokes the name of the Lord shall be saved. Men of Israel, listen to my words. Jesus the Nazarene, a man accredited to you by God through miracles, wonders, and signs which God performed by him among you (as you yourselves know), this Jesus, betrayed in the predestined course of God's deliberate purpose, you got wicked men to nail to the cross and murder; but God raised him by checking the pangs of death. Death could not hold him. For David says of him, I saw the Lord before me evermore; lest I be shaken, he is at my right hand. My heart is glad, my tongue exults, my very flesh will rest in hope, because thou wilt not forsake my soul in the grave, nor let thy holy one suffer decay. Thou hast made known to me the paths of life, thou wilt fill me with delight in thy presence. Brothers, I can speak quite plainly to you about the patriarch David; he died and was buried and his tomb remains with us to this day. (He was a prophet; he knew God had sworn an oath to him that he would seat one of his descendants on his throne; so he spoke with a prevision of the resurrection of the Christ, when he said that he was not forsaken in the grave nor did his flesh suffer decay. This Jesus God raised, as we can all bear witness. Uplifted then by God's right hand, and receiving from the Father the long-promised holy Spirit, he has poured on us what you now see and hear.) For it was not David who ascended to heaven; David says, The Lord said to my Lord, 'Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies a footstool for your feet'. So let all the house of Israel understand beyond a doubt that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this very Jesus whom you have crucified."
Select readings » Elisha and the widow's oil
Select readings » Stephen's defense
Said the high priest, "Is this true?" "Listen, brothers and fathers," said Stephen. "The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was still in Mesopotamia, before ever he stayed in Haran, and said to him, 'Leave your land and your countrymen and come to whatever land I show you.' read more.
Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and stayed in Haran. From Haran God shifted him, after his father's death, to this land which you now inhabit. But he did not give him any inheritance in it, not even a foot of the land. All be did was to promise that he would give it as a possession to him and to his offspring after him (he at the time being childless). What God said was this: 'His offspring will sojourn in a foreign land, where they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years. But,' said God, 'I will pass sentence on the nation that has made them slaves, and then they will get away to worship me in this Place.' God also gave him the covenant of circumcision. So Abraham became the father of Isaac, whom he circumcised on the eighth day, Isaac was the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs. Out of jealousy the patriarchs sold Joseph into Egypt; but God was with him, rescuing him from all his troubles and allowing him to find favour for his wisdom with Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him viceroy over Egypt and over all his own household. Now a famine came over the whole of Egypt and Canaan, attended with great misery, so that our ancestors could not find provender. But, hearing there was food in Egypt, Jacob sent our ancestors on their first visit to that country; at their second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Pharaoh was informed of Joseph's lineage. Then Joseph sent for his father Jacob and all his kinsfolk, amounting to seventy-five souls; and Jacob went south to Egypt. When he and our ancestors died, they were carried across to Shechem and laid in the tomb which Abraham had bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. As the time approached for the promise God had made to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, till another king arose to rule Egypt who knew nothing of Joseph. He took a cunning method with our race; he oppressed our ancestors by forcing them to expose their infants, to prevent them from surviving. It was at this period that Moses was born, a divinely beautiful child. For three months he was brought up in his father's house; then he was exposed, but Pharaoh's daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. So Moses was educated in all the culture of the Egyptians; he was a strong man in speech and action. When he had completed his fortieth year, it occurred to him to visit his brothers, the sons of Israel. He saw one of them being badly treated, so he defended him, struck down the Egyptian, and thus avenged the man who had been wronged. (He thought his brothers would understand God was going to bring them deliverance by means of him, but they did not understand.) Next day he came upon two of them fighting and tried to pacify them. "You are brothers!" he said, "why injure one another?" But the man who was injuring his neighbour pushed him aside. "Who made you ruler and umpire over us?" he asked. "Do you want to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?" At that Moses fled; he became a sojourner in the land of Midian, where he had two sons born to him. At the close of forty years an angel [of the Lord] appeared to him in the flames of a burning thorn-bush, in the desert of mount Sinai. When Moses saw this, he marvelled at the sight; and as he went up to look at it, the voice of the Lord said, 'I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob.' Moses was so terrified that he did not dare to look at the bush. But the Lord said to him, 'Take the sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is sacred ground. I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt, I have heard their groans, and I have come down to rescue them. Come now, I will send you back to Egypt.' The Moses they refused, when they said, 'Who made you ruler and umpire?' ??that was the very man whom God sent to rule and to redeem them, by aid of the angel who had appeared to him in the bush. He it was who led them forth, performing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in the desert during forty years. (This was the Moses who told the sons of Israel, 'God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brotherhood, as he raised me.') This was the man who at the assembly in the desert intervened between the angel who spoke to him on mount Sinai and our fathers; he received living Words to be given to us. But our fathers would not submit to him; they pushed him aside and hankered secretly after Egypt. They told Aaron, 'Make gods that will march in front of us! As for this Moses who led us out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him!' They actually made a calf in those days, offered sacrifice to this idol, and grew festive over what their own hands had manufactured. So God turned from them, abandoning them to the worship of the starry Host ??as it is written in the book of the prophets, Did you offer me victims and sacrifices during the forty years in the desert, O house of Israel? No, it was the tent of Moloch and the star-symbol of Rephan your god that you carried, figures that you manufactured for worship. So now I will transport you beyond Babylon! In the desert our fathers had the tent of witness as arranged by Him who told Moses to make it after the pattern he had seen. It was passed on and borne in by our fathers as with Joshua they took possession of the territory of the nations whom God drove out before our fathers. So it remained down to the days of David. He found favour with God and asked permission to devise a dwelling for the God of Jacob. It was Solomon, however, who built him a house. And yet the most High does not dwell in houses made by hands. As the prophet says, Heaven is my throne, the earth is a footstool for my feet! What house would you build me? saith the Lord. On what spot could I settle? Did not my hand make all this? Stiff-necked, uncircumcised in heart and ear, you are always resisting the holy Spirit! As with your fathers, so with you! Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Just One. And here you have betrayed him, murdered him! ??53 you who got the Law that angels transmitted, and have not obeyed it!" When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. He, full of the holy Spirit, gazed up at heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at God's right hand. "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of man standing at God's right hand!"
Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and stayed in Haran. From Haran God shifted him, after his father's death, to this land which you now inhabit. But he did not give him any inheritance in it, not even a foot of the land. All be did was to promise that he would give it as a possession to him and to his offspring after him (he at the time being childless). What God said was this: 'His offspring will sojourn in a foreign land, where they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years. But,' said God, 'I will pass sentence on the nation that has made them slaves, and then they will get away to worship me in this Place.' God also gave him the covenant of circumcision. So Abraham became the father of Isaac, whom he circumcised on the eighth day, Isaac was the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs. Out of jealousy the patriarchs sold Joseph into Egypt; but God was with him, rescuing him from all his troubles and allowing him to find favour for his wisdom with Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him viceroy over Egypt and over all his own household. Now a famine came over the whole of Egypt and Canaan, attended with great misery, so that our ancestors could not find provender. But, hearing there was food in Egypt, Jacob sent our ancestors on their first visit to that country; at their second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Pharaoh was informed of Joseph's lineage. Then Joseph sent for his father Jacob and all his kinsfolk, amounting to seventy-five souls; and Jacob went south to Egypt. When he and our ancestors died, they were carried across to Shechem and laid in the tomb which Abraham had bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. As the time approached for the promise God had made to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, till another king arose to rule Egypt who knew nothing of Joseph. He took a cunning method with our race; he oppressed our ancestors by forcing them to expose their infants, to prevent them from surviving. It was at this period that Moses was born, a divinely beautiful child. For three months he was brought up in his father's house; then he was exposed, but Pharaoh's daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. So Moses was educated in all the culture of the Egyptians; he was a strong man in speech and action. When he had completed his fortieth year, it occurred to him to visit his brothers, the sons of Israel. He saw one of them being badly treated, so he defended him, struck down the Egyptian, and thus avenged the man who had been wronged. (He thought his brothers would understand God was going to bring them deliverance by means of him, but they did not understand.) Next day he came upon two of them fighting and tried to pacify them. "You are brothers!" he said, "why injure one another?" But the man who was injuring his neighbour pushed him aside. "Who made you ruler and umpire over us?" he asked. "Do you want to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?" At that Moses fled; he became a sojourner in the land of Midian, where he had two sons born to him. At the close of forty years an angel [of the Lord] appeared to him in the flames of a burning thorn-bush, in the desert of mount Sinai. When Moses saw this, he marvelled at the sight; and as he went up to look at it, the voice of the Lord said, 'I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob.' Moses was so terrified that he did not dare to look at the bush. But the Lord said to him, 'Take the sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is sacred ground. I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt, I have heard their groans, and I have come down to rescue them. Come now, I will send you back to Egypt.' The Moses they refused, when they said, 'Who made you ruler and umpire?' ??that was the very man whom God sent to rule and to redeem them, by aid of the angel who had appeared to him in the bush. He it was who led them forth, performing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in the desert during forty years. (This was the Moses who told the sons of Israel, 'God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brotherhood, as he raised me.') This was the man who at the assembly in the desert intervened between the angel who spoke to him on mount Sinai and our fathers; he received living Words to be given to us. But our fathers would not submit to him; they pushed him aside and hankered secretly after Egypt. They told Aaron, 'Make gods that will march in front of us! As for this Moses who led us out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him!' They actually made a calf in those days, offered sacrifice to this idol, and grew festive over what their own hands had manufactured. So God turned from them, abandoning them to the worship of the starry Host ??as it is written in the book of the prophets, Did you offer me victims and sacrifices during the forty years in the desert, O house of Israel? No, it was the tent of Moloch and the star-symbol of Rephan your god that you carried, figures that you manufactured for worship. So now I will transport you beyond Babylon! In the desert our fathers had the tent of witness as arranged by Him who told Moses to make it after the pattern he had seen. It was passed on and borne in by our fathers as with Joshua they took possession of the territory of the nations whom God drove out before our fathers. So it remained down to the days of David. He found favour with God and asked permission to devise a dwelling for the God of Jacob. It was Solomon, however, who built him a house. And yet the most High does not dwell in houses made by hands. As the prophet says, Heaven is my throne, the earth is a footstool for my feet! What house would you build me? saith the Lord. On what spot could I settle? Did not my hand make all this? Stiff-necked, uncircumcised in heart and ear, you are always resisting the holy Spirit! As with your fathers, so with you! Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Just One. And here you have betrayed him, murdered him! ??53 you who got the Law that angels transmitted, and have not obeyed it!" When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. He, full of the holy Spirit, gazed up at heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at God's right hand. "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of man standing at God's right hand!"
Select readings » The beatitudes
So when he saw the crowds, he went up the hill and sat down; his disciples came up to him and he opened his lips and began to teach them. He said: "Blessed are those who feel poor in spirit! the Realm of heaven is theirs. read more.
Blessed are the mourners! they will be consoled. Blessed are the humble! they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for goodness! they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful! they will find mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart! they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers! they will be ranked sons of God. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of goodness! the Realm of heaven is theirs. Blessed are you when men denounce you and persecute you and utter all manner of evil against you for my sake; rejoice and exult in it, for your reward is rich in heaven; that is how they persecuted the prophets before you. You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes insipid, what can make it salt again? After that it is fit for nothing, fit only to be thrown outside and trodden by the feet of men. You are the light of the world. A town on the top of a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp to put it under a bowl; they put it on a stand and it shines for all in the house. So your light is to shine before men, that they may see the good you do and glorify your Father in heaven.
Blessed are the mourners! they will be consoled. Blessed are the humble! they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for goodness! they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful! they will find mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart! they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers! they will be ranked sons of God. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of goodness! the Realm of heaven is theirs. Blessed are you when men denounce you and persecute you and utter all manner of evil against you for my sake; rejoice and exult in it, for your reward is rich in heaven; that is how they persecuted the prophets before you. You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes insipid, what can make it salt again? After that it is fit for nothing, fit only to be thrown outside and trodden by the feet of men. You are the light of the world. A town on the top of a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp to put it under a bowl; they put it on a stand and it shines for all in the house. So your light is to shine before men, that they may see the good you do and glorify your Father in heaven.
Select readings » Old age
Select readings » The wrath of God
Select readings » Esther's triumph
Select readings » The omnipotence and incomparableness of God
Select readings » The majesty and providence of God
Select readings » Christ's kingdom foreshadowed
Select readings » The animals of the field
Select readings » God's challenge to job
Select readings » Nature's testimony
Select readings » In captivity
Select readings » The omnipresence of God
Select readings » Charity
Select readings » The new heaven and the new earth
Select readings » Paul in front of governor felix
Select readings » Paul in front of agrippa
Select readings » The joy of the righteous
Select readings » The state of the Godly
Select readings » Confidence in God
Select readings » The king of glory
Select readings » God, our refuge
Select readings » The new song
Select readings » The river of life
Select readings » God, Glory of
Select readings » The righteous and the wicked in contrast
Select readings » The triumphant king
Select readings » Lights and shadows
Select readings » Mankind in nature
United prayer » Select readings
He was praying at a certain place, and when he stopped one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say, Father, thy name be revered, thy Reign begin; give us our bread for the morrow day by day, read more.
and forgive us our sins for we do forgive everyone who has offended us; and lead us not into temptation." And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, let me have three loaves; for a friend of mine travelling has come to my house and I have nothing to set before him.' And suppose he answers from the inside, 'Don't bother me; the door is locked by this time, and my children are in bed with me. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give you anything because you are a friend of his, he will at least rise and give you whatever you want, because you persist. So I tell you, ask and the gift will be yours, seek and you will find, knock and the door will open to you; for everyone who asks receives, the seeker finds, the door is opened to anyone who knocks. What father among you, if asked by his son for a loaf, will hand him a stone? Or, if asked for a fish, will hand him a serpent instead of a fish? Or, if asked for an egg, will he hand him a scorpion? Well, if for all your evil you know to give your children what is good, how much more will your Father give the holy Spirit from heaven to those who ask him?"
and forgive us our sins for we do forgive everyone who has offended us; and lead us not into temptation." And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, let me have three loaves; for a friend of mine travelling has come to my house and I have nothing to set before him.' And suppose he answers from the inside, 'Don't bother me; the door is locked by this time, and my children are in bed with me. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give you anything because you are a friend of his, he will at least rise and give you whatever you want, because you persist. So I tell you, ask and the gift will be yours, seek and you will find, knock and the door will open to you; for everyone who asks receives, the seeker finds, the door is opened to anyone who knocks. What father among you, if asked by his son for a loaf, will hand him a stone? Or, if asked for a fish, will hand him a serpent instead of a fish? Or, if asked for an egg, will he hand him a scorpion? Well, if for all your evil you know to give your children what is good, how much more will your Father give the holy Spirit from heaven to those who ask him?"
He also told them a parable about the need of always praying and never losing heart. "In a certain town," he said, "there was a judge who had no reverence for God and no respect even for man. And in that town there was a widow who used to go and appeal to him for 'Justice against my opponent!' read more.
For a while he would not, but afterwards he said to himself, 'Though I have no reverence for God and no respect even for man, still, as this widow is bothering me, I will see justice done to her ??not to have her for ever coming and pestering me.' Listen," said the Lord, "to what this unjust judge says! And will not God see justice done to his elect who cry to him by day and night? Will he be tolerant to their opponents? I tell you, he will quickly see justice done to his elect! And yet, when the Son of man does come, will he find faith on earth?"
For a while he would not, but afterwards he said to himself, 'Though I have no reverence for God and no respect even for man, still, as this widow is bothering me, I will see justice done to her ??not to have her for ever coming and pestering me.' Listen," said the Lord, "to what this unjust judge says! And will not God see justice done to his elect who cry to him by day and night? Will he be tolerant to their opponents? I tell you, he will quickly see justice done to his elect! And yet, when the Son of man does come, will he find faith on earth?"
Unwise prayers » Select readings
He was praying at a certain place, and when he stopped one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say, Father, thy name be revered, thy Reign begin; give us our bread for the morrow day by day, read more.
and forgive us our sins for we do forgive everyone who has offended us; and lead us not into temptation." And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, let me have three loaves; for a friend of mine travelling has come to my house and I have nothing to set before him.' And suppose he answers from the inside, 'Don't bother me; the door is locked by this time, and my children are in bed with me. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give you anything because you are a friend of his, he will at least rise and give you whatever you want, because you persist. So I tell you, ask and the gift will be yours, seek and you will find, knock and the door will open to you; for everyone who asks receives, the seeker finds, the door is opened to anyone who knocks. What father among you, if asked by his son for a loaf, will hand him a stone? Or, if asked for a fish, will hand him a serpent instead of a fish? Or, if asked for an egg, will he hand him a scorpion? Well, if for all your evil you know to give your children what is good, how much more will your Father give the holy Spirit from heaven to those who ask him?"
and forgive us our sins for we do forgive everyone who has offended us; and lead us not into temptation." And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, let me have three loaves; for a friend of mine travelling has come to my house and I have nothing to set before him.' And suppose he answers from the inside, 'Don't bother me; the door is locked by this time, and my children are in bed with me. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give you anything because you are a friend of his, he will at least rise and give you whatever you want, because you persist. So I tell you, ask and the gift will be yours, seek and you will find, knock and the door will open to you; for everyone who asks receives, the seeker finds, the door is opened to anyone who knocks. What father among you, if asked by his son for a loaf, will hand him a stone? Or, if asked for a fish, will hand him a serpent instead of a fish? Or, if asked for an egg, will he hand him a scorpion? Well, if for all your evil you know to give your children what is good, how much more will your Father give the holy Spirit from heaven to those who ask him?"
He also told them a parable about the need of always praying and never losing heart. "In a certain town," he said, "there was a judge who had no reverence for God and no respect even for man. And in that town there was a widow who used to go and appeal to him for 'Justice against my opponent!' read more.
For a while he would not, but afterwards he said to himself, 'Though I have no reverence for God and no respect even for man, still, as this widow is bothering me, I will see justice done to her ??not to have her for ever coming and pestering me.' Listen," said the Lord, "to what this unjust judge says! And will not God see justice done to his elect who cry to him by day and night? Will he be tolerant to their opponents? I tell you, he will quickly see justice done to his elect! And yet, when the Son of man does come, will he find faith on earth?"
For a while he would not, but afterwards he said to himself, 'Though I have no reverence for God and no respect even for man, still, as this widow is bothering me, I will see justice done to her ??not to have her for ever coming and pestering me.' Listen," said the Lord, "to what this unjust judge says! And will not God see justice done to his elect who cry to him by day and night? Will he be tolerant to their opponents? I tell you, he will quickly see justice done to his elect! And yet, when the Son of man does come, will he find faith on earth?"
Wealth » Accumulation of » Select readings
And he told them a parable. "A rich man's estate bore heavy crops. So he debated, 'What am I to do? I have no room to store my crops.' And he said, 'This is what I will do. I will pull down my granaries and build larger ones, where I can store all my produce and my goods. read more.
And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have ample stores laid up for many a year; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry."' But God said to him, 'Foolish man, this very night your soul is wanted; and who will get all you have prepared?' So fares the man who lays up treasure for himself instead of gaining the riches of God."
And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have ample stores laid up for many a year; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry."' But God said to him, 'Foolish man, this very night your soul is wanted; and who will get all you have prepared?' So fares the man who lays up treasure for himself instead of gaining the riches of God."
There was a rich man, clad in purple and fine linen, who lived sumptuously every day. Outside his door lay a poor man called Lazarus; he was a mass of ulcers, and fain to eat up the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. (The very dogs used to come and lick his ulcers.) read more.
Now it happened that the poor man died, and he was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man died too, and was buried. And as he was being tortured in Hades he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus in his bosom; so he called out, 'Father Abraham, take pity on me, send Lazarus to dip his fingertip in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in these flames.' But Abraham said, 'Remember, my son, you got all the bliss when you were alive, just as Lazarus got the ills of life; he is in comfort now, and you are in anguish. Besides all that, a great gulf yawns between us and you, to keep back those who want to cross from us to you and also those who want to pass from you to us.' Then he said, 'Well, father, I beg you to send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers; let him bear testimony to them, that they may not come to this place of torture as well.' 'They have got Moses and the prophets,' said Abraham, 'they can listen to them.' 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone only goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' He said to him, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced, not even if one rose from the dead."
Now it happened that the poor man died, and he was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man died too, and was buried. And as he was being tortured in Hades he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus in his bosom; so he called out, 'Father Abraham, take pity on me, send Lazarus to dip his fingertip in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in these flames.' But Abraham said, 'Remember, my son, you got all the bliss when you were alive, just as Lazarus got the ills of life; he is in comfort now, and you are in anguish. Besides all that, a great gulf yawns between us and you, to keep back those who want to cross from us to you and also those who want to pass from you to us.' Then he said, 'Well, father, I beg you to send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers; let him bear testimony to them, that they may not come to this place of torture as well.' 'They have got Moses and the prophets,' said Abraham, 'they can listen to them.' 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone only goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' He said to him, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced, not even if one rose from the dead."