Thematic Bible: Select readings
Thematic Bible
Christ » Devotions of » Select readings
Once He was praying in a certain place, and when He ceased, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." So He said to them, "Whenever you pray, say: 'Father, Your name be revered; Your kingdom come; continue giving us day by day our daily bread, read more.
and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who does us wrong, and do not let us be subjected to temptation.'" Then He said to them: "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him in the middle of the night and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has just come to my house on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him to eat.' And suppose he answers from inside, 'Stop bothering me; the door is now locked, and my children are packed about me in bed; I cannot get up and give you any.' I tell you, although he will not get up and give you any because he is your friend, yet because of your persistence he will get up and give you all your needs. So I tell you, keep on asking, and the gift will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and the door will open to you. For everyone who keeps on asking, receives; and the one who keeps on seeking, finds; and to the one who keeps on knocking, the door will open. Now is there a father among you who, if his son asks him for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or, if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? So if you, in spite of your being bad, know how to give your children what is good, how much more surely will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who continue to ask Him?"
and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who does us wrong, and do not let us be subjected to temptation.'" Then He said to them: "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him in the middle of the night and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has just come to my house on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him to eat.' And suppose he answers from inside, 'Stop bothering me; the door is now locked, and my children are packed about me in bed; I cannot get up and give you any.' I tell you, although he will not get up and give you any because he is your friend, yet because of your persistence he will get up and give you all your needs. So I tell you, keep on asking, and the gift will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and the door will open to you. For everyone who keeps on asking, receives; and the one who keeps on seeking, finds; and to the one who keeps on knocking, the door will open. Now is there a father among you who, if his son asks him for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or, if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? So if you, in spite of your being bad, know how to give your children what is good, how much more surely will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who continue to ask Him?"
Now He told them the following story to show how necessary it is for people always to pray and never to give up: "Once there was in a city a judge who had no reverence for God nor respect for men. And in that city there was a widow who continued to come to him and say, 'Give me justice and protection from my opponent.' read more.
And he would not for a time, but afterward he said to himself, Though I have no reverence for God nor respect for men, yet because this widow continues to bother me, I will give her justice and protection, so that she may not finally wear me out by her continual coming." Then the Lord added, "Listen to what the unrighteous judge says! And will not God give justice and protection to His chosen people who continue to cry to Him day and night, since He is so patient with them? I tell you, He will give them justice and protection, and that without delay. But when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?"
And he would not for a time, but afterward he said to himself, Though I have no reverence for God nor respect for men, yet because this widow continues to bother me, I will give her justice and protection, so that she may not finally wear me out by her continual coming." Then the Lord added, "Listen to what the unrighteous judge says! And will not God give justice and protection to His chosen people who continue to cry to Him day and night, since He is so patient with them? I tell you, He will give them justice and protection, and that without delay. But when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?"
Daily duty » Select readings
Take care that none of you ever pays back evil for evil, but always keep looking for ways to show kindness to one another and everybody. Always be joyful. Never stop praying. read more.
Make it a habit to give thanks for everything, for this is God's will for you through Christ Jesus. Stop stifling the Spirit. Stop treating the messages of prophecy with contempt, but continue to prove all things until you can approve them, and then hold on to what is good. Continue to abstain from every sort of evil. May God Himself, who gave you peace, consecrate your whole being. May you be safely kept, spirit, soul, and body, so as to be blameless when our Lord Jesus Christ comes back. He who calls you is trustworthy and He will do this. Brothers, pray for us. Greet all the brothers with a sacred kiss. I solemnly charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers. The spiritual blessing of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Make it a habit to give thanks for everything, for this is God's will for you through Christ Jesus. Stop stifling the Spirit. Stop treating the messages of prophecy with contempt, but continue to prove all things until you can approve them, and then hold on to what is good. Continue to abstain from every sort of evil. May God Himself, who gave you peace, consecrate your whole being. May you be safely kept, spirit, soul, and body, so as to be blameless when our Lord Jesus Christ comes back. He who calls you is trustworthy and He will do this. Brothers, pray for us. Greet all the brothers with a sacred kiss. I solemnly charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers. The spiritual blessing of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
The Dead » Resurrection of » Select readings
Also we do not want you to have any misunderstanding, brothers, about those who are falling asleep, so as to keep you from grieving over them as others do who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, then through Jesus, God will bring back with Him those who have fallen asleep. For on the Lord's own authority we say that those of us who may be left behind and are still living when the Lord comes back, will have no advantage at all over those who have fallen asleep. read more.
For the Lord Himself, at the summons sounded by the archangel's call and by God's trumpet, will come down from heaven, and first of all the dead in union with Christ will rise, then those of us who are still living will be caught up along with them on clouds in the air to meet the Lord, and so we shall be with the Lord forever. So continue encouraging one another with this truth.
For the Lord Himself, at the summons sounded by the archangel's call and by God's trumpet, will come down from heaven, and first of all the dead in union with Christ will rise, then those of us who are still living will be caught up along with them on clouds in the air to meet the Lord, and so we shall be with the Lord forever. So continue encouraging one another with this truth.
Now a man was sick; it was Lazarus who lived in Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was the Mary who poured the perfume upon the Lord and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. So the sisters sent this message to Jesus, "Lord, listen! the one you love so well is sick." read more.
When Jesus received the message, He said, "This sickness is not to end in death but is to honor God, that the Son of God through it may be honored." Now Jesus held in loving esteem Martha and her sister and Lazarus. But when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed over for two days in the place where He was. After that He said to His disciples, "Let us go back to Judea." The disciples said to Him, "Teacher, the Jews just now were trying to stone you, and are you going back there again?" Jesus answered, "Does not the day have twelve hours? If a man travels in the daytime, he does not stumble, for he can see the light of this world; but if he travels in the nighttime, he does stumble, because he has no light." He said this, and after that He added, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to wake him." The disciples said to Him, "Lord, if he has merely fallen asleep, he will recover." But Jesus had spoken about his death. However, they supposed that He was referring to falling into a natural sleep. So Jesus then told them plainly: "Lazarus is dead, and I am glad for your sake that I was not there so that you may come to have real faith in me. But let us go to him." Then Thomas the Twin said to his fellow-disciples, "Let us go too, and die with Him." When Jesus reached there, He found that Lazarus had been buried for four days. Now Bethany is only about two miles from Jerusalem, and a goodly number of Jews had come out to see Martha and Mary, to sympathize with them over their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet Him, but Mary stayed at home. Then Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask God for He will give you." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise at the resurrection, on the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life myself. Whoever continues to believe in me will live right on even though he dies, and no person who continues to live and believe in me will ever die at all. Do you believe this?" She said to Him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world." On saying this she went back and called her sister Mary, whispering to her, "The Teacher is here and is asking for you." As soon as she heard it, she jumped up and started to Jesus, for He had not yet come into the village, but He was still at the place where Martha had met Him. So the Jews who were with her in the house sympathizing with her, when they saw Mary jump up and go out, followed her, because they supposed that she was going to the grave to pour out her grief there. When Mary came where Jesus was and saw Him, she threw herself at His feet, and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." So when Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her weeping too, He sighed in sympathy and shook with emotion, and asked, "Where have you laid him?" They answered, "Lord, come and see." Jesus burst into tears. So the Jews said, "See how tenderly He loved him!" But some of them said, "Could not this man, who made that blind man see, have kept Lazarus from dying?" Now Jesus sighed again and continued to sigh as He went to the grave. It was a cave with a stone lying over the mouth of it. Jesus said, "Slip the stone aside." The dead man's sister, Martha, said to Him, "Lord, by this time he is offensive, for he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not promise you that if you would believe in me, you should see the glory of God?" So they slipped the stone aside. And Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you for listening to me; yes, I knew that you always listen to me. But I have said this for the sake of the crowd that is standing by, that they may come to believe that you have sent me." On saying this, He shouted aloud, "Lazarus, come out!" Then out came the dead man, his feet and hands tied with wrappings, and his face tied up with a handkerchief. Jesus said to them, "Untie him and let him go."
When Jesus received the message, He said, "This sickness is not to end in death but is to honor God, that the Son of God through it may be honored." Now Jesus held in loving esteem Martha and her sister and Lazarus. But when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed over for two days in the place where He was. After that He said to His disciples, "Let us go back to Judea." The disciples said to Him, "Teacher, the Jews just now were trying to stone you, and are you going back there again?" Jesus answered, "Does not the day have twelve hours? If a man travels in the daytime, he does not stumble, for he can see the light of this world; but if he travels in the nighttime, he does stumble, because he has no light." He said this, and after that He added, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to wake him." The disciples said to Him, "Lord, if he has merely fallen asleep, he will recover." But Jesus had spoken about his death. However, they supposed that He was referring to falling into a natural sleep. So Jesus then told them plainly: "Lazarus is dead, and I am glad for your sake that I was not there so that you may come to have real faith in me. But let us go to him." Then Thomas the Twin said to his fellow-disciples, "Let us go too, and die with Him." When Jesus reached there, He found that Lazarus had been buried for four days. Now Bethany is only about two miles from Jerusalem, and a goodly number of Jews had come out to see Martha and Mary, to sympathize with them over their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet Him, but Mary stayed at home. Then Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask God for He will give you." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise at the resurrection, on the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life myself. Whoever continues to believe in me will live right on even though he dies, and no person who continues to live and believe in me will ever die at all. Do you believe this?" She said to Him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world." On saying this she went back and called her sister Mary, whispering to her, "The Teacher is here and is asking for you." As soon as she heard it, she jumped up and started to Jesus, for He had not yet come into the village, but He was still at the place where Martha had met Him. So the Jews who were with her in the house sympathizing with her, when they saw Mary jump up and go out, followed her, because they supposed that she was going to the grave to pour out her grief there. When Mary came where Jesus was and saw Him, she threw herself at His feet, and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." So when Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her weeping too, He sighed in sympathy and shook with emotion, and asked, "Where have you laid him?" They answered, "Lord, come and see." Jesus burst into tears. So the Jews said, "See how tenderly He loved him!" But some of them said, "Could not this man, who made that blind man see, have kept Lazarus from dying?" Now Jesus sighed again and continued to sigh as He went to the grave. It was a cave with a stone lying over the mouth of it. Jesus said, "Slip the stone aside." The dead man's sister, Martha, said to Him, "Lord, by this time he is offensive, for he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not promise you that if you would believe in me, you should see the glory of God?" So they slipped the stone aside. And Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you for listening to me; yes, I knew that you always listen to me. But I have said this for the sake of the crowd that is standing by, that they may come to believe that you have sent me." On saying this, He shouted aloud, "Lazarus, come out!" Then out came the dead man, his feet and hands tied with wrappings, and his face tied up with a handkerchief. Jesus said to them, "Untie him and let him go."
When the Sabbath had ended, Mary of Magdala, Mary, James's mother, and Salome bought spices to go and anoint Him. It was very early, just after the sun had risen, on the first day of the week, when they went to the tomb. And they kept saying to one another, "Who will roll the boulder back from the doorway of the tomb for us?" read more.
Then they looked up and saw that the boulder had already been rolled to one side, for it was a very large one. And when they went into the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting at the right; and they were utterly astounded. But he said to them, "You must not be so astounded; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified. He has risen; He is not here. See! Here is the spot where they laid Him. But you go and tell His disciples and Peter, 'He is going back to Galilee to meet you; you will see Him there, just as He told you.'" Then they left the tomb and fled, for they were trembling and bewildered, and they did not tell anybody a single thing about it, for they were afraid to do so. Now after He had risen, early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary of Magdala, out of whom He had driven seven demons. She went out and told it to His disciples, while they were mourning and weeping. But although they had heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. After this He showed Himself in a different form to two of them as they were walking along, on their way into the country. Then they went back and told the rest, but they would not believe them either. Later on He appeared to the Eleven themselves while they were at table, and reproved them for their lack of faith and their stubbornness, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had been raised from the dead.
Then they looked up and saw that the boulder had already been rolled to one side, for it was a very large one. And when they went into the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting at the right; and they were utterly astounded. But he said to them, "You must not be so astounded; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified. He has risen; He is not here. See! Here is the spot where they laid Him. But you go and tell His disciples and Peter, 'He is going back to Galilee to meet you; you will see Him there, just as He told you.'" Then they left the tomb and fled, for they were trembling and bewildered, and they did not tell anybody a single thing about it, for they were afraid to do so. Now after He had risen, early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary of Magdala, out of whom He had driven seven demons. She went out and told it to His disciples, while they were mourning and weeping. But although they had heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. After this He showed Himself in a different form to two of them as they were walking along, on their way into the country. Then they went back and told the rest, but they would not believe them either. Later on He appeared to the Eleven themselves while they were at table, and reproved them for their lack of faith and their stubbornness, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had been raised from the dead.
Now on the Sabbath they rested, in accordance with the commandment, but on the first day of the week at early dawn they went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared. But they found the boulder rolled back from the tomb, and yet on going inside they did not find the body. read more.
And as they were being perplexed about this, two men in dazzling robes suddenly took their stand beside them. Because the women were so frightened and were turning their faces to the ground, they said to them, "Why are you looking among the dead for Him who is alive? [He is not here but has risen.] Remember what He told you while He was still in Galilee, when He said that the Son of Man had to be turned over to wicked men and crucified, but was to rise again on the third day." Then they recalled His words and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the Eleven and all the rest. They were Mary of Magdala and Joanna, and Mary, James's mother, who, with the other women, reported these things to the apostles. But the report seemed to them to be nonsense, and so they continued to disbelieve the women. [Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb, and stooped down and saw the linen clothes but nothing else. Then he went home wondering at what had taken place.] On that very day, strange to say, two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and were talking together about all these things that had taken place. And as they were talking, and discussing these things, Jesus Himself came up near to them and continued to walk with them, but their eyes were in such a state as to keep them from recognizing Him. Then He said to them, "What is this that you are discussing together as you walk?" So they stopped and stood still with puzzled countenances. Finally one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered Him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who has not heard of the things that have taken place there in these last days?" And He said to them, "What sort of things?" They answered Him, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who in the sight of God and of all the people became a prophet mighty in deed and word, and how the high priests and leading men turned Him over to be sentenced to death, and had Him crucified. But we kept hoping that He was the One who was coming to set Israel free. Moreover, besides all this, it is now the third day since these things occurred. Yes, indeed, some women of our number have astounded us! They went to the tomb early this morning and could not find His body, but came and told us that they had actually had a vision of angels who said He was alive. Then some of our company went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Him." Then He said to them, "O men sluggish in mind and slow in heart to believe all that the prophets have said! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and thus to enter into His glory?" Then He began with Moses and went through all the prophets and explained to them all the passages in the Scriptures about Himself. Then they approached the village to which they were going, and He acted as though He were going on farther, but they earnestly urged Him, and said, "Stop and stay with us, for it is getting toward evening and the day is nearly spent." So He went in to stay with them. And after He had taken His place at table with them, He took the loaf and blessed it and broke it in pieces and handed it to them. Then their eyes were instantly opened and they recognized Him, and at once He vanished from them. Then they said to each other, "Did not our hearts keep burning in our bosoms as He was talking to us on the road, as He went on explaining the Scriptures to us?" So at once they got up and went back to Jerusalem and found the Eleven and their company all together, who told them that the Lord had really risen and had been seen by Simon. Then they themselves began to tell what had occurred on the road, and how He was recognized by them when He broke the loaf in pieces. Even while they were talking about these things, He took His stand among them Himself, [and said to them, "Peace to you!"] and they were so startled and terror-stricken that they were beginning to think that they saw a ghost. But He said to them, "Why are you so disturbed and why are doubts arising in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, for it is I, myself. Feel of me and see for yourselves, for a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." [After He had said this He showed them His hands and His feet.] So while they were still disbelieving for sheer joy and still wondering about it, He asked them, "Have you anything here to eat?" Then they gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and He took it and ate it before their eyes. Then He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you, that everything which is written about me in the law of Moses, in the prophets, and in the Psalms, had to be fulfilled." Then He opened their minds so that they might continue to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, "The Scriptures said that the Christ should suffer as He has suffered, should rise from the dead on the third day,
And as they were being perplexed about this, two men in dazzling robes suddenly took their stand beside them. Because the women were so frightened and were turning their faces to the ground, they said to them, "Why are you looking among the dead for Him who is alive? [He is not here but has risen.] Remember what He told you while He was still in Galilee, when He said that the Son of Man had to be turned over to wicked men and crucified, but was to rise again on the third day." Then they recalled His words and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the Eleven and all the rest. They were Mary of Magdala and Joanna, and Mary, James's mother, who, with the other women, reported these things to the apostles. But the report seemed to them to be nonsense, and so they continued to disbelieve the women. [Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb, and stooped down and saw the linen clothes but nothing else. Then he went home wondering at what had taken place.] On that very day, strange to say, two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and were talking together about all these things that had taken place. And as they were talking, and discussing these things, Jesus Himself came up near to them and continued to walk with them, but their eyes were in such a state as to keep them from recognizing Him. Then He said to them, "What is this that you are discussing together as you walk?" So they stopped and stood still with puzzled countenances. Finally one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered Him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who has not heard of the things that have taken place there in these last days?" And He said to them, "What sort of things?" They answered Him, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who in the sight of God and of all the people became a prophet mighty in deed and word, and how the high priests and leading men turned Him over to be sentenced to death, and had Him crucified. But we kept hoping that He was the One who was coming to set Israel free. Moreover, besides all this, it is now the third day since these things occurred. Yes, indeed, some women of our number have astounded us! They went to the tomb early this morning and could not find His body, but came and told us that they had actually had a vision of angels who said He was alive. Then some of our company went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Him." Then He said to them, "O men sluggish in mind and slow in heart to believe all that the prophets have said! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and thus to enter into His glory?" Then He began with Moses and went through all the prophets and explained to them all the passages in the Scriptures about Himself. Then they approached the village to which they were going, and He acted as though He were going on farther, but they earnestly urged Him, and said, "Stop and stay with us, for it is getting toward evening and the day is nearly spent." So He went in to stay with them. And after He had taken His place at table with them, He took the loaf and blessed it and broke it in pieces and handed it to them. Then their eyes were instantly opened and they recognized Him, and at once He vanished from them. Then they said to each other, "Did not our hearts keep burning in our bosoms as He was talking to us on the road, as He went on explaining the Scriptures to us?" So at once they got up and went back to Jerusalem and found the Eleven and their company all together, who told them that the Lord had really risen and had been seen by Simon. Then they themselves began to tell what had occurred on the road, and how He was recognized by them when He broke the loaf in pieces. Even while they were talking about these things, He took His stand among them Himself, [and said to them, "Peace to you!"] and they were so startled and terror-stricken that they were beginning to think that they saw a ghost. But He said to them, "Why are you so disturbed and why are doubts arising in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, for it is I, myself. Feel of me and see for yourselves, for a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." [After He had said this He showed them His hands and His feet.] So while they were still disbelieving for sheer joy and still wondering about it, He asked them, "Have you anything here to eat?" Then they gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and He took it and ate it before their eyes. Then He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you, that everything which is written about me in the law of Moses, in the prophets, and in the Psalms, had to be fulfilled." Then He opened their minds so that they might continue to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, "The Scriptures said that the Christ should suffer as He has suffered, should rise from the dead on the third day,
God » Wisdom of » Select readings
spiritual Growth » Encouraged » Select readings
I have much to say to you about Him, but it is difficult to make it clear to you, since you have become so dull in your spiritual senses. For although you ought to be teachers of others because you have been Christians so long, you actually need someone to teach you over and over again the very elements of the truths that God has given us, and you have gotten into such a state that you are in constant need of milk instead of solid food. For everyone who uses milk alone is inexperienced in the message of right-doing; he is only an infant. read more.
But solid food belongs to full-grown men who on account of constant use have their faculties trained to distinguish good and evil.
But solid food belongs to full-grown men who on account of constant use have their faculties trained to distinguish good and evil.
So then let us once for all quit the elementary teaching about Christ and continue progressing toward maturity; let us stop relaying a foundation of repentance from works that mean only death, and of faith in God, of teaching about ceremonial washings and the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead and final judgment. And we will progress, if God permits. read more.
For it is impossible for those who have once for all been enlightened and have experienced the gift from heaven, who have been made sharers of the Holy Spirit and have experienced how good God's message is and the mighty powers of the age to come, and then have fallen by the wayside -- it is impossible, I say, to keep on restoring them to their first repentance, since they continue to crucify the Son of God to their detriment and hold Him up to contempt. For a piece of ground that drinks in the rains so frequently falling on it, and continues yielding vegetation useful to those for whose sakes it is cultivated, receives from God His blessings. But if it continues to yield thorns and thistles, it is considered worthless and in danger of being cursed, and its final fate is burning. But in your case, my dearly loved friends, even though we speak in such a tone, we are sure of better things, yea, things that point to salvation. For God is not so unjust as to forget the work you have done and the love you have shown His name in the service you have rendered for your fellow-Christians, and still are doing. And we desire each one of you to continue to show the same earnestness to the very end, that you may enjoy your hope to the fullest, so that you may not grow careless, but may follow the example of those who through their faith and patient endurance are now possessors of the blessings promised. For when God made His promise to Abraham, He took an oath by Himself, since He had no one greater by whom He could take it, saying: "I will certainly bless you over and over again, I will extensively increase your numbers." And so by patiently waiting he obtained what God had promised him. For it is a custom among men to take oath by something greater than themselves, and an oath taken for confirmation settles any dispute among them.
For it is impossible for those who have once for all been enlightened and have experienced the gift from heaven, who have been made sharers of the Holy Spirit and have experienced how good God's message is and the mighty powers of the age to come, and then have fallen by the wayside -- it is impossible, I say, to keep on restoring them to their first repentance, since they continue to crucify the Son of God to their detriment and hold Him up to contempt. For a piece of ground that drinks in the rains so frequently falling on it, and continues yielding vegetation useful to those for whose sakes it is cultivated, receives from God His blessings. But if it continues to yield thorns and thistles, it is considered worthless and in danger of being cursed, and its final fate is burning. But in your case, my dearly loved friends, even though we speak in such a tone, we are sure of better things, yea, things that point to salvation. For God is not so unjust as to forget the work you have done and the love you have shown His name in the service you have rendered for your fellow-Christians, and still are doing. And we desire each one of you to continue to show the same earnestness to the very end, that you may enjoy your hope to the fullest, so that you may not grow careless, but may follow the example of those who through their faith and patient endurance are now possessors of the blessings promised. For when God made His promise to Abraham, He took an oath by Himself, since He had no one greater by whom He could take it, saying: "I will certainly bless you over and over again, I will extensively increase your numbers." And so by patiently waiting he obtained what God had promised him. For it is a custom among men to take oath by something greater than themselves, and an oath taken for confirmation settles any dispute among them.
Heavenly » Home heavenly home the final dwelling place of the saints » Select readings
So I tell you, make friends by the right use of your money, which so easily tends to wrongdoing, so that when it fails, your friends may welcome you to the eternal dwellings.
Importunity » Select readings
Once He was praying in a certain place, and when He ceased, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." So He said to them, "Whenever you pray, say: 'Father, Your name be revered; Your kingdom come; continue giving us day by day our daily bread, read more.
and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who does us wrong, and do not let us be subjected to temptation.'" Then He said to them: "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him in the middle of the night and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has just come to my house on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him to eat.' And suppose he answers from inside, 'Stop bothering me; the door is now locked, and my children are packed about me in bed; I cannot get up and give you any.' I tell you, although he will not get up and give you any because he is your friend, yet because of your persistence he will get up and give you all your needs. So I tell you, keep on asking, and the gift will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and the door will open to you. For everyone who keeps on asking, receives; and the one who keeps on seeking, finds; and to the one who keeps on knocking, the door will open. Now is there a father among you who, if his son asks him for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or, if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? So if you, in spite of your being bad, know how to give your children what is good, how much more surely will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who continue to ask Him?"
and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who does us wrong, and do not let us be subjected to temptation.'" Then He said to them: "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him in the middle of the night and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has just come to my house on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him to eat.' And suppose he answers from inside, 'Stop bothering me; the door is now locked, and my children are packed about me in bed; I cannot get up and give you any.' I tell you, although he will not get up and give you any because he is your friend, yet because of your persistence he will get up and give you all your needs. So I tell you, keep on asking, and the gift will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and the door will open to you. For everyone who keeps on asking, receives; and the one who keeps on seeking, finds; and to the one who keeps on knocking, the door will open. Now is there a father among you who, if his son asks him for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or, if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? So if you, in spite of your being bad, know how to give your children what is good, how much more surely will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who continue to ask Him?"
Now He told them the following story to show how necessary it is for people always to pray and never to give up: "Once there was in a city a judge who had no reverence for God nor respect for men. And in that city there was a widow who continued to come to him and say, 'Give me justice and protection from my opponent.' read more.
And he would not for a time, but afterward he said to himself, Though I have no reverence for God nor respect for men, yet because this widow continues to bother me, I will give her justice and protection, so that she may not finally wear me out by her continual coming." Then the Lord added, "Listen to what the unrighteous judge says! And will not God give justice and protection to His chosen people who continue to cry to Him day and night, since He is so patient with them? I tell you, He will give them justice and protection, and that without delay. But when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?"
And he would not for a time, but afterward he said to himself, Though I have no reverence for God nor respect for men, yet because this widow continues to bother me, I will give her justice and protection, so that she may not finally wear me out by her continual coming." Then the Lord added, "Listen to what the unrighteous judge says! And will not God give justice and protection to His chosen people who continue to cry to Him day and night, since He is so patient with them? I tell you, He will give them justice and protection, and that without delay. But when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?"
Prayer » Select readings
Once He was praying in a certain place, and when He ceased, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." So He said to them, "Whenever you pray, say: 'Father, Your name be revered; Your kingdom come; continue giving us day by day our daily bread, read more.
and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who does us wrong, and do not let us be subjected to temptation.'" Then He said to them: "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him in the middle of the night and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has just come to my house on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him to eat.' And suppose he answers from inside, 'Stop bothering me; the door is now locked, and my children are packed about me in bed; I cannot get up and give you any.' I tell you, although he will not get up and give you any because he is your friend, yet because of your persistence he will get up and give you all your needs. So I tell you, keep on asking, and the gift will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and the door will open to you. For everyone who keeps on asking, receives; and the one who keeps on seeking, finds; and to the one who keeps on knocking, the door will open. Now is there a father among you who, if his son asks him for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or, if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? So if you, in spite of your being bad, know how to give your children what is good, how much more surely will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who continue to ask Him?"
and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who does us wrong, and do not let us be subjected to temptation.'" Then He said to them: "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him in the middle of the night and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has just come to my house on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him to eat.' And suppose he answers from inside, 'Stop bothering me; the door is now locked, and my children are packed about me in bed; I cannot get up and give you any.' I tell you, although he will not get up and give you any because he is your friend, yet because of your persistence he will get up and give you all your needs. So I tell you, keep on asking, and the gift will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and the door will open to you. For everyone who keeps on asking, receives; and the one who keeps on seeking, finds; and to the one who keeps on knocking, the door will open. Now is there a father among you who, if his son asks him for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or, if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? So if you, in spite of your being bad, know how to give your children what is good, how much more surely will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who continue to ask Him?"
Now He told them the following story to show how necessary it is for people always to pray and never to give up: "Once there was in a city a judge who had no reverence for God nor respect for men. And in that city there was a widow who continued to come to him and say, 'Give me justice and protection from my opponent.' read more.
And he would not for a time, but afterward he said to himself, Though I have no reverence for God nor respect for men, yet because this widow continues to bother me, I will give her justice and protection, so that she may not finally wear me out by her continual coming." Then the Lord added, "Listen to what the unrighteous judge says! And will not God give justice and protection to His chosen people who continue to cry to Him day and night, since He is so patient with them? I tell you, He will give them justice and protection, and that without delay. But when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?"
And he would not for a time, but afterward he said to himself, Though I have no reverence for God nor respect for men, yet because this widow continues to bother me, I will give her justice and protection, so that she may not finally wear me out by her continual coming." Then the Lord added, "Listen to what the unrighteous judge says! And will not God give justice and protection to His chosen people who continue to cry to Him day and night, since He is so patient with them? I tell you, He will give them justice and protection, and that without delay. But when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?"
Select readings » The raising of lazarus
Now a man was sick; it was Lazarus who lived in Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was the Mary who poured the perfume upon the Lord and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. So the sisters sent this message to Jesus, "Lord, listen! the one you love so well is sick."
Now Bethany is only about two miles from Jerusalem, and a goodly number of Jews had come out to see Martha and Mary, to sympathize with them over their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet Him, but Mary stayed at home. read more.
Then Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask God for He will give you." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise at the resurrection, on the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life myself. Whoever continues to believe in me will live right on even though he dies, and no person who continues to live and believe in me will ever die at all. Do you believe this?" She said to Him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world." On saying this she went back and called her sister Mary, whispering to her, "The Teacher is here and is asking for you." As soon as she heard it, she jumped up and started to Jesus, for He had not yet come into the village, but He was still at the place where Martha had met Him. So the Jews who were with her in the house sympathizing with her, when they saw Mary jump up and go out, followed her, because they supposed that she was going to the grave to pour out her grief there. When Mary came where Jesus was and saw Him, she threw herself at His feet, and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." So when Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her weeping too, He sighed in sympathy and shook with emotion, and asked, "Where have you laid him?" They answered, "Lord, come and see." Jesus burst into tears. So the Jews said, "See how tenderly He loved him!" But some of them said, "Could not this man, who made that blind man see, have kept Lazarus from dying?" Now Jesus sighed again and continued to sigh as He went to the grave. It was a cave with a stone lying over the mouth of it. Jesus said, "Slip the stone aside." The dead man's sister, Martha, said to Him, "Lord, by this time he is offensive, for he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not promise you that if you would believe in me, you should see the glory of God?" So they slipped the stone aside. And Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you for listening to me; yes, I knew that you always listen to me. But I have said this for the sake of the crowd that is standing by, that they may come to believe that you have sent me." On saying this, He shouted aloud, "Lazarus, come out!" Then out came the dead man, his feet and hands tied with wrappings, and his face tied up with a handkerchief. Jesus said to them, "Untie him and let him go." Thus many of the Jews, who came to see Mary and who saw what Jesus had done, believed in Him; but some of them went back to the Pharisees and told them what He had done.
Then Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask God for He will give you." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise at the resurrection, on the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life myself. Whoever continues to believe in me will live right on even though he dies, and no person who continues to live and believe in me will ever die at all. Do you believe this?" She said to Him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world." On saying this she went back and called her sister Mary, whispering to her, "The Teacher is here and is asking for you." As soon as she heard it, she jumped up and started to Jesus, for He had not yet come into the village, but He was still at the place where Martha had met Him. So the Jews who were with her in the house sympathizing with her, when they saw Mary jump up and go out, followed her, because they supposed that she was going to the grave to pour out her grief there. When Mary came where Jesus was and saw Him, she threw herself at His feet, and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." So when Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her weeping too, He sighed in sympathy and shook with emotion, and asked, "Where have you laid him?" They answered, "Lord, come and see." Jesus burst into tears. So the Jews said, "See how tenderly He loved him!" But some of them said, "Could not this man, who made that blind man see, have kept Lazarus from dying?" Now Jesus sighed again and continued to sigh as He went to the grave. It was a cave with a stone lying over the mouth of it. Jesus said, "Slip the stone aside." The dead man's sister, Martha, said to Him, "Lord, by this time he is offensive, for he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not promise you that if you would believe in me, you should see the glory of God?" So they slipped the stone aside. And Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you for listening to me; yes, I knew that you always listen to me. But I have said this for the sake of the crowd that is standing by, that they may come to believe that you have sent me." On saying this, He shouted aloud, "Lazarus, come out!" Then out came the dead man, his feet and hands tied with wrappings, and his face tied up with a handkerchief. Jesus said to them, "Untie him and let him go." Thus many of the Jews, who came to see Mary and who saw what Jesus had done, believed in Him; but some of them went back to the Pharisees and told them what He had done.
Select readings » David's lament over absalom
Select readings » The betrayal of jesus by judas iscariot
While He was still speaking, look! a crowd had come up, and Judas, one of the Twelve, was their guide; and he stepped up to Jesus to kiss Him. Then Jesus said to him, "Judas, will you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?" Those who were about Him saw what was about to take place, and said, "Lord, shall we use our swords now?" read more.
Then one of them struck the high priest's slave and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, "Permit me to go as far as this!" So He touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the high priests, captains of the temple, and elders, who had come to take Him, "Have you come out with swords and clubs as though I were a robber? While I was among you day after day in the temple, you never laid a hand on me! But this is your opportunity, even the power which darkness gives you!" Then they arrested Him and led Him away and brought Him to the house of the high priest. Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had taken their seats together, Peter, too, was sitting among them. A servant girl saw him sitting by the fire and fixed her eyes on him and said, "This fellow was with Him too." But he denied it and said, "I do not know Him, woman." A little later a man looked at him and said, "You are one of them too." But Peter said, "Man, I am not." About an hour later another man emphatically asserted, "He certainly was with Him, for he is a Galilean!" But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you mean." And all at once, while he was still speaking, a cock crowed. Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter, and Peter was reminded of the word that the Lord had spoken to him, "Before a cock crows today, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and burst into bitter tears.
Then one of them struck the high priest's slave and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, "Permit me to go as far as this!" So He touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the high priests, captains of the temple, and elders, who had come to take Him, "Have you come out with swords and clubs as though I were a robber? While I was among you day after day in the temple, you never laid a hand on me! But this is your opportunity, even the power which darkness gives you!" Then they arrested Him and led Him away and brought Him to the house of the high priest. Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had taken their seats together, Peter, too, was sitting among them. A servant girl saw him sitting by the fire and fixed her eyes on him and said, "This fellow was with Him too." But he denied it and said, "I do not know Him, woman." A little later a man looked at him and said, "You are one of them too." But Peter said, "Man, I am not." About an hour later another man emphatically asserted, "He certainly was with Him, for he is a Galilean!" But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you mean." And all at once, while he was still speaking, a cock crowed. Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter, and Peter was reminded of the word that the Lord had spoken to him, "Before a cock crows today, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and burst into bitter tears.
Select readings » The parable of the good samaritan
Just then an expert in the law got up to test Him by asking, "Teacher, what shall I do to get possession of eternal life?" And He answered him, "What is written in the law? How does it read?" Then he answered, "You must love the Lord your God with your whole heart, your whole soul, your whole strength, and your whole mind, and your neighbor as you do yourself." read more.
He said to him, "You have answered correctly. Continue to do this, and you will live." But he, as he wished to justify his question, said, "But who is my neighbor?" Jesus answered: "A man was on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell into the hands of robbers, who both stripped him and beat him till he was half dead, and then went off and left him. Now a priest happened to be going that way, but when he saw him, he went by on the other side of the road. So a Levite likewise came down to the place, but when he saw him, he went by on the other side. But a Samaritan, while on a journey, came down to him, and when he saw him, his heart was moved with pity for him. So he went to him and dressed his wounds by pouring oil and wine upon them, and then he put him on his donkey and brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out a half dollar and handed it to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him, and on my way back I will repay you.' Which one of these three do you think proved himself a real neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers' hands?" He said, "The one who took pity on him." Jesus said to him, "Go and practice it yourself."
He said to him, "You have answered correctly. Continue to do this, and you will live." But he, as he wished to justify his question, said, "But who is my neighbor?" Jesus answered: "A man was on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell into the hands of robbers, who both stripped him and beat him till he was half dead, and then went off and left him. Now a priest happened to be going that way, but when he saw him, he went by on the other side of the road. So a Levite likewise came down to the place, but when he saw him, he went by on the other side. But a Samaritan, while on a journey, came down to him, and when he saw him, his heart was moved with pity for him. So he went to him and dressed his wounds by pouring oil and wine upon them, and then he put him on his donkey and brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out a half dollar and handed it to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him, and on my way back I will repay you.' Which one of these three do you think proved himself a real neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers' hands?" He said, "The one who took pity on him." Jesus said to him, "Go and practice it yourself."
Select readings » Elijah's miraculous preservation
Select readings » The parable of the prodigal son
Then He said: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.' So he divided his property between them. Not many days after that, the younger son got together all he had and went away to a distant country, and there he squandered all his property by living in dissipation. read more.
After he had spent it all, a severe famine struck that country, and he began to suffer want. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, and he sent him to his fields to feed hogs. And often he craved to fill himself with the carob-pods which the hogs were eating, and nobody gave him a bite. Then he came to himself and said, 'How many of my father's hired men have more to eat than they need, and here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your opinion; I no longer deserve to be called your son; just treat me like one of your hired men."' So he got up and went to his father. But, while he was still a long way off, his father saw him, and his heart was moved with pity for him, and he ran and fell on his neck, and kissed him affectionately. His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your opinion; I no longer deserve to be called your son; just treat me like one of your hired men.' But his father said to his slaves, 'Bring out at once a robe, yes, the finest one, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet; take the fattening calf and kill it, and let us feast and celebrate, because this son of mine was dead and has come to life, was lost and has been found!' So they began to celebrate. "Now his elder son was in the field. So, on coming in, as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. Then he called one of the servant-boys and asked him what this meant. He said to him, 'Your brother has come back, and your father has killed the fattening calf, because he has gotten him back safe and sound.' So he became angry and would not go into the house. Then his father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, 'See! I have served you all these years and have never disobeyed a command of yours, but you have never given me even a kid, so that I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours arrives, who has eaten up your property with immoral women, you have killed for him the fattening calf.' Then he said to him, 'My child, you have been with me all the time, and all I have is yours. But we just had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life, was lost and has been found.'"
After he had spent it all, a severe famine struck that country, and he began to suffer want. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, and he sent him to his fields to feed hogs. And often he craved to fill himself with the carob-pods which the hogs were eating, and nobody gave him a bite. Then he came to himself and said, 'How many of my father's hired men have more to eat than they need, and here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your opinion; I no longer deserve to be called your son; just treat me like one of your hired men."' So he got up and went to his father. But, while he was still a long way off, his father saw him, and his heart was moved with pity for him, and he ran and fell on his neck, and kissed him affectionately. His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your opinion; I no longer deserve to be called your son; just treat me like one of your hired men.' But his father said to his slaves, 'Bring out at once a robe, yes, the finest one, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet; take the fattening calf and kill it, and let us feast and celebrate, because this son of mine was dead and has come to life, was lost and has been found!' So they began to celebrate. "Now his elder son was in the field. So, on coming in, as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. Then he called one of the servant-boys and asked him what this meant. He said to him, 'Your brother has come back, and your father has killed the fattening calf, because he has gotten him back safe and sound.' So he became angry and would not go into the house. Then his father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, 'See! I have served you all these years and have never disobeyed a command of yours, but you have never given me even a kid, so that I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours arrives, who has eaten up your property with immoral women, you have killed for him the fattening calf.' Then he said to him, 'My child, you have been with me all the time, and all I have is yours. But we just had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life, was lost and has been found.'"
Select readings » The brevity of life
Select readings » Paul on mars' hill
So Paul stood up in the center of the auditorium and said: "Men of Athens, at every turn I make I see that you are very religious. For as I was going here and there and looking at the things you worship, I even found an altar with this inscription, 'TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.' So it is about the Being whom you are in ignorance already worshiping that I am telling you. The God who made the world and all that it contains, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made by human hands, read more.
nor is He served by human hands as though He were in need of anything, for He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one forefather He made every nation of mankind, for living all over the face of the earth, fixing their appointed times and the limits of their lands, so that they might search for God, possibly they might grope for Him, and find Him, though He is really not far from any of us. For it is through union with Him that we live and move and exist, as some of your own poets have said, "'For we are His offspring too.' Since then we are God's offspring, we ought not to suppose that His nature is like gold or silver or stone or anything carved by man's art and thought. Though God overlooked those times of ignorance, He now commands all men everywhere to repent, since He has set a day on which He will justly judge the world through a man whom He has appointed. He has made this credible to all by raising Him from the dead."
nor is He served by human hands as though He were in need of anything, for He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one forefather He made every nation of mankind, for living all over the face of the earth, fixing their appointed times and the limits of their lands, so that they might search for God, possibly they might grope for Him, and find Him, though He is really not far from any of us. For it is through union with Him that we live and move and exist, as some of your own poets have said, "'For we are His offspring too.' Since then we are God's offspring, we ought not to suppose that His nature is like gold or silver or stone or anything carved by man's art and thought. Though God overlooked those times of ignorance, He now commands all men everywhere to repent, since He has set a day on which He will justly judge the world through a man whom He has appointed. He has made this credible to all by raising Him from the dead."
Select readings » Judah's defense
Select readings » Paul and silas in prison
Once as we were on our way to the place of prayer, a slave girl met us who had the gift of magical fortune-telling, and continued to make great profits for her owners by fortune-telling. This girl kept following Paul and the rest of us, shrieking, "These men are slaves of the Most High God, and they are proclaiming to you a way of salvation." She kept this up for a number of days. Because Paul was so much annoyed by her, he turned and said to the spirit in her, "In the name of Jesus Christ I order you to come out of her." And that very moment it came out. read more.
But as the owners saw that the hope of their profit-making was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the public square, before the authorities, and brought them to the chiefs of the police court. They said, "These men are Jews; they continue to make great disturbance in our town and to advocate practices which it is against the law for us Romans to accept or observe." The crowd also joined in the attack upon them, and the chiefs of the police court had them stripped and flogged. After flogging them severely, they put them into jail, and gave the jailer orders to keep close watch on them. Because he had such strict orders, he put them into the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. But about midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, suddenly there was an earthquake so great that it shook the very foundations of the jail, the doors all flew open, and every prisoner's chains were unfastened. When the jailer awoke and saw that the jail doors were open, he drew his sword and was on the point of killing himself, because he thought that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul at once shouted out to him, "Do yourself no harm, for we are all here!" Then the jailer called for lights and rushed in and fell trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas. After leading them out of the jail, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you and your household will be saved." Then they told God's message to him and to all the members of his household. Even at that time of the night he took them and washed their wounds, and he and all the members of his household at once were baptized. Then he took them up to his house and gave them food, and he and all the members of his household were happy in their faith in God. When day broke, the chiefs of the police court sent policemen with the message to let the men go. The jailer reported this message to Paul, saying, "The chiefs of the police court have sent orders to let you go. So now you may come out and go in peace." But Paul said to them, "They beat us in public and that without a trial, and put us in jail although we are Roman citizens! Let them come here themselves and take us out!" The policemen reported this message to the chiefs of the police court, and they became alarmed when they heard that they were Roman citizens, and came and pleaded with them, and took them out and begged them to leave town. After getting out of jail, they went to Lydia's house; they saw the brothers and encouraged them, and then left town.
But as the owners saw that the hope of their profit-making was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the public square, before the authorities, and brought them to the chiefs of the police court. They said, "These men are Jews; they continue to make great disturbance in our town and to advocate practices which it is against the law for us Romans to accept or observe." The crowd also joined in the attack upon them, and the chiefs of the police court had them stripped and flogged. After flogging them severely, they put them into jail, and gave the jailer orders to keep close watch on them. Because he had such strict orders, he put them into the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. But about midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, suddenly there was an earthquake so great that it shook the very foundations of the jail, the doors all flew open, and every prisoner's chains were unfastened. When the jailer awoke and saw that the jail doors were open, he drew his sword and was on the point of killing himself, because he thought that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul at once shouted out to him, "Do yourself no harm, for we are all here!" Then the jailer called for lights and rushed in and fell trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas. After leading them out of the jail, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you and your household will be saved." Then they told God's message to him and to all the members of his household. Even at that time of the night he took them and washed their wounds, and he and all the members of his household at once were baptized. Then he took them up to his house and gave them food, and he and all the members of his household were happy in their faith in God. When day broke, the chiefs of the police court sent policemen with the message to let the men go. The jailer reported this message to Paul, saying, "The chiefs of the police court have sent orders to let you go. So now you may come out and go in peace." But Paul said to them, "They beat us in public and that without a trial, and put us in jail although we are Roman citizens! Let them come here themselves and take us out!" The policemen reported this message to the chiefs of the police court, and they became alarmed when they heard that they were Roman citizens, and came and pleaded with them, and took them out and begged them to leave town. After getting out of jail, they went to Lydia's house; they saw the brothers and encouraged them, and then left town.
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
Now his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he uttered the following prophecy: "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for He has come and brought His people deliverance; and He has made a mighty Saviour for us in the house of His servant David, read more.
"as He promised by the lips of His ancient prophets, deliverance from our foes and from the hands of all who hate us, to show mercy to our forefathers, and carry out His sacred covenant, the oath which He swore to our forefather Abraham, to grant us deliverance from the dreaded hand of our foes, so that we could serve Him in holiness and uprightness In His own presence all our days. And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to make ready His ways, to give His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. Because the heart of our God is merciful. And so the day will dawn upon us from on high, to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." Now the child continued to grow and to gain strength in the Spirit, and he lived in the desert until the day when he announced himself to Israel.
"as He promised by the lips of His ancient prophets, deliverance from our foes and from the hands of all who hate us, to show mercy to our forefathers, and carry out His sacred covenant, the oath which He swore to our forefather Abraham, to grant us deliverance from the dreaded hand of our foes, so that we could serve Him in holiness and uprightness In His own presence all our days. And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to make ready His ways, to give His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. Because the heart of our God is merciful. And so the day will dawn upon us from on high, to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." Now the child continued to grow and to gain strength in the Spirit, and he lived in the desert until the day when he announced himself to Israel.
Select readings » Joseph revealing his identity
Select readings » Mankind in extremity
Select readings » Mary's magnificat
Then Mary said: "My soul extols the Lord; my spirit exults in God my Saviour; for He has smiled upon His slave in her lowly station, for from this day all ages will count me happy! read more.
For the Almighty has done wonders for me, and holy is His name! He shows His mercy from age to age to those who fear him. He has done mighty deeds with His arm. He has scattered those that are proud in the purpose of their hearts. He has dethroned monarchs and exalted the poor. He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. He has helped His servant Israel, so as to remember mercy, as He promised our forefathers, Abraham and his descendants forever." Now Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned home.
For the Almighty has done wonders for me, and holy is His name! He shows His mercy from age to age to those who fear him. He has done mighty deeds with His arm. He has scattered those that are proud in the purpose of their hearts. He has dethroned monarchs and exalted the poor. He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. He has helped His servant Israel, so as to remember mercy, as He promised our forefathers, Abraham and his descendants forever." Now Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned home.
Select readings » God's providence
Take a good look at the wild birds, for they do not sow or reap, or store up food in barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps on feeding them. Are you not worth more than they? But which of you by worrying can add a single minute to his life? And why should you worry about clothes? Look at the wild lilies and learn how they grow. They do not toil or spin; read more.
but I tell you, not even Solomon, in all his gorgeous splendor, was ever dressed up like a single one of these. Now if God so gorgeously dresses the wild grass which today is green but tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O you with little faith? So never worry and say, 'What are we going to have to eat? What are we going to have to drink? What are we going to have to wear?' For the heathen are greedily pursuing all such things; and surely your heavenly Father well knows that you need them all. But as your first duty keep on looking for His standard of doing right, and for His will, and then all these things will be yours besides. So never worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries of its own. Each day has evil enough of its own."
but I tell you, not even Solomon, in all his gorgeous splendor, was ever dressed up like a single one of these. Now if God so gorgeously dresses the wild grass which today is green but tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O you with little faith? So never worry and say, 'What are we going to have to eat? What are we going to have to drink? What are we going to have to wear?' For the heathen are greedily pursuing all such things; and surely your heavenly Father well knows that you need them all. But as your first duty keep on looking for His standard of doing right, and for His will, and then all these things will be yours besides. So never worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries of its own. Each day has evil enough of its own."
Select readings » Naaman the leper
Select readings » The resurrection of jesus Christ
Now on the Sabbath they rested, in accordance with the commandment, but on the first day of the week at early dawn they went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared. But they found the boulder rolled back from the tomb, and yet on going inside they did not find the body. read more.
And as they were being perplexed about this, two men in dazzling robes suddenly took their stand beside them. Because the women were so frightened and were turning their faces to the ground, they said to them, "Why are you looking among the dead for Him who is alive? [He is not here but has risen.] Remember what He told you while He was still in Galilee, when He said that the Son of Man had to be turned over to wicked men and crucified, but was to rise again on the third day." Then they recalled His words and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the Eleven and all the rest. They were Mary of Magdala and Joanna, and Mary, James's mother, who, with the other women, reported these things to the apostles. But the report seemed to them to be nonsense, and so they continued to disbelieve the women. [Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb, and stooped down and saw the linen clothes but nothing else. Then he went home wondering at what had taken place.]
And as they were being perplexed about this, two men in dazzling robes suddenly took their stand beside them. Because the women were so frightened and were turning their faces to the ground, they said to them, "Why are you looking among the dead for Him who is alive? [He is not here but has risen.] Remember what He told you while He was still in Galilee, when He said that the Son of Man had to be turned over to wicked men and crucified, but was to rise again on the third day." Then they recalled His words and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the Eleven and all the rest. They were Mary of Magdala and Joanna, and Mary, James's mother, who, with the other women, reported these things to the apostles. But the report seemed to them to be nonsense, and so they continued to disbelieve the women. [Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb, and stooped down and saw the linen clothes but nothing else. Then he went home wondering at what had taken place.]
Select readings » Wise and foolish builders
Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will get into the kingdom of heaven, but only those who practice doing the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, was it not in your name that we prophesied, and in your name that we drove out demons, and in your name that we did many wonder-works?' And then I will say to them openly, 'I never knew you at all. Go away from me, you who practiced doing wrong.' read more.
"So everyone who listens to my words and practices their teaching, will be like a prudent man who built his house on a rocky foundation. And the rain fell, and the rivers rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, but it did not fall, for its pillars had been laid on a rocky foundation. And anyone who listens to my words and does not practice their teaching, will be like an imprudent man who built his house on sand. And the rain fell, and the rivers rose, and the wind blew and beat against that house, and it collapsed, and the wreck of it was complete."
"So everyone who listens to my words and practices their teaching, will be like a prudent man who built his house on a rocky foundation. And the rain fell, and the rivers rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, but it did not fall, for its pillars had been laid on a rocky foundation. And anyone who listens to my words and does not practice their teaching, will be like an imprudent man who built his house on sand. And the rain fell, and the rivers rose, and the wind blew and beat against that house, and it collapsed, and the wreck of it was complete."
Select readings » Peter on the day of pentecost
When the day of Pentecost had now come, they were all meeting in one mind, when suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a terrific blast of wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting, And they saw tongues like flames of fire separating and resting on their heads, one to each of them, read more.
and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in foreign languages as the Spirit granted them to utter divine things. Now there were devout Jews from every part of the world living in Jerusalem. And when this sound was heard, the crowd rushed together in great excitement, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were perfectly astounded, and in bewilderment they continued to say, "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? So how is it that each of us hears them speaking in his own native tongue? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia, of Judea and Cappadocia, of Pontus and Asia, of Phrygia and Pamphylia, of Egypt and the district of Libya around Cyrene, transient dwellers from Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs -- we hear them all alike telling in our own tongues the great wonders of God." And thus they all continued to be astounded and bewildered, and continued to say to each other, "What can this mean?" But others in derision were saying, "They are running over with new wine." Then Peter stood with the Eleven around him, and raising his voice he addressed them, "Men of Judea and all you residents of Jerusalem, let me explain this to you, and give close attention to my words. These men are not drunk as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 'It will occur in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all mankind. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will have visions. Your old men will have dreams. Even on my slaves, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will become prophets. I will show wonders in the sky above, and signs upon the earth below, yes, blood and fire and smoky mist. The sun will turn to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. Then everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.' "Fellow Israelites, listen to what I say. Jesus of Nazareth, as you yourselves well know, a man accredited to you by God through mighty deeds and wonders and wonder-works which God performed through Him right here among you, this very Jesus, I say, after He was betrayed, in accordance with the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you had wicked men kill by nailing Him to a cross; but God raised Him up by loosing Him from the pangs of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held by the power of death. For David says of Him: 'I always kept my eyes upon the Lord, for He is at my right hand, so that I may not be removed. So my heart is glad and my tongue exults, and my body still lives in hope. For you will not forsake my soul to Hades. Nor will you let your Holy One experience decay. You have made known to me the ways of life, and you will fill me with delight in your presence.' "Brothers, I may confidently say to you about the patriarch David, that he died and was buried, and that his grave is here among us to this very day. So, as he was a prophet and knew that God with an oath had promised to put one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw the resurrection of the Christ and told of it, for He was not forsaken to Hades, and His body did not undergo decay. I mean Jesus whom God raised from the dead, to which fact we are all witnesses, So He has been exalted to God's right hand and has received from His Father, as promised, and poured out upon us the Holy Spirit, as you see and hear. For David did not go up to heaven, but he himself says: 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, Until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet."' "Therefore, let all the descendants of Israel understand beyond a doubt that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ."
and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in foreign languages as the Spirit granted them to utter divine things. Now there were devout Jews from every part of the world living in Jerusalem. And when this sound was heard, the crowd rushed together in great excitement, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were perfectly astounded, and in bewilderment they continued to say, "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? So how is it that each of us hears them speaking in his own native tongue? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia, of Judea and Cappadocia, of Pontus and Asia, of Phrygia and Pamphylia, of Egypt and the district of Libya around Cyrene, transient dwellers from Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs -- we hear them all alike telling in our own tongues the great wonders of God." And thus they all continued to be astounded and bewildered, and continued to say to each other, "What can this mean?" But others in derision were saying, "They are running over with new wine." Then Peter stood with the Eleven around him, and raising his voice he addressed them, "Men of Judea and all you residents of Jerusalem, let me explain this to you, and give close attention to my words. These men are not drunk as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 'It will occur in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all mankind. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will have visions. Your old men will have dreams. Even on my slaves, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will become prophets. I will show wonders in the sky above, and signs upon the earth below, yes, blood and fire and smoky mist. The sun will turn to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. Then everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.' "Fellow Israelites, listen to what I say. Jesus of Nazareth, as you yourselves well know, a man accredited to you by God through mighty deeds and wonders and wonder-works which God performed through Him right here among you, this very Jesus, I say, after He was betrayed, in accordance with the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you had wicked men kill by nailing Him to a cross; but God raised Him up by loosing Him from the pangs of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held by the power of death. For David says of Him: 'I always kept my eyes upon the Lord, for He is at my right hand, so that I may not be removed. So my heart is glad and my tongue exults, and my body still lives in hope. For you will not forsake my soul to Hades. Nor will you let your Holy One experience decay. You have made known to me the ways of life, and you will fill me with delight in your presence.' "Brothers, I may confidently say to you about the patriarch David, that he died and was buried, and that his grave is here among us to this very day. So, as he was a prophet and knew that God with an oath had promised to put one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw the resurrection of the Christ and told of it, for He was not forsaken to Hades, and His body did not undergo decay. I mean Jesus whom God raised from the dead, to which fact we are all witnesses, So He has been exalted to God's right hand and has received from His Father, as promised, and poured out upon us the Holy Spirit, as you see and hear. For David did not go up to heaven, but he himself says: 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, Until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet."' "Therefore, let all the descendants of Israel understand beyond a doubt that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ."
Select readings » Elisha and the widow's oil
Select readings » Stephen's defense
The high priest asked, "Are these statements true?" He answered: "Listen, brothers and fathers. The glorious God appeared to our forefather Abraham while he was in Mesopotamia before he ever made his home in Haran, and said to him, 'Leave your country and your kinsmen and come to Whatever country I may show you.' read more.
So he left the country of the Chaldeans and for a time made his home in Haran. Then after the death of his father, God had him move to this country in which you now live. He gave him no property in it, not even a foot of land, and yet He promised to give it to him and his descendants after him, as a permanent possession, although he had no child at that time. This is what God promised: 'His descendants will be strangers living in a foreign land, and its people will enslave and oppress them for four hundred years.' But God further promised: 'I will pass sentence on the nation that enslaves them, and after that they will leave that country and worship me on this very spot.' And with Abraham He made the sacred compact of circumcision, and he became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs. And the patriarchs became jealous of Joseph and sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him and delivered him from all his troubles, and allowed him to win favor and to show wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and so he appointed Joseph governor of Egypt and of his whole household. Then a famine spread all over Egypt and Canaan, and with it great suffering, and our forefathers could not find the simplest food. But Jacob heard that there was food in Egypt and sent our forefathers on their first visit down there. On their second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and thus Joseph's race was revealed to Pharaoh. Then Joseph sent and invited his father Jacob and all his kinsmen, seventy-five in all; and Jacob came down to Egypt. There he and our forefathers died and were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb which Abraham had bought with a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. As the time approached for realizing the promise which God had made to Abraham, the people multiplied and became more numerous in Egypt, until another king, who knew nothing about Joseph, ascended the throne. By taking a cunning advantage of our race he oppressed our forefathers by forcing them to expose their infants so that they should not live. At this time Moses was born. He was a divinely beautiful child. For three months he was cared for in his father's house. When he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. Thus Moses was educated in all the culture of the Egyptians, and was a mighty man in speech and action. As he was rounding out his fortieth year, it occurred to him to visit his brothers, the descendants of Israel. Because he saw one of them being mistreated, he defended and avenged the man who was suffering ill-treatment by striking down the Egyptian. He supposed that his brothers would understand that God through his instrumentality was going to deliver them, but they did not. The next day he showed himself to two of them engaged in a fight, and he tried to get them to make friends, saying, 'You are brothers, why should you harm each other?' But the man who was harming his brother pushed him aside, saying, 'Who made you our ruler and referee? Do you want to kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?' At this statement Moses fled, and went and lived in the land of Midian, and became the father of two sons. When forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the desert of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning bush. When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight, and when he went up to look at it, the voice of the Lord said to him, 'I am the God of your forefathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.' Moses was so terrified that he did not dare to look at the bush. Then the Lord said to him, 'Take your shoes off your feet, for the place where you are standing is sacred ground. Because I have seen the oppression of my people in Egypt and heard their groans, I have come down to deliver them. So come! I will send you back to Egypt as my messenger.' That very Moses whom they refused, saying, 'Who made you our ruler and referee?' was the man whom God sent to be both their ruler and deliverer, by the help of the angel who had appeared to him in the bush. It was he who brought them out of Egypt by performing wonders and signs there and at the Red Sea -- as he did also in the desert for forty years. It was this Moses who said to the descendants of Israel, 'God will raise up a prophet for you from among you, just as He did me.' This is the one who in the congregation in the desert went between the angel, who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and our forefathers, who also received, to be handed down to you, utterances that still live. But our forefathers would not listen to him, but pushed him aside, and in their hearts they hankered after Egypt; and they said to Aaron, 'Make us gods to march in front of us, for as for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him!' In those days they even made a calf, and offered sacrifice to their idol, and held a celebration over the works of their own hands. So God turned away from them and gave them over to worship the starry host, as it is written in the Book of the Prophets: 'Did you really offer me victims and sacrifices those forty years in the desert, O house of Israel? No, you offered me the tent of Moloch and the star of your god Rompha, the images you had made to worship! So I will now remove you beyond Babylon.' "In the desert our forefathers had the tent of the testimony, like the model Moses had seen, as God who spoke to him ordered him to make it. This tent our forefathers brought in and passed on when under Joshua they dispossessed the nations which God drove out before them, and it remained until the time of David. He found favor with God and begged to design a dwelling for the God of Jacob, but it was Solomon who came to build a house for Him. But the Most High does not live in buildings built by human hands. As the prophet says: '"Heaven is my throne, and earth a footstool for my feet. What house can you build for me?" says the Lord; "Or what place is there in which I can rest? Was it not my hand that made them all?"' "You people, stubborn in will, heathenish in hearts and ears, you are always resisting the Holy Spirit, as your forefathers did, too. Which of the prophets did your forefathers fail to persecute? They killed the prophets who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have betrayed and murdered Him, you who received the law by order of the angels, and yet you did not obey it!" As they continued to listen to this address, they were becoming infuriated and began to grind their teeth at him. But since he was full of the Holy Spirit, he looked right into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at God's right hand. So he said, "Look! I see heaven open, and the Son of Man standing at God's right hand."
So he left the country of the Chaldeans and for a time made his home in Haran. Then after the death of his father, God had him move to this country in which you now live. He gave him no property in it, not even a foot of land, and yet He promised to give it to him and his descendants after him, as a permanent possession, although he had no child at that time. This is what God promised: 'His descendants will be strangers living in a foreign land, and its people will enslave and oppress them for four hundred years.' But God further promised: 'I will pass sentence on the nation that enslaves them, and after that they will leave that country and worship me on this very spot.' And with Abraham He made the sacred compact of circumcision, and he became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs. And the patriarchs became jealous of Joseph and sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him and delivered him from all his troubles, and allowed him to win favor and to show wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and so he appointed Joseph governor of Egypt and of his whole household. Then a famine spread all over Egypt and Canaan, and with it great suffering, and our forefathers could not find the simplest food. But Jacob heard that there was food in Egypt and sent our forefathers on their first visit down there. On their second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and thus Joseph's race was revealed to Pharaoh. Then Joseph sent and invited his father Jacob and all his kinsmen, seventy-five in all; and Jacob came down to Egypt. There he and our forefathers died and were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb which Abraham had bought with a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. As the time approached for realizing the promise which God had made to Abraham, the people multiplied and became more numerous in Egypt, until another king, who knew nothing about Joseph, ascended the throne. By taking a cunning advantage of our race he oppressed our forefathers by forcing them to expose their infants so that they should not live. At this time Moses was born. He was a divinely beautiful child. For three months he was cared for in his father's house. When he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. Thus Moses was educated in all the culture of the Egyptians, and was a mighty man in speech and action. As he was rounding out his fortieth year, it occurred to him to visit his brothers, the descendants of Israel. Because he saw one of them being mistreated, he defended and avenged the man who was suffering ill-treatment by striking down the Egyptian. He supposed that his brothers would understand that God through his instrumentality was going to deliver them, but they did not. The next day he showed himself to two of them engaged in a fight, and he tried to get them to make friends, saying, 'You are brothers, why should you harm each other?' But the man who was harming his brother pushed him aside, saying, 'Who made you our ruler and referee? Do you want to kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?' At this statement Moses fled, and went and lived in the land of Midian, and became the father of two sons. When forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the desert of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning bush. When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight, and when he went up to look at it, the voice of the Lord said to him, 'I am the God of your forefathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.' Moses was so terrified that he did not dare to look at the bush. Then the Lord said to him, 'Take your shoes off your feet, for the place where you are standing is sacred ground. Because I have seen the oppression of my people in Egypt and heard their groans, I have come down to deliver them. So come! I will send you back to Egypt as my messenger.' That very Moses whom they refused, saying, 'Who made you our ruler and referee?' was the man whom God sent to be both their ruler and deliverer, by the help of the angel who had appeared to him in the bush. It was he who brought them out of Egypt by performing wonders and signs there and at the Red Sea -- as he did also in the desert for forty years. It was this Moses who said to the descendants of Israel, 'God will raise up a prophet for you from among you, just as He did me.' This is the one who in the congregation in the desert went between the angel, who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and our forefathers, who also received, to be handed down to you, utterances that still live. But our forefathers would not listen to him, but pushed him aside, and in their hearts they hankered after Egypt; and they said to Aaron, 'Make us gods to march in front of us, for as for this Moses, who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him!' In those days they even made a calf, and offered sacrifice to their idol, and held a celebration over the works of their own hands. So God turned away from them and gave them over to worship the starry host, as it is written in the Book of the Prophets: 'Did you really offer me victims and sacrifices those forty years in the desert, O house of Israel? No, you offered me the tent of Moloch and the star of your god Rompha, the images you had made to worship! So I will now remove you beyond Babylon.' "In the desert our forefathers had the tent of the testimony, like the model Moses had seen, as God who spoke to him ordered him to make it. This tent our forefathers brought in and passed on when under Joshua they dispossessed the nations which God drove out before them, and it remained until the time of David. He found favor with God and begged to design a dwelling for the God of Jacob, but it was Solomon who came to build a house for Him. But the Most High does not live in buildings built by human hands. As the prophet says: '"Heaven is my throne, and earth a footstool for my feet. What house can you build for me?" says the Lord; "Or what place is there in which I can rest? Was it not my hand that made them all?"' "You people, stubborn in will, heathenish in hearts and ears, you are always resisting the Holy Spirit, as your forefathers did, too. Which of the prophets did your forefathers fail to persecute? They killed the prophets who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have betrayed and murdered Him, you who received the law by order of the angels, and yet you did not obey it!" As they continued to listen to this address, they were becoming infuriated and began to grind their teeth at him. But since he was full of the Holy Spirit, he looked right into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at God's right hand. So he said, "Look! I see heaven open, and the Son of Man standing at God's right hand."
Select readings » The beatitudes
When He saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain. After He had taken His seat, His disciples came up to Him. Then He opened His mouth and continued to teach them as follows: "Blessed are those who feel poor in spiritual things, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. read more.
"Blessed are the mourners, for they will be comforted. "Blessed are the lowly in mind, for they will possess the land. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for being and doing right, for they will be completely satisfied. "Blessed are those who show mercy, for they will have mercy shown them. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called God's sons. "Blessed are those who suffer persecution for being and doing right, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. "Blessed are you when people abuse you, and persecute you, and keep on falsely telling all sorts of evil against you for my sake. Keep on rejoicing and leaping for ecstasy, for your reward will be rich in heaven; for this is the way they persecuted the prophets who lived before you. "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its strength, what can make it salt again? It is good for nothing but to be thrown away and trodden under foot. You are the light of the world. A city that is built upon a hill cannot be hidden. People do not light a lamp and put it under a peck-measure but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all that are in the house. Let your light shine before people in such a way that they may see your good deeds, and praise your Father in heaven.
"Blessed are the mourners, for they will be comforted. "Blessed are the lowly in mind, for they will possess the land. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for being and doing right, for they will be completely satisfied. "Blessed are those who show mercy, for they will have mercy shown them. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called God's sons. "Blessed are those who suffer persecution for being and doing right, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. "Blessed are you when people abuse you, and persecute you, and keep on falsely telling all sorts of evil against you for my sake. Keep on rejoicing and leaping for ecstasy, for your reward will be rich in heaven; for this is the way they persecuted the prophets who lived before you. "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its strength, what can make it salt again? It is good for nothing but to be thrown away and trodden under foot. You are the light of the world. A city that is built upon a hill cannot be hidden. People do not light a lamp and put it under a peck-measure but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all that are in the house. Let your light shine before people in such a way that they may see your good deeds, and praise your Father in heaven.
Select readings » Old age
Select readings » The wrath of God
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Select readings » The majesty and providence of God
Select readings » Christ's kingdom foreshadowed
Select readings » The animals of the field
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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
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Select readings » The king of glory
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Select readings » The new song
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Select readings » The righteous and the wicked in contrast
Select readings » The triumphant king
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United prayer » Select readings
Once He was praying in a certain place, and when He ceased, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." So He said to them, "Whenever you pray, say: 'Father, Your name be revered; Your kingdom come; continue giving us day by day our daily bread, read more.
and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who does us wrong, and do not let us be subjected to temptation.'" Then He said to them: "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him in the middle of the night and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has just come to my house on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him to eat.' And suppose he answers from inside, 'Stop bothering me; the door is now locked, and my children are packed about me in bed; I cannot get up and give you any.' I tell you, although he will not get up and give you any because he is your friend, yet because of your persistence he will get up and give you all your needs. So I tell you, keep on asking, and the gift will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and the door will open to you. For everyone who keeps on asking, receives; and the one who keeps on seeking, finds; and to the one who keeps on knocking, the door will open. Now is there a father among you who, if his son asks him for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or, if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? So if you, in spite of your being bad, know how to give your children what is good, how much more surely will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who continue to ask Him?"
and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who does us wrong, and do not let us be subjected to temptation.'" Then He said to them: "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him in the middle of the night and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has just come to my house on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him to eat.' And suppose he answers from inside, 'Stop bothering me; the door is now locked, and my children are packed about me in bed; I cannot get up and give you any.' I tell you, although he will not get up and give you any because he is your friend, yet because of your persistence he will get up and give you all your needs. So I tell you, keep on asking, and the gift will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and the door will open to you. For everyone who keeps on asking, receives; and the one who keeps on seeking, finds; and to the one who keeps on knocking, the door will open. Now is there a father among you who, if his son asks him for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or, if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? So if you, in spite of your being bad, know how to give your children what is good, how much more surely will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who continue to ask Him?"
Now He told them the following story to show how necessary it is for people always to pray and never to give up: "Once there was in a city a judge who had no reverence for God nor respect for men. And in that city there was a widow who continued to come to him and say, 'Give me justice and protection from my opponent.' read more.
And he would not for a time, but afterward he said to himself, Though I have no reverence for God nor respect for men, yet because this widow continues to bother me, I will give her justice and protection, so that she may not finally wear me out by her continual coming." Then the Lord added, "Listen to what the unrighteous judge says! And will not God give justice and protection to His chosen people who continue to cry to Him day and night, since He is so patient with them? I tell you, He will give them justice and protection, and that without delay. But when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?"
And he would not for a time, but afterward he said to himself, Though I have no reverence for God nor respect for men, yet because this widow continues to bother me, I will give her justice and protection, so that she may not finally wear me out by her continual coming." Then the Lord added, "Listen to what the unrighteous judge says! And will not God give justice and protection to His chosen people who continue to cry to Him day and night, since He is so patient with them? I tell you, He will give them justice and protection, and that without delay. But when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?"
Unwise prayers » Select readings
Once He was praying in a certain place, and when He ceased, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." So He said to them, "Whenever you pray, say: 'Father, Your name be revered; Your kingdom come; continue giving us day by day our daily bread, read more.
and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who does us wrong, and do not let us be subjected to temptation.'" Then He said to them: "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him in the middle of the night and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has just come to my house on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him to eat.' And suppose he answers from inside, 'Stop bothering me; the door is now locked, and my children are packed about me in bed; I cannot get up and give you any.' I tell you, although he will not get up and give you any because he is your friend, yet because of your persistence he will get up and give you all your needs. So I tell you, keep on asking, and the gift will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and the door will open to you. For everyone who keeps on asking, receives; and the one who keeps on seeking, finds; and to the one who keeps on knocking, the door will open. Now is there a father among you who, if his son asks him for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or, if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? So if you, in spite of your being bad, know how to give your children what is good, how much more surely will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who continue to ask Him?"
and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who does us wrong, and do not let us be subjected to temptation.'" Then He said to them: "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him in the middle of the night and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has just come to my house on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him to eat.' And suppose he answers from inside, 'Stop bothering me; the door is now locked, and my children are packed about me in bed; I cannot get up and give you any.' I tell you, although he will not get up and give you any because he is your friend, yet because of your persistence he will get up and give you all your needs. So I tell you, keep on asking, and the gift will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and the door will open to you. For everyone who keeps on asking, receives; and the one who keeps on seeking, finds; and to the one who keeps on knocking, the door will open. Now is there a father among you who, if his son asks him for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or, if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? So if you, in spite of your being bad, know how to give your children what is good, how much more surely will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who continue to ask Him?"
Now He told them the following story to show how necessary it is for people always to pray and never to give up: "Once there was in a city a judge who had no reverence for God nor respect for men. And in that city there was a widow who continued to come to him and say, 'Give me justice and protection from my opponent.' read more.
And he would not for a time, but afterward he said to himself, Though I have no reverence for God nor respect for men, yet because this widow continues to bother me, I will give her justice and protection, so that she may not finally wear me out by her continual coming." Then the Lord added, "Listen to what the unrighteous judge says! And will not God give justice and protection to His chosen people who continue to cry to Him day and night, since He is so patient with them? I tell you, He will give them justice and protection, and that without delay. But when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?"
And he would not for a time, but afterward he said to himself, Though I have no reverence for God nor respect for men, yet because this widow continues to bother me, I will give her justice and protection, so that she may not finally wear me out by her continual coming." Then the Lord added, "Listen to what the unrighteous judge says! And will not God give justice and protection to His chosen people who continue to cry to Him day and night, since He is so patient with them? I tell you, He will give them justice and protection, and that without delay. But when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?"
Wealth » Accumulation of » Select readings
Then He told them a story, as follows: "A certain rich man's lands yielded bountifully. So he began to argue with himself, 'What am I to do, because I have nowhere to store my crops?' Then he said, 'This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and in them I will store all my grains and my goods. read more.
Then I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Go on taking your ease; continue to eat, drink, and enjoy yourself."' But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul is to be demanded of you. Then who will have all that you have prepared?' So it is with the man who continues to pile up possessions for himself, and is not rich in God."
Then I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Go on taking your ease; continue to eat, drink, and enjoy yourself."' But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul is to be demanded of you. Then who will have all that you have prepared?' So it is with the man who continues to pile up possessions for himself, and is not rich in God."
"Once there was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen and live in dazzling luxury every day. And a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores, had been laid at his gate, and he was always craving to get a square meal from the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Yes, the very dogs used to come and lick his sores. read more.
One day the beggar died and was carried away by the angels to be Abraham's bosom companion, and the rich man too died and was buried. And in Hades he looked up, in constant tortures as he was, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus his bosom companion. So he called and said, 'Father Abraham, take pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool off my tongue, because I am ceaselessly tortured in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'My child, remember that you received in full your blessings in your lifetime, and Lazarus his hardships in his, but now he is continuously comforted here, while you are continuously tortured there. Besides all this, between you and us there stands fixed a great chasm, so that those who want to cross from this side to you cannot, nor can they cross from your side to us.' Then he said, 'For this reason, I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house (for I have five brothers) to warn them, that they too may not come to this place of torture.' But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them listen to them.' But he pleaded, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone went to them from the dead, they would repent.' Then he answered, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced, even if someone rises from the dead.'"
One day the beggar died and was carried away by the angels to be Abraham's bosom companion, and the rich man too died and was buried. And in Hades he looked up, in constant tortures as he was, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus his bosom companion. So he called and said, 'Father Abraham, take pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool off my tongue, because I am ceaselessly tortured in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'My child, remember that you received in full your blessings in your lifetime, and Lazarus his hardships in his, but now he is continuously comforted here, while you are continuously tortured there. Besides all this, between you and us there stands fixed a great chasm, so that those who want to cross from this side to you cannot, nor can they cross from your side to us.' Then he said, 'For this reason, I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house (for I have five brothers) to warn them, that they too may not come to this place of torture.' But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them listen to them.' But he pleaded, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone went to them from the dead, they would repent.' Then he answered, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced, even if someone rises from the dead.'"