4 Bible Verses about Christian Ministers

After the death of Moses, the servant of the LORD, the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, "Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore, up and go over Jordan, both thou and all this people, unto the land the which I give unto the children of Israel. All the places that the soles of your feet shall tread upon, have I given you, as I said unto Moses: read more.
from the wilderness and this Lebanon unto the great river Euphrates; and all the land of the Hittites, even unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coasts. There shall not a man be able to withstand thee all the days of thy life. For as I was with Moses, so will I be with thee and will neither leave thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and bold: for unto this people shalt thou divide the land which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Above all things, be strong and harden thyself, to observe and to do according to all the laws which Moses my servant commanded thee. Turn there from neither to the righthand, nor to the left: that thou mayest have understanding in all thou takest in hand. Let not the book of this law depart out of thy mouth: but record therein day and night that thou mayest be circumspect to do according to all that is written therein. For then shalt thou make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have understanding. Behold, I have said unto thee, be strong and bold: neither fear, nor dread. For the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

And the LORD said unto Aaron, "Thou and thy sons and thy father's house with thee, shall bear the fault of that which is done amiss in the holy place. And thou and thy sons with thee, shall bear the fault of that which is done amiss in your priesthood. And thy brethren also, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father take with thee, and let them be joined unto thee and minister unto thee. And thou and thy sons with thee shall minister before the tabernacle of witness. And let them wait upon thee and upon all the tabernacle: only let them not come nigh the holy vessels and the altar, that both they and ye also die not. read more.
And let them be by thee and wait on the tabernacle of witness, and on all the service of the tabernacle, and let no stranger come nigh unto you. Wait therefore upon the holy place and upon the altar, that there fall no more wrath upon the children of Israel: behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among children of Israel, to be yours, as gifts given unto the LORD to do the service of the tabernacle of witness. And see that both thou and thy sons with thee take heed unto your priests' office, in all things that pertain unto the altar and within the veil. And see that ye serve, for I have given your priests' office unto you for a gift to do service: and the stranger that cometh nigh, shall die."

And the LORD said unto Moses, "Take Joshua the son of Nun in whom there is spirit, and put thine hands upon him, and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation and give him a charge in their sight. And put of thy praise upon him that all the company of the children of Israel may hear. read more.
And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest which shall ask counsel for him, after the manner of the light, before the LORD: And at the mouth of Eleazar shall both he and all the children of Israel with him, and all the congregation, go in and out." And Moses did as the LORD commanded him, and he took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and put his hands upon him and give him a charge, as the LORD commanded through the hand of Moses.

And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, "Be strong and bold, for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them, and thou shalt give it them to inherit. And the LORD he shall go before thee and he shall be with thee, and will not let thee go nor forsake thee. Fear not, therefore, nor be discomforted."

And the LORD said unto Moses, "Behold, thy days are come, that thou must die. Call Joshua and come and stand in the tabernacle of witness, that I may give him a charge." And Moses and Joshua went and stood in the tabernacle of witness. And the LORD appeared in the tabernacle in a cloudy pillar, and the same cloudy pillar stood in the door of the tabernacle. And the LORD said unto Moses, "Behold, thou must sleep with thy fathers, and this people will go a whoring after strange gods of the land whither they go and will forsake me and break the covenant which I have made with them. read more.
And then my wrath will wax hot against them, and I will forsake them and will hide my face from them, and they shall be consumed. And when much adversity and tribulation is come upon them, then they will say, 'Because our God is not among us, these tribulations are come upon us.' But I will hide my face that same time for all the evil's sake which they shall have wrought, in that they are turned unto strange gods. Now, therefore, write ye this song, and teach it the children of Israel and put it in their mouths - that this song may be my witness unto the children of Israel. For when I have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers that runneth with milk and honey, then they will eat and fill themselves and wax fat and turn unto strange gods and serve them and rail on me and break my covenant. And then, when much mischief and tribulation is come upon them, this song shall answer before them, and be a witness. It shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about even now before I have brought them into the land which I sware." And Moses wrote this song the same season, and taught it the children of Israel. And the Lord gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge and said, "Be bold and strong, for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them, and I will be with thee."

Then said he to his disciples, "The harvest is great, but the laborers are few: Wherefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into his harvest."

And he said unto them, "The harvest is great: but the laborers are few. Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest, to send forth laborers into his harvest.

I beseech you brethren for our Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the spirit, that ye help me in my business, with your prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from them which believe not in Jewry; and that this my service, which I have to Jerusalem, may be accepted of the saints, that I may come unto you with joy, by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.

by the help of your prayer for us: That by the means of many occasions, thanks may be given of many on our behalf, for the grace given unto us.

and pray always with all manner prayer and supplication - and that in the spirit - and watch thereunto with all instance and supplication for all saints, and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to utter the secrets of the gospel, whereof I am a messenger in bonds, that therein I may speak freely, as it becometh me to speak.

Aristarchus my prison fellow saluteth you; And Mark, Barnabas' sister's son: touching whom, ye received commandments. If he come unto you receive him:

We beseech you brethren, that ye know them which labour among you, and have the oversight of you in the Lord, and give you exhortation, that ye have them the more in love: For their work's sake, and be at peace with them.

Remember them which have the oversight of you, which have declared unto you the word of God: consider the conversation of their living, the end of whose conversation see that ye look upon, and follow their faith.

And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, "Be strong and bold, for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them, and thou shalt give it them to inherit.

But Joshua the son of Nun which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither. Bold him therefore, for he shall divide it unto Israel.

Yet the tokens of an apostle were wrought among you with all patience; with signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and also in the holy ghost and in much certainty, as ye know after what manner we behaved ourselves among you, for your sakes.

holding fast the word of life, unto my rejoicing in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither have laboured in vain.

Then Paul stood up and beckoned with the hand and said, "Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience. The God of this people chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with a mighty arm brought them out of it. And about the time of forty years, suffered he their manners in the wilderness. read more.
And he destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, and divided their land to them by lot. And afterward he gave unto them judges, about the space of four hundred and fifty years, unto the time of Samuel the prophet. And after that they desired a king, and God gave unto them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. And after he had put him down, he set up David to be their king: of whom he gave reported, saying, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, he shall fulfill all my will.' Of this man's seed hath God, according to his promise, brought forth to the people of Israel a saviour, one Jesus, when John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to Israel. And when John had fulfilled his course, he said, 'Whom ye think that I am? The same am I not, but behold there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.' Ye men and brethren, children of the generation off Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is this word of salvation sent. The inhabiters of Jerusalem, and their rulers: because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath day; they have fulfilled them in condemning him. And when they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate to kill him. And when they had fulfilled all that were written of him, they took him down from the tree and put him in a sepulchre: But God raised him again from death, and he was seen many days of them, which came with him from Galilee to Jerusalem which are his witnesses unto the people. And we declare unto you, how that the promise made unto the fathers; God hath now fulfilled unto us their children, in that he raised up Jesus again, even as it is written in the second psalm, 'Thou art my son, this same day begat I thee.' As concerning that he so raised him up from death, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, 'The holy promises made to David I will give them faithfully to you.' Wherefore he saith also in another place, 'Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy to see corruption.' Howbeit David, after he had in his time fulfilled the will of God, he slept, and was laid with his fathers, and saw corruption. But he whom God raised again, saw no corruption. Be it known unto you therefore, ye men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; And that by him are all that believe justified from all things, from the which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Beware therefore lest that fall on you, which is spoken of in the prophets, 'Behold ye despisers, and wonder, and perish ye: for I do a work in your days, which ye shall not believe, if a man would declare it you.'" When they were come out of the Synagogue of the Jews, the gentiles besought them that they would preach the word of god to them between the Sabbath days. When the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and virtuous converts followed Paul and Barnabas, which spake to them and exhorted them to continue in the grace of God.

For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ: yet have ye not many fathers. In Christ Jesus, I have begotten you through the gospel.

And they were offended by him. Then Jesus said unto them, "A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and among his own kin."

Who believeth our sayings? And the arm of the LORD, to whom is it opened?

Behold, therefore, I will make thy face prevail against their faces, and harden thy forehead against their foreheads; so that thy forehead shall be harder than an Adamant or flint stone: that thou mayest fear them the less, and be less afraid of them, for they are a froward household."

Now when the spirit took me up, and carried me away, I went with a heavy and sorrowful mind, but the hand of the LORD comforted me right soon.

O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear? How long shall I complain unto thee, suffering wrong, and thou wilt not help? Why lettest thou me see weariness and labour? Tyranny and violence are before me, power overgoeth right:

Then all this was performed, the rulers came to me, and said, "The people of Israel, and the priests, and Levites are not separated from the nations in the lands as touching their abominations, namely of the Cananites, Hittites, Perezites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites. For they have taken the daughters of the same, and their sons, and have mixed the holy seed with the nations in the lands: and the hand of the rulers and lords of council hath been principal in this trespass."

And of the children of the priests: The children of Habaiah, the children of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, which took one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife, and was counted among the same names: These sought the register of their birth, and found none, therefore were they put from the priesthood.

And among the children of the priests there were men found that had taken strange wives, namely among the children of Jeshua the son of Jozadak and of his brethren, Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah. And they gave their hands thereupon, that they would put away their wives: and for their trespass offering to give a ram for their trespass. Among the children of Immer: Hanani, and Zebadiah. read more.
Among the children of Harim: Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah. Among the children of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah. Among the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, and Kelaiah, which same is Kelita, Pethahiah, Judah and Eliezer. Among the singers: Eliashib. Among the porters: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.

And before this had the Priest Eliashib delivered the chest of the house of our God unto his kinsman Tobiah: for he had made him a great chest, and there had they afore time laid the meat offerings, frankincense, vessel, and the tithes of corn, wine and oil - according to the commandment given to the Levites, singers and porters - and the heave offerings of the priests. But in all this was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon, came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I license of the king read more.
to come to Jerusalem. And I gat knowledge of the evil that Eliashib did unto Tobiah, in that he had made him a chest in the court of the house of God, and it grieved me sore, and I cast forth all the vessels of the house of Tobiah out of the chest, and commanded them to cleanse the chest. And thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, the meat offering and the incense. And I perceived that the portions of the Levites were not given them, for the which cause the Levites and singers were fled, everyone, to his land for to work. Then reproved I the rulers, and said, "Why forsake we the house of God?" But I gathered them together, and set them in their place. Then brought all Judah the tithes of corn, wine and oil unto the treasury. And I made treasurers over the treasure, even Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah, and under their hand Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren.

And one of the children of Jehoiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, had made a contract with Sanballat the Horonite: but I chased him from me. O my God, think thou upon them that are quit of the priesthood, and have defiled the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites!

There were at Antioch, in the congregation, certain prophets and teachers: as Barnabas and Symeon called Niger; And Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, Herod the tetrarch's nurse-fellow, and Saul.

the children of the Prophets that were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, "Knowest thou not how that the LORD will take away thy master from thee this day?" And he said, "I know it too; hold your peace."

Then Saul sent messengers to fetch David. And when they saw a company of prophets prophesying and Samuel standing fast by them, the spirit of God fell upon the messengers of Saul, and they prophesied too.

And the children of the Prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha and said unto him, "Art thou not aware that the LORD will take away thy master from thee this day?" And he answered, "I know it also; hold your peace."

And the children of the Prophets of Jericho which saw from afar, said, "The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha," and went against him and bowed to the earth unto him.

And though the LORD giveth you the bread of adversity, and the water of trouble, thine instructor flyeth not far from thee; if thine eyes look unto thine instructor,

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And none of them doth light on the ground, without your father. And now are all the hairs of your heads numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

And Elijah the Tishbite, which was of the inhabiters of Gilead, said unto Ahab, "As truly as the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, save as I appoint it." And the word of God came to him, saying, "Get thee hence and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself in the brook Cherith that lieth before Jordan. read more.
Drink of the river for I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there." And he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith that lieth before Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh every morning and every evening, and he drank of the brook. And it chanced after a while that the brook dried up, because there fell no rain upon the earth. Then came the word of the LORD unto him, saying, "Up, and get thee to Zarephath a city of Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to sustain thee." And he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, there was a widow there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, "Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a dish that I may drink." And as she went to fetch it, he cried to her and said, "Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand." And she answered, "As surely as the LORD thy God liveth, I have no bread, but even a handful of meal in a pitcher, and a little oil in a cruse. And see, I have gathered a few sticks for to go and bake it for me and my son, that we may eat it and then die." And Elijah said unto her, "Fear not, but go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first of all, and bring it out to me, and afterward make for thee and thy son. For thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel, 'The pitcher of meal shall not be wasted, neither shall thy oil cruse be without oil, until the LORD have sent rain upon the earth.'" And she went and did as Elijah bade. And she and he and her house did eat a good space, and the pitcher of meal wasted not neither was the oil cruse without oil according to the word of the LORD which he spake through Elijah.

And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and altogether how he had slain the Prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, "So do God to me, and so thereto, except I make thy soul like one of theirs by tomorrow this time." When he saw that, he arose and went for his life, and came to Beersheba in Judah, and left his lad there. read more.
And he went a day's journey into the wilderness, and when he was come sat down under a Juniper tree, and desired for his soul, that he might die, and said, "It is now enough, O LORD, take my soul; for I am not better than my fathers." And as he lay and slept under the Juniper tree, behold, there came an Angel and touched him, and said unto him, "Up and eat." And he looked about him: and see, there was a loaf of broiled bread and a cruse of water at his head. And he ate and drank and laid him down again to sleep. And the Angel of the LORD came again the second time and touched him, and said, "Up and eat, for thou hast a long Journey to go." And he arose and did eat and drink and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights, unto Horeb the mount of God, and entered there into a cave and lodged there all night. And then the word of the LORD came to him, and said, "What doest thou here, Elijah?" And he answered, "I have been thorough angry for the LORD God of Hosts' sake. For the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, and have broken down thine altars and slain the Prophets with the sword, and I only am left, and they seek my soul to have it too." And he said, "Come out and stand before the LORD." And behold, the LORD went by: and a mighty strong wind that rent the mountains and brake the rocks, before him. But the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind came an earthquake. But the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake, came fire. But the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire, came a small still voice. And when Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his mantle, and went out and stood in the mouth of the cave. And see, there came a voice unto him and said, "What doest thou here Elijah?" And he answered, "I was jealous for the LORD God of Hosts' sake: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant and have cast down thine altars and slain thy prophets with the sword, and I only am left, and they seek my soul to have it." Then the LORD said unto him, "Go and turn thy way to the wilderness of Damascus, and go and anoint Hazael to be king of Syria; and Jehu the son of Nimshi, anoint to be king over Israel; And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah anoint to be Prophet in thy room. And whoso escapeth the sword of Hazael, him shall Jehu slay: and if any man escape the sword of Jehu, him shall Elisha slay. And thereto I have left me seven thousand in Israel, of which never man bowed his knees unto Baal nor kissed him with his mouth."

Are not five sparrows bought for two farthings? and yet not one of them is forgotten of God. Also, even the very hairs of your heads are numbered. Fear not therefore: Ye are more of value, than many sparrows.

Then was Peter kept in prison. But prayer was made without ceasing of the congregation unto God for him.

Arise now, LORD God in thy resting place - both thou and the Ark of thy strength - and let thy priests put on victory and thy saints rejoice in goodness.

And now Lord behold their threatenings, and grant unto thy servants with all confidence to speak thy word.

Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness, and let thy saints rejoice.

And they prayed, saying, "Thou Lord which knowest the hearts of all men, show whether thou hast chosen of these two, that the one may take the room of this ministration, and apostleship from the which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place."

Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, and said, "What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you?" And they appointed unto him thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

And the same hath now possessed a plot of ground with the reward of iniquity. And when he was hanged, burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.

Then when Judas, which betrayed him, saw that he was condemned, he repented himself; and brought again the thirty plates of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, "I have sinned, betraying the innocent blood." And they said, "What is that to us? see thou to that." And he cast down the silver plates in the temple, and departed, and went and hung himself.

And as they did eat, he said, "Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me." And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, "Is it I, master?" He answered and said, "He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. read more.
The son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe be to that man, by whom the son of man shall be betrayed. It had been good for that man, if he had never been born." Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, "Is it I, master?" He said unto him, "Thou hast said."

While he yet spake, Lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came: and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, which were sent from the chief priests and elders of the people. And he that betrayed him, gave them a token, saying, "Whosoever I kiss, the same is he: lay hands on him." And forthwith-all he came to Jesus, and said, "Hail master." And kissed him. read more.
And Jesus said unto him, "Friend, wherefore art thou come?" Then came they and laid hands on Jesus and took him.

and have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, which loved the reward of unrighteousness: but was rebuked of his iniquity. The tame and dumb beast, speaking with man's voice forbade the foolishness of the prophet.

And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, "If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can go no further than the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.

And Balak said unto Balaam, "Did I not send for thee, to call thee? Wherefore camest thou not unto me? Thinkest thou that I am not able to promote thee unto honour?" And Balaam said unto Balak, "Lo, I am come unto thee. But I can say nothing at all, save what God putteth in my mouth that must I speak."

How shall I curse whom God curseth not? And how shall I defy whom the LORD defieth not?

And he answered, and said, "Must I not keep that and speak it, which the LORD hath put in my mouth?"

Yea, and a bishop must be faultless, the husband of one wife, sober, discreet, honestly appareled, harborous, apt to teach,

Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife and such as rule their children well, and their own households.

Either, have we not power to lead about a sister to wife as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

And then Jesus went to Peter's house, and saw his wife's mother lying, sick of a fever.

"'They shall take no wife that is an whore, or polluted, or put from her husband: for a priest is holy unto his God. Sanctify him therefore, for he offereth up the bread of God: he shall therefore be holy unto thee, for I the LORD which sanctify you, am holy. If a priest's daughter fall to play the whore, she polluteth her father: therefore she shall be burnt with fire. read more.
He that is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured and whose hand was filled to put on the vestments, shall not uncover his head nor rent his clothes, neither shall go to any dead body nor make himself unclean: no not on his father or mother, neither shall go out of the sanctuary, that he pollute not the holy place of his God, for the crown of the anointing oil of God, is upon him. I am the LORD. "'He shall take a maiden unto his wife: but no widow nor divorced nor polluted whore. But he shall take a maiden of his own people to wife, that he defile not his seed upon his people. For I am the LORD which sanctify him.'"

And when they said contrary, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment and said unto them, "Your blood upon your own heads. And from henceforth I go blameless unto the gentiles."

"Thou son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore take good heed to the words, and give them warning at my commandment. If I say unto thee, concerning the ungodly man, that without doubt he must die: and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest unto him, that he may turn from his evil way, and so to live - Then shall the same ungodly man die in his own unrighteousness, but his blood will I require of thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou give warning unto the wicked: and he yet forsake not his ungodliness - Then shall he die in his own wickedness, but thou hast discharged thy soul. read more.
"Now if a righteous man go from his righteousness, and do the thing that is evil: I will lay a stumbling block before him, and he shall die, because thou hast not given him warning - Yea, die shall he in his own sin, so that the virtue which he did before shall not be thought upon, but his blood will I require of thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou exhortest the righteous, that he sin not, and so the righteous do not sin - then shall he live, because he hath received thy warning, and thou hast discharged thy soul."

If I say unto the wicked: thou wicked, thou shalt surely die: and thou givest him not warning, that he may beware of his ungodly way: then shall the wicked die in his own sin, but his blood will I require of thy hand.

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor will hear your preaching, when ye depart out of that house, or that city, shake off the dust of your feet. Truly I say unto you, it shall be easier for the land of Sodom, and Gomorra, in the day of judgment, than for that city. "Behold, I send you forth as sheep among wolves: Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and innocent as doves. read more.
Beware of men: for they shall deliver you up to the councils, and shall scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought to the head rulers and kings for my sake, in witness to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought, how, or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you even in that same hour, what ye shall say. For it is not ye that speak, but the spirit of your father which speaketh in you. The brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son: and the children shall arise against their fathers, and mothers, and shall put them to death, and ye shall be hated of all men, for my name: but he that shall endureth unto the end, shall be saved. When they persecute you in one city, fly into another: I tell you for a truth, ye shall not finish all the cities of Israel, till the son of man be come. The disciple is not above his Master, nor yet the servant above his Lord. It is enough for the disciple to be as his Master is, and that the servant be as his Lord is. If they have called the Lord of the house Beelzebub: how much more shall they call them of his household so? Fear them not therefore: there is nothing so close, that shall not be opened; and nothing so secret, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye on the housetops. And fear ye not them which kill the body, and be not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body into hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And none of them doth light on the ground, without your father. And now are all the hairs of your heads numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Whosoever therefore shall knowledge me before men, him will I knowledge also before my father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my father which is in heaven. Think not, that I am come to send peace into the earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law: And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth his father or mother more than me, is not meet for me: and he that loveth his son or daughter more than me, is not meet for me. And he that taketh not his cross and followeth me, is not meet for me. He that findeth his life, shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake, shall find it. He that receiveth you, receiveth me; and he that receiveth me, receiveth him that sent me.

Wherefore I take you to record this same day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have kept nothing back: but have showed you all the counsel of God.

And he spake many things to them in similitudes, saying, "Behold, the sower went forth to sow. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside, and the fowls came, and devoured it up. Some fell upon stony ground where it had not much earth, and anon it sprung up, because it had no depth of earth: read more.
And when the sun was up, it caught heat, and for lack of rooting withered away. Some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprung up and choked it. Part fell in good ground, and brought forth good fruit: some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

He that now goeth on his way weeping, and beareth forth good seed, shall doubtless come again with joy, and bring his sheaves with him.

"Hearken to. Behold; The sower went out to sow, and it fortuned as he sowed, that some fell by the wayside, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. Some fell on a stony ground: where it had not much earth: and by and by sprang up, because it had not depth of earth: read more.
but as soon as the sun was up, it caught heat: and because it had not rooting it withered away. And some fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, so that it gave no fruit. And some fell upon good ground: and did yield fruit that sprang and grew: and brought forth some thirty fold, some sixty fold, and some a hundred fold." And he said unto them, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked him of the similitude. And he said unto them, "To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: But unto them that are without, shall all things be done in similitudes: that when they see, they shall see, and not discern: and when they hear they shall hear, and not understand: lest at any time they should turn, and their sins should be forgiven them." And he said unto them, "Perceive ye not this similitude? How then should ye understand all other similitudes? The sower, soweth the word. And they that are by the wayside, where the word is sown, are they to whom as soon as they have heard it, cometh immediately Satan and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. And likewise, they that are sown on the stony ground: which when they have heard the word, at once they receive it with gladness; yet have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: and anon, as soon as any trouble and persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they fall. And these are they that are sown among the thorns; which are such as hear the word of God, and the care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things enter in, and choke the word, and it is made unfruitful. And those that were sown in good ground, are they that hear the word and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirty fold some sixty fold, some a hundred fold."

"A sower went out to sow his seed, and as he sowed, some fell by the wayside, and it was trodden under feet, and the fowls of the air devoured it up. And some fell on stone, and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moistness. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. read more.
And some fell on good ground, and sprang up and bare fruit, a hundred fold." And as he said these things, he cried, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."

And they took Jesus and led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.

"Ye know that after two days shall be Easter, and the son of man shall be delivered to be crucified." Then assembled together the chief priests and the scribes and the elders of the people into the palace of the high priest, called Caiaphas:

But Jesus held his peace. And the chief priest answered, and said to him, "I charge thee in the name of the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be Christ the son of God." Jesus said to him, "Thou hast said. Nevertheless I say unto you, hereafter shall ye see the son of man sitting on the righthand of power, and come in the clouds of the sky." Then the high priest rent his clothes saying, "He hath blasphemed: what need we of any more witnesses? Behold, now have ye heard his blasphemy:

And one of them named Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year, said unto them, "Ye perceive nothing at all: nor yet consider that it is expedient for us, that one man die for the people, and not that all the people perish." This spake he not of himself: but being high priest that same year, prophesied he that Jesus should die for the people,

Caiphas was he that gave counsel to the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

And as soon as they had prayed, the place moved where they were assembled together, and they were all filled with the holy ghost, and they spake the word of God boldly.

When Peter saw that, he answered unto the people, "Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? Or why look ye so steadfastly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man go? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his son Jesus, whom ye delivered and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had judged him to be loosed: but ye denied the holy and just, and desired a murderer to be given you, read more.
and killed the Lord of life whom God hath raised from death, of the which we are witnesses: And his name, through the faith of his name, hath made this man sound whom ye see and know. And the faith which is by him, hath to him given this health, in the presence of you all. And now, brethren, I know well that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your heads. But those things which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, how that Christ should suffer, he hath thus wise fulfilled it. Repent ye, therefore, and turn: that your sins may be done away when the time of refreshing cometh, which we shall have of the presence of the Lord, and when God shall send him, which before was preached unto you, that is, to wit, Jesus Christ: which must receive heaven until the time that all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began, be restored again. For Moses said unto the fathers, 'A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, even of your brethren, like unto me: him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. For the time will come, that every soul which shall not hear that same prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.' Also all the prophets from Samuel, and thenceforth, as many as have spoken, have in likewise told of these days. Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant, which God hath made unto our fathers, saying to Abraham, 'Even in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.' First unto you hath God raised up his son Jesus, and him he hath sent to bless you, that every one of you should turn from your wickedness."

if we this day are examined of the good deed done to the sick man by what means he is made whole: be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, and whom God raised from death again, even by him doth this man stand here present before you whole. This is the stone cast aside of you builders which is set in the chief place of the corner. read more.
Neither is there salvation in any other. Nor yet also is there any other name given to men wherein we must be saved." When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and understood that they were unlearned men and lay people, they marveled: and they knew them, that they were with Jesus.

But Peter and John answered unto them and said, "Whether it be right in the sight of God to obey you more than God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak that which we have seen and heard."

When they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning and taught. The chief priest came and they that were with him and called a council together, and all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to fetch them.

And I enforced not to be a shepherd that should not follow thee: and the day of destruction have I not desired, thou knowest. And that proceeded out of my mouth was right in thy sight.

In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, came this word from the LORD, saying, "Thus sayeth the LORD: Stand in the court of the LORD's house, and speak unto all them which, out of the cities of Judah, come to do worship in the LORD's house, all the words that I command thee to say. Look that thou keep not one word back, if peradventure they will hearken, and turn every man from his wicked way: that I may also repent of the plague, which I have determined to bring upon them, because of their wicked inventions. read more.
And after this manner shalt thou speak unto them, 'Thus sayeth the LORD: If ye will not obey me, to walk in my laws, which I have given you, and to hear the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, rising up timely, and still sending: If ye will not follow them, I say, then will I do to this house, as I did unto Shiloh, and will make this city to be abhorred of all the people of the earth.'" And the priests, the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah preach these words in the house of the LORD. Now when he had spoken out all the words that the LORD commanded him to preach unto all the people, then the priests, the prophets and all the people took hold upon him, and said, "Thou shalt die. How darest thou be so bold, as to say in the name of the LORD, 'It shall happen to this house as it did unto Shiloh? And this city shall be so waste, that no man shall dwell therein?'" And when all the people were gathered about Jeremiah in the house of the LORD, the princes of Judah heard of this rumor, and they came soon out of the king's Palace into the house of the LORD, and sat them down before the new door of the LORD. Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the rulers and to all the people, these words, "This man is worthy to die, for he hath preached against this city, as ye yourselves have heard with your ears." Then said Jeremiah unto the rulers and to all the people, "The LORD hath sent me to preach against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard. Therefore amend your ways, and your advisements, and be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God: so shall the LORD repent of the plague, that he had devised against you. Now as for me: I am in your hands. Do with me, as ye think expedient and good. But this shall ye know: if ye put me to death, ye shall make yourselves, this city and all the inhabiters thereof, guilty of innocent blood. For this is of a truth: that the LORD hath sent me unto you, to speak all these words in your ears."

For thus sayeth the LORD: Deceive not your own minds, thinking on this manner, 'Tush, the Chaldeans go now their way from us.' No, they shall not go their way. For though ye had slain the whole host of the Chaldeans that besiege you, and every one of the slain lay in his tent, yet should they stand up, and set fire upon this city.'"

Thus was Jeremiah put into the dungeon and prison, and so lay there a long time. Then Zedekiah the king sent for him and called him, and asked him quietly in his own house, saying, "Thinkest thou this business, that now is in hand, cometh of the LORD?" Jeremiah answered, "Yea, that it doth: and thou, said he, shalt be delivered in to the king of Babylon's power." Moreover, Jeremiah said unto king Zedekiah, "What have I offended against thee, against thy servants or against this people, that ye have caused me to be put in prison?

Brethren, be followers of me, and look on them which walk even so, as ye have us for an example.

not but that we had authority: but to make ourselves an example unto you, to follow us.

Let no man despise thy youth; but be unto them that believe, an example: in word, in conversation, in love, in spirit, in faith and in pureness.

Not as though ye were lords over the parishes: but that ye be an example to the flock.

And unto the Jews, I became as a Jew, to win the Jews. To them that were under the law, was I made as though I had been under the law, to win them that were under the law. To them that were without law, became I as though I had been without law - when I was not without law as pertaining to God, but under a law as concerning Christ - to win them that were without law. To the weak became I as weak, to win the weak. In all thing I fashioned myself to all men, to save, at the leastway, some. read more.
And this I do for the Gospel's sake, that I might have my part thereof.

All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient. All things are lawful to me, but all things edify not.

But and if any man say unto you, "This is dedicated unto idols," eat not of it, for his sake that showed it, and for hurting of conscience - the earth is the Lord's and all that therein is - Conscience I say, not thine: but the conscience of that other. For why should my liberty be judged of another man's conscience? For if I take my part with thanks: why am I evil spoken of for that thing wherefore I give thanks? read more.
Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the praise of God. See that ye give none occasion of evil: neither to the Jews, nor yet to the gentiles, neither to the congregation of God. Even as I please all men in all things not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they might be saved.

But be it that I grieved you not: nevertheless I was crafty and took you with guile.

Then were brought to him young children, that he should put his hands on them and pray. And his disciples rebuked them.

And they brought children to him that he should touch them. And his disciples rebuked those that brought them.

They brought unto him also babes, that he should touch them. When the disciples saw that, they rebuked them.

And he gave her never a word to answer. Then came to him his disciples, and besought him saying, "Send her away, for she followeth us crying."

Then Herod the Tetrarch; when he was rebuked of him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done;

saying, "Repent: the kingdom of heaven is at hand." This is he of whom it is spoken by the Prophet Isaiah, which sayeth, "The voice of a crier in wilderness, 'Prepare the Lord's way and make his paths straight.'" This John had his garment of camel's hair, and a girdle of a skin about his loins; his meat was locusts and wild honey. read more.
Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Jewry, and all the regions round about Jordan, and were baptised of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. When he saw many of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, "O generation of vipers, who hath taught you to flee from the vengeance to come? Bring forth therefore the fruits belonging to repentance: And see that you think not to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father': for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. Even now is the axe put unto the root of the trees: so that every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I baptise you in water in token of repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptise you with the holy ghost and with fire: Which hath also his fan in his hand, and will purge his floor, and gather the wheat into His garner; and will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire."

John said unto Herod, "It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife." Herodias laid wait for him, and would have killed him, but she could not. For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man, and a holy, and gave him reverence; And when he heard him he did many things, and heard him gladly. read more.
But when a convenient day was come: Herod on his birthday made a supper to the Lords, captains, and chief estates of Galilee. And the daughter of the said Herodias came in and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat at board also. Then the king said unto the maiden, "Ask of me what thou wilt, and I will give it thee." And he sware unto her, "Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, even unto the one half of my kingdom." And she went forth and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "John Baptist's head." And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, "I will, that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John Baptist." And the king was sorry. Yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat at supper also, he would not put her beside her purpose. And immediately the king sent the hangman and commanded his head to be brought in. And he went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head in a charger and gave it to the maiden, and the maiden gave it to her mother.

Then said he to the people that were come to be baptised of him, "O generation of vipers: who hath taught you to fly away from the wrath to come? Bring forth due fruits of repentance; And begin not to say in yourselves, we have Abraham to our father. For I say unto you: God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. Now also is the axe laid unto the root of the trees: So that every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down, and cast into the fire."

And the very same, made some Apostles, some Prophets, some Evangelists, some Shepherds, some Teachers:

and I will give you herdsmen after mine own mind, which shall feed you with learning and wisdom.

He said to him again the second time, "Simon the son of Jonas, lovest thou me?" He said unto him, "Yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee." He said unto him, "Feed my sheep." He said unto him the third time, "Simon the son of Jonas, lovest thou me?" And Peter sorrowed because he said to him the third time, "Lovest thou me," and said unto him, "Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee." Jesus said unto him, "Feed my sheep. Verily, verily I say unto thee, when thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou art old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and lead thee whither thou wouldest not."

And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, "If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can go no further than the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.

How shall I curse whom God curseth not? And how shall I defy whom the LORD defieth not?

And he answered, and said, "Must I not keep that and speak it, which the LORD hath put in my mouth?"

And Balaam said unto Balak, "Told I not thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying, 'If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot pass the mouth of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind. What the LORD sayeth, that must I speak.' And now behold, I go unto my people: come let me show thee, what this people shall do to thy folk in the latter days."

And Balaam said unto Balak, "Lo, I am come unto thee. But I can say nothing at all, save what God putteth in my mouth that must I speak."

And then Samuel took a box of oil and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, "The LORD hath anointed thee to be a captain over his inheritance.

But the LORD had told Samuel a day before Saul came, saying, "Tomorrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin: him shalt thou anoint to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines, for I have looked upon my people and their cry is come unto me."

And then the LORD said unto Samuel, "How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have cast him away from reigning over Israel? Fill a horn with ointment, and come: I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have spied me a king among his sons." But Samuel answered, "How shall I go? For Saul shall hear it and will kill me." And the LORD said, "Take a heifer with thee, and say thou goest to offer to the LORD. And call Jesse to the offering, and I will show thee what thou shalt do: And thou shalt anoint him whom I say unto thee." read more.
And Samuel did as the LORD bade him. And when he came to Bethlehem, the elders of the town were astonished at his coming, and said, "Betokeneth thy coming peace?" And he said "Yea, for I am come to offer unto the LORD. Cleanse yourselves and come with me to the offering." And he purified Jesse and his sons, and bade them to the offering. And when they were come, he looked on Eliab and said, "The LORD's anointed is before him." But the LORD said unto Samuel, "Look not on his fashion nor on the height of his stature, for I have refused him. Because it is not as man seeth. For man looketh on the outward appearance: but the LORD beholdeth the heart." Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him come before Samuel. And he said, "Neither hath the LORD chosen this." Then Jesse made Shammah come, and he said, "Neither hath the LORD chosen him." Then made Jesse seven of his sons come before Samuel. And Samuel said, "The LORD hath chosen none of these." Then said Samuel to Jesse, "Are here all thy children?" And he said, "The youngest is yet behind. Behold, he keepeth the sheep." Then Samuel said unto Jesse, "Send and fetch him for we will not sit down, till he be come hither." And he sent and brought him in. And he was brown with goodly eyes, and well favoured in sight. And then the LORD said, "Up and anoint him: for this is he." And Samuel took the horn with the ointment and anointed him in the presence of his brethren. And the spirit of the LORD came upon David, from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

As there gathered together an innumerable multitude of people - insomuch that they trod one another - he began to say unto his disciples, "First of all, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Woe be unto you, blind guides, for ye which say, 'Whosoever swear by the temple, it is nothing: but whosoever swear by the gold of the temple, he offendeth.'

Then Jesus said unto them, "Take heed, and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the Sadducees." And they thought in themselves, saying, "Because we have brought no bread with us." When Jesus understood that, he said unto them, "O ye of little faith, why are your minds cumbered because ye have brought no bread? read more.
Do ye not yet perceive, neither remember those five loaves, when there were five thousand men, and how many baskets took ye up? Neither the seven loaves, when there were four thousand, and how many baskets took ye up? Why perceive ye not, then, that I spake not unto you of bread, when I said, 'Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?'" Then understood they, how that he bade not them beware of the leaven of bread: but of the doctrine of the Pharisees, and of the Sadducees.

so was our affection toward you. Our good will was to have dealt unto you, not the gospel of God only: but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

as it becometh me so to judge of you all, because I have you in my heart, and have you also every one companions of grace with me, even in my bonds as I defend, and establish the gospel.

We give God thanks always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers without ceasing, and call to remembrance your work in the faith, and labour in love and perseverance in the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God our father: because we know brethren beloved of God, how that ye are elect.

as ye know how that we exhorted and comforted, and besought every one of you, as a father his children,

And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a minister, to bear witness of those things which should be spoken afterward.

I take heaven and earth this day to record over you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. But choose life, that thou and thy seed may live;

which was faithful to him that made him even as was Moses in all his house.

I call heaven and earth to record unto you this day, that ye shall shortly perish from off the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it: Ye shall not prolong your days therein, but shall shortly be destroyed.

Wherefore they cried unto the LORD and said, "O LORD let us not perish for this man's death, neither lay innocent blood unto our charge: for thou LORD, even as thy pleasure was, so thou hast done."

And the mariners were afraid and cried every man unto his god, and cast out the goods that were in the ship in to the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah gat him under the hatches and laid him down and slumbered. And the master of the ship came to him and said unto him, "Why slumberest thou? Up! And call unto thy god, that God may think on us, that we perish not."

And he answered them, "I am a Hebrew: and the LORD God of heaven which made both sea and dry land, I fear."

And the men feared the LORD exceedingly: and sacrificed sacrifice unto the LORD: and vowed vows.

And Jonah went to and entered into the city even a day's journey, and cried, saying, "There shall not pass forty days but Nineveh shall be overthrown." And the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed fasting, and arrayed themselves in sackcloth, as well the great as the small of them. And the tidings came unto the king of Nineveh, which arose out of his seat, and did his apparel off and put on sackcloth, and sat him down in ashes. read more.
And it was cried and commanded in Nineveh by the authority of the king and of his lords, saying, "See that neither man or beast, ox or sheep taste ought at all, and that they neither feed or drink water." And they put on sackcloth both man and beast, and cried unto God mightily, and turned every man from his wicked way, and from doing wrong in which they were accustomed, saying, "Who can tell whether God will turn and repent, and cease from his fierce wrath, that we perish not?"

Eli was very old and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel, and how they slept with the women that waited in the door of the tabernacle of witness,

If one man sin against another, the judge can redress it. But if a man sin against the LORD, who can redress it?" Notwithstanding, they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, for the LORD's will was to slay them.

But the sons of Eli were unthrifty children, and knew not the LORD. For the manner of the priests with the people was: whensoever any man offered any offerings, the priest's lad came, while the flesh was in seething, and a flesh hook with three teeth in his hand; and thrust it into the pan, kettle, cauldron or pot. And all that the flesh hook brought up the priest took away. And so they did unto all Israel that came thither to Shiloh. read more.
Yea, and thereto before they had offered the fat, the priest's lad came and said to the man that offered, "Give flesh to roast for the priest, for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw." And if any man said unto him, "Let the fat be offered according to the day, and then take as much as thine heart desireth." The lad would answer him, "Thou shalt give it me now, or else I will take it with violence." And the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD. For they despised the people, and also the offering of the LORD.

And I chose thy father out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest for to offer upon mine altar and to burn cense, and to wear an ephod before me. And I gave unto the house of thy father all the offerings of the children of Israel. Wherefore kick ye against my sacrifice and against mine offering which I command in the tabernacle, and honourest thy children above me, and make yourselves fat of the first fruits of all the offerings of Israel my people?'

And Saul said, "Because I saw that the people scattered from me, and yet thou camest not within the days appointed - and that the Philistines gathered themselves together to Michmash - then said I, 'The Philistines shall come down upon me to Gilgal, before I have made supplication unto the LORD.' And therefore I took a courage with me and offered burnt offerings." Then said Samuel to Saul, "Thou hast done foolishly and hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God which he commanded thee. For at this time would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel forever. read more.
But now thy kingdom shall not continue. The LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and hath commanded him to be a captain over his people: because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee."

Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying, "It repenteth me that I have made Saul king. For he is turned from me and hath not performed my commandments." Wherefore Samuel was evil apaid and cried unto the LORD all night. And Samuel rose early, to meet Saul in the morning. And it was told Samuel that Saul was come to Carmel, and had set him up a pillar of triumph, and was turned and departed and gone to Gilgal. read more.
And when Samuel was come to Saul, Saul said unto him, "Blessed be thou in the LORD. I have done the commandment of the LORD." And Samuel answered, "What meaneth then the bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the noise of the oxen which I hear?" And Saul said, "They have brought them from the Amalekites. For the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God. And the remnant we have destroyed." But Samuel said to Saul, "Cease, and let me tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night." And he said unto him, "Say on." And Samuel said, "When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel? And the LORD anointed thee king over Israel. And then the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said unto thee, 'See that thou utterly destroy those sinners, the Amalekites and fight against them until ye have utterly destroyed them.' And wherefore hast thou now not obeyed the voice of the LORD: But didst turn to the prey and hast wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD?" And Saul said unto Samuel, "I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and went the way which the LORD sent me; and have brought Agag the king of the Amalekites, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. And the people took of the spoil, sheep, oxen, and the chiefest of the things which should have been destroyed, to offer unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal." Then said Samuel, "Hath the LORD as great pleasure in burnt sacrifices and offerings, as he hath that thou shouldest obey his voice? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to give heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebelliousness is as the sin of witchcraft; and stubbornness is wickedness and idolatry. Because therefore thou hast cast away the word of the LORD, therefore hath the LORD cast away thee also, from being king." Then said Saul to Samuel, "I have sinned, for I have transgressed the mouth of the LORD, and thy words; because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. But now take away my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD." Then said Samuel unto Saul, "I will not return with thee: for thou hast cast away the bidding of God, and therefore the LORD hath cast away thee also, that thou shalt not be king over Israel." And as Samuel turned to go away, he caught the lap of his coat, and it rent. Then Samuel said, "The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine that is better than thou. And thereto he that giveth victory to Israel, will not beguile nor repent: for he is not a man, that can repent." Then he said, "I have sinned. But yet honour me before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may pray unto the LORD thy God." And Samuel turned again and followed Saul. And Saul prayed unto the LORD.

Then came certain from Jewry and taught the brethren, "Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses ye cannot be saved."

Wherefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into his harvest."

Paul the prisoner of Jesus Christ, and brother Timothy. Unto Philemon the beloved, and our helper,

Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest and for the other priests also, and said to them, "Why repair ye not the broken places of the temple? Now therefore see ye receive no more money of your acquaintance, but deliver it to repair the temple withal."

And upon that he gathered together the priests and the Levites and said to them, "Go out through the cities of Judah and gather of all Israel silver, to strengthen the house of your God, year by year, and see that ye haste the thing." Howbeit, the Levites were slack. Then the king called Jehoiada that was the chiefest, and said to him, "Why requirest thou not of the Levites to bring in, out of Judah and Jerusalem the sum appointed by Moses the servant of the LORD, and by the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness?"

Wherefore I take you to record this same day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have kept nothing back: but have showed you all the counsel of God.

as ye learned of Epaphras our dear fellow servant, which is for you a faithful minister of Christ,

and Samuel the son of him. And the sons of Samuel: the eldest Joel and then Abijah.

Then Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel. The name of his eldest son was Joel, and the name of the second Abiah, which were judges in Beersheba. Nevertheless, his sons followed not his steps: but turned aside after lucre and took rewards, and perverted the right.

I supposed it necessary to send brother Epaphroditus unto you, my companion in labour and fellow soldier, your apostle, and my minister at my needs.

Thou therefore suffer affliction as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with worldly business; and that, because he would please him that hath chosen him to be a soldier.

but ye shall receive power of the holy ghost which shall come on you. And ye shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, and in all Jewry, and in Samaria, and even unto the world's end."

And we are his records as concerning these things: and also the holy ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him."

But rise and stand up on thy feet. For I have appeared unto thee for this purpose: to make thee a minister, and a witness both of those things which thou hast seen, and of those things in thee which I will appear unto thee,

And though the LORD giveth you the bread of adversity, and the water of trouble, thine instructor flyeth not far from thee; if thine eyes look unto thine instructor,

And the very same, made some Apostles, some Prophets, some Evangelists, some Shepherds, some Teachers:

And they wept all abundantly, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him: sorrowing, most of all, for the words, which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.

And when the days were ended we departed, and went our ways, and they all brought us on our way, with their wives and children, till we were come out of the city. And we kneeled down in the shore and prayed. And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship, and they returned home again.

Of whose number is Hymenaeus, and Alexander, which I have delivered unto Satan, that they might be taught not to blaspheme.

and their words shall fret even as doth a canker: of whose number is Hymenaeus and Philetus,

When I perceived that, I said, "Let me alone, and I will make lamentation. Take no labour for to comfort me, as touching the destruction of my people." For this is the day of the LORD of Hosts, wherein he will plague, tread down, and weed out the valley of visions, and break down the walls, with such a crack, that it shall give a sound in the mountains.

Then came Isaiah the Prophet to king Hezekiah, and said unto him, "What have the men said, and from whence came they unto thee?" Hezekiah answered, "They came out of a far country unto me, out of Babylon." Isaiah said, "What have they looked upon in thine house?" Hezekiah answered, "All that is in mine house have they seen: and there is nothing in my treasure, but I showed it them." Then said Isaiah unto Hezekiah, "Understand the word of the LORD of Hosts: read more.
'Behold, the time will come, that everything which is in thine house, and all that thy progenitors have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried to Babylon, and nothing left behind. Thus sayeth the LORD. Yea, and part of thy sons, that shall come of thee, and whom thou shalt get, shall be carried hence, and become gelded chamberlains in the king of Babylon's court."

Upon the walls of Jerusalem, I have set keepers which shall never cease, neither by day nor yet by night.

And now, O thou son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: that whereas thou hearest anything out of my mouth, thou mayest warn them on my behalf.

whereof I am made a minister, by the gift of the grace of God given unto me, through the working of his power.

if ye continue grounded and established in the faith, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, whereof ye have heard, how that it is preached among all creatures, which are under heaven, whereof I, Paul, am made a minister.

for this purpose: that I should be the minister of Jesus Christ among the gentiles, and should minister the glad tidings of God, that the gentiles might be an acceptable offering, sanctified by the holy ghost.

Let men this wise esteem us, even as the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the secrets of God.

But ye shall be named the priests of the LORD, and men shall call you the servants of our God. Ye shall enjoy the goods of the Gentiles and triumph in their substance.

but in all things let us behave ourselves as the ministers of God. In much patience, in afflictions, in necessity, in anguish,

Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ. To all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.

Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, the brother of James. To them which are called and sanctified in God the father, and preserved in Christ Jesus.

But watch thou in all things, and suffer adversity, and do the work of an evangelist, fulfil thine office unto the utmost.

And the very same, made some Apostles, some Prophets, some Evangelists, some Shepherds, some Teachers:

This is the blessing wherewith Moses, God's man, blessed the children of Israel before his death,

But thou, which art the man of God, flee such things. Follow righteousness, godliness, love, patience, and meekness.

And as soon as it was day, he called his disciples, and of them he chose twelve, which also he called his apostles.

Rejoice over her thou heaven, and ye holy apostles, and prophets: for God hath given your judgment on her."

The elders that rule well are worthy of double honour, most specially they which labour in the word and in teaching.

The elders which are among you I exhort, which am also an elder and a witness of the afflictions of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be opened:

Then fourteen years thereafter, I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took with me Titus also. Yea, and I went up by revelation, and commended with them of the gospel, which I preach among the gentiles - but between ourselves with them which were counted chief, lest it should have been thought that I should run, or had run in vain. Also Titus which was with me, though he were a Greek, yet was not compelled to be circumcised; read more.
and that because of incomers, being false brethren, which came in among others to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage. To whom we gave no room - no, not for the space of a hour - as concerning to be brought into subjection: and that because that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. Of them which seemed to be great - what they were in time passed it maketh no matter to me: God looketh on no man's person - nevertheless they seemed great, added nothing to me: But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel over the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel over circumcision was unto Peter - For he that was mighty in Peter in the apostleship over the circumcision, the same was mighty in me among the gentiles - and therefore when James, Cephas, and John, which seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the righthands, and agreed with us that we should preach among the heathen, and they among the Jews:

But when it pleased God, which separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, for to declare his son by me, that I should preach him among the heathen: Immediately I commended not of the matter with flesh and blood, neither returned to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me: but went my ways into Arabia, and came again unto Damascus. read more.
Then after three years, I returned to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. No other of the apostles saw I, save James the Lord's brother. The things which I write, behold, God knoweth I lie not. After that I went into the coasts of Syria and Cilicia: and was unknown, as touching my person, unto the congregations of Jewry, which were in Christ. But they heard only, that he which persecuted us in time past, now preacheth the faith, which before he destroyed. And they glorified God on my behalf.

But how shall they call on him, on whom they believed not? How shall they believe on him of whom they have not heard? How shall they hear without a preacher?

whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle - I tell the truth in Christ and lie not - being the teacher of the gentiles in faith and verity.

Paul, the servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to preach the faith of God's elect, and the knowledge of that truth,

James, the servant of God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ, sendeth greeting to the twelve tribes which are scattered here and there.

And he said unto them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."

And Jesus said unto them, "Follow me, and I will make you to be fishers of men."

And there was a young man out of Bethlehem Judah, and out of the kindreds of Judah: which young man was a Levite and sojourned there. And the man departed out of the city of Bethlehem Judah, to go dwell where he could find a place. And he came to mount Ephraim, and to the house of Micah as he journeyed. And Micah said unto him, "Whence comest thou?" And the Levite answered him, "I am of Bethlehem Judah, and go to dwell where I may find a place." read more.
And Micah said unto him, "Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest. And I will give thee ten silverlings by year and raiment of all sorts, and thy meat and drink." And the Levite went and began to dwell with the man, and was unto him as dear as one of his own sons. And Micah filled the hand of the Levite, and the young man became his priest, and continued in the house of Micah. Then said Micah, "Now I am sure that the LORD will be good unto me, seeing I have a Levite to my priest."

And straightway, he caused his disciples to go into the ship, and to go over the water before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.

And he said unto them, "Come ye apart into the wilderness, and rest awhile." For there were many comers and goers, and that they had no leisure for so much as to eat. And he went by ship, aside out of the way into a desert place.

And the spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stepped up above the people and said to them, "Thus sayeth God: 'Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD? Ye shall therefore not prosper, but as ye have forsaken him, so shall he forsake you.'" Whereupon they conspired against him and stoned him with stones, at the commandment of the king: even in the court of the house of the LORD.

Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, "How is the spirit of the LORD gone from me, to speak in thee?" And Micaiah said, "Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go from chamber to chamber to hide thee." And the king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah and carry him back again into Amon the governor of the city, and unto Joab the king's son, read more.
and say, 'Thus sayeth the king. Put ye this fellow in the prison house and feed him with bread and water straightly, until I return in peace.'"

And when Ahab saw Elijah, he said unto him, "Art thou he that troubleth Israel?" And he said, "It is not I that trouble Israel, but thou and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and hast followed Baal.

And he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, there was a widow there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, "Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a dish that I may drink." And as she went to fetch it, he cried to her and said, "Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand." And she answered, "As surely as the LORD thy God liveth, I have no bread, but even a handful of meal in a pitcher, and a little oil in a cruse. And see, I have gathered a few sticks for to go and bake it for me and my son, that we may eat it and then die." read more.
And Elijah said unto her, "Fear not, but go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first of all, and bring it out to me, and afterward make for thee and thy son. For thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel, 'The pitcher of meal shall not be wasted, neither shall thy oil cruse be without oil, until the LORD have sent rain upon the earth.'" And she went and did as Elijah bade. And she and he and her house did eat a good space, and the pitcher of meal wasted not neither was the oil cruse without oil according to the word of the LORD which he spake through Elijah.

And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah, said unto him, "See, the words of the Prophets speak good unto the king with one voice: let thy words, I pray thee, be like the words of one of them, and speak that is good." And Micaiah said, "As surely as the LORD liveth, what the LORD putteth in my mouth, that will I speak."

And there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel, whose sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel, and the words which he spake unto the king they told their father also. And their father said unto them, "What way went he?" For his sons had seen what way the man of God went which came from Judah. Then said he to his sons, "Saddle mine ass." And they saddled him an ass. read more.
And he gat him up thereon and went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an Oak and said unto him, "Art thou the man of God that camest from Judah?" And he said, "Yea." Then he said to him, "Come home with me and eat bread." And the other said again, "I may not return with thee, to go with thee, neither may I eat bread or drink water with thee in this place. For it was said to me by the commandment of the LORD, 'Eat no bread nor drink water in this place, nor turn again by the way thou wentest.'" And the old prophet said unto him, "I am a prophet as well as thou, and an Angel spake unto me with the word of the LORD saying, 'Bring him again with thee to thine house, and let him eat bread and drink water.' Bvt he lied unto him. And so the other went again with him and ate bread in his house and drank water. And as they sat at the table, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet that brought him again. And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, "Thus sayeth the LORD: 'Because thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee, but camest back again and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place in which he bade that thou shouldest eat no bread nor drink water: therefore thy carcass shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers.'" And when he had eaten bread and drunk, he saddled an ass for the prophet which he had brought again. And as he journeyed, a lion met him by the way and slew him, and his carcass lay along in the way and the ass stood thereby, and the lion stood by the corpse also. And men that passed by, saw the carcass cast along in the way and the lion standing thereby, and went and told it in the town where the old prophet dwelt. And when the prophet that brought him back again from the way, heard thereof, he said, "It is the man of God which disobeyed the mouth of the LORD. And therefore the LORD hath delivered him unto the lion which hath rent him and slain him, according to the word of the LORD, which he said to him." And he said to his sons, "Saddle me an ass." So they did. And he went and found the body cast along in the way, and the ass and the lion standing thereby. And the lion had not eaten the carcass nor hurt the ass. And he took up the body of the man of God and put it upon the ass and brought it again, and came to the city of the old prophet to lament him, and to bury him. And he laid his body in his own grave and lamented over him, "Oh my brother." And when he had buried him, he spake to his sons, saying, "When I am dead, see that ye bury me in the sepulchre wherein the man of God is buried, and lay my bones by his. For the saying which he cried at the bidding of the LORD against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of hill altars which are in the cities of Samaria, shall come to pass."

And the messenger that went to call Micaiah, spake to him saying, "Behold, the words of the Prophets are pleasant to the king with one assent, let thy words, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak that which is pleasant." And Micaiah said, "As truly as the LORD liveth, even what my God sayeth, that will I speak."

And in his greatness his heart arose, that he was marred: and transgressed against the LORD his God. For he went into the temple of the LORD to burn cense upon the altar of incense. But Azariah the priest went in after him with four score priests of the LORD that were bold men. And they stepped to Uzziah the king and said to him, "It pertaineth not to thee, Uzziah, to burn cense unto the LORD; but to the priests the children of Aaron that are consecrated for to burn incense. Come out of the sanctuary, for thou hast trespassed, and it shall be no worship to thee before the LORD God." read more.
And Uzziah was wroth and had cense in his hand to offer, and in his indignation against the priest, the leprosy sprang in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, even beside the incense altar. And Azariah the chief priest with all the other priests looked upon him: and behold he was a leper in his forehead, and they vexed him thence. And thereto he was fain to go out, because the LORD had plagued him.

and the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the messengers of the seven congregations: And the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven congregations.

Unto the messenger of the congregation of Ephesus write, 'These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, and walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks:

and the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the messengers of the seven congregations: And the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven congregations.

Unto the messenger of the congregation of Ephesus write, 'These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, and walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks:

And behold, Zadok and all the Levites were with him and bare the ark of the covenant of God. And when they had fetched down the Ark of God, Abiathar came up, until the people were all come over, out of the city. Then said the king unto Zadok, "Carry the Ark of God again into the city. If I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and show me both it and the tabernacle thereof also. But and if the Lord thus say - 'I have no pleasure in thee' - behold, here am I, let him do with me what seemeth best in his eyes." read more.
The king said also unto Zadok the priest, "Thou art a seer; return therefore into the city in peace. And take your two sons with you: Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

"And thou, son of man, the children of thy people that talk of thee by the walls and in the doors of their houses, saying one to another, 'Come, let us hear, what word is gone forth from the LORD' - These come unto thee, after the manner of a great people: yea, my people sit down before thee, and hear thy words, but they do not thereafter: for in their mouths they show themselves, as though they were fervent, but their heart goeth after their own covetous lucre. And as a ballad that hath a sweet tune, and is pleasant to sing, so shalt thou be unto them: thy words shall they hear, but they will not do thereafter. read more.
When this cometh to pass - for lo, it cometh indeed - then shall they know that there hath been a prophet among them."

Then said the rulers and the people unto the priests and prophets, "This man may not be condemned to death, for he hath preached unto us in the name of the LORD our God." The Elders also of the land stood up, and said thus unto all the people, "Micah the Morasthite, which was a prophet under Hezekiah king of Judah, spake to all the people of Judah, 'Thus sayeth the LORD of Hosts: Zion shall be plowed like a field, Jerusalem shall be a heap of stones, and the hill of the LORD's house shall be turned to a high wood.' read more.
Did Hezekiah king of Judah and the people of Judah put him to death for this? No verily, but rather feared the LORD, and made their prayer unto him. For the which cause also the LORD repented of the plague, that he had devised against them. Should we then do such a shameful deed against our souls?"

So Jeremiah stuck fast in the mire. Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, being a chamberlain in the king's court, understood that they had cast Jeremiah in to the dungeon: he went out of the king's house, and spake to the king, which then sat under the port of Benjamin, these words: "My lord the king, whereas these men meddle with Jeremiah the prophet, they do him wrong: Namely, in that they have put him in prison, there to die of hunger for there is no more bread in the city." read more.
Then the king commanded Ebedmelech the Ethiopian and said, "Take from hence thirty men whom thou wilt, and draw up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die." So Ebedmelech took the men with him, and went to the house of Amalek, and there under an almery he gat old rags and worn clothes, and let them down by a cord, into the dungeon to Jeremiah. And Ebedmelech the Ethiopian said unto the prophet Jeremiah, "O put these rags and clothes under thine arm holes, betwixt them and the cords." And Jeremiah did so. So they drew up Jeremiah with cords and took him out of the dungeon, and he remained in the fore entry of the prison.

And Barnabas gave counsel, to take with them John called also Mark:

And so sharp was the dissension between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: so that Barnabas took Mark and sailed unto Cyprus.

and not so only, but is also chosen of the congregations to be a fellow with us in our journey, as concerning this benevolence that is ministered by us unto the praise of the Lord, and to stir up your prompt mind.

hath caused me this to do: partly for Titus' sake - which is my fellow, and helper as concerning you - partly because of others which are our brethren, and the messengers of the congregations, and the glory of Christ.

And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him and said unto him, "There were two men in one city, a rich and a poor. And the rich had exceeding great abundance of sheep and oxen. But the poor had nothing, save one little lamb which he bought and nourished up. And it grew up with him and his children, and did eat of his own meat and drank of his own cup, and slept in his bosom, and was as dear unto him as his daughter. read more.
And there came a stranger unto the rich man. And he could not find in his heart to take of his own sheep nor of his beasts to dress for the stranger that was come unto him. But took the poor man's lamb and dressed it for the man that was come to him." And David was exceeding wroth with the man, and said to Nathan, "As surely as the LORD liveth, the fellow that hath done this thing is the child of death and shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing and because he had no pity." Then Nathan said to David, "Thou art the man. Thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel, 'I anointed thee king over Israel and rid thee out of the hands of Saul. And I gave thee thy master's house and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah - and would, if that had been too little, have given thee twice so much more. Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do wickedness in his sight? Thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword and hast taken his wife to thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house, because thou hast despised me and taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite, to be thy wife.' Thus sayeth the LORD, 'Behold, I will stir up evil against thee even of thine own house and will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, which shall sleep with them in the sight of the sun. And thou didst it secretly, yet will I do this thing before all Israel and in the open sunlight.'" Then said David unto Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said again to David, "The LORD hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. Howbeit, because in doing this deed thou hast given the enemies of the LORD a cause to rail, the child that is born thee shall die surely."

Then they that gladly received his preaching were baptised; And the same day, there were added unto them about a three thousand souls.

When the fiftieth day was come, they were all with one accord gathered together in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as it had been the coming of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they sat. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues, like as they had been fire, and it sat upon each of them: read more.
and they were all filled with the holy ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, even as the spirit gave them utterance.

And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria came to Ephesus: an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures. The same was informed in the way of the Lord, and he spake fervently in the spirit, and taught diligently the things of the Lord, and knew but the baptism of John only. And the same began to speak boldly in the Synagogue. And when Priscilla and Aquila had heard him: they took him unto them; And expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. read more.
And when he was disposed to go into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him. After he was come thither he helped them much, which had believed through grace. And mightily he overcame the Jews and that openly showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

And the people gave heed unto those things which Philip spake with one accord, in that they heard and saw the miracles which he did.

But as soon as they believed Philip's preaching of the kingdom of God and of the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptised: both men and women.

And there was great joy in that city.

And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds, and was baptised, with all that belonged unto him, straightway. When he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and joyed that he with all his household believed on God.

Now joy I in my sufferings which I suffer, for you; and fulfill that which is behind of the passions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the congregation - whereof am I made a minister according to the ordinance of God, which ordinance was given me unto you ward, to fulfill the word of God:

and their words shall fret even as doth a canker: of whose number is Hymenaeus and Philetus, which as concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already, and do destroy the faith of divers persons.

And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him and said unto him, "There were two men in one city, a rich and a poor. And the rich had exceeding great abundance of sheep and oxen. But the poor had nothing, save one little lamb which he bought and nourished up. And it grew up with him and his children, and did eat of his own meat and drank of his own cup, and slept in his bosom, and was as dear unto him as his daughter. read more.
And there came a stranger unto the rich man. And he could not find in his heart to take of his own sheep nor of his beasts to dress for the stranger that was come unto him. But took the poor man's lamb and dressed it for the man that was come to him." And David was exceeding wroth with the man, and said to Nathan, "As surely as the LORD liveth, the fellow that hath done this thing is the child of death and shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing and because he had no pity." Then Nathan said to David, "Thou art the man. Thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel, 'I anointed thee king over Israel and rid thee out of the hands of Saul. And I gave thee thy master's house and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah - and would, if that had been too little, have given thee twice so much more. Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do wickedness in his sight? Thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword and hast taken his wife to thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house, because thou hast despised me and taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite, to be thy wife.' Thus sayeth the LORD, 'Behold, I will stir up evil against thee even of thine own house and will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, which shall sleep with them in the sight of the sun. And thou didst it secretly, yet will I do this thing before all Israel and in the open sunlight.'" Then said David unto Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said again to David, "The LORD hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. Howbeit, because in doing this deed thou hast given the enemies of the LORD a cause to rail, the child that is born thee shall die surely."

I supposed it necessary to send brother Epaphroditus unto you, my companion in labour and fellow soldier, your apostle, and my minister at my needs. For he longed after you, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard say that he should be sick, and no doubt he was sick, and that nigh unto death, but God had mercy on him: not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have had sorrow upon sorrow. read more.
I sent him therefore the diligentlier, that when ye should see him, ye might rejoice again, and I might be the less sorrowful. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and make much of such: because that for the work of Christ he went so far, that he was nigh unto death, and regarded not his life, to fulfill that service which was lacking on your part toward me.

Epaphras the servant of Christ, which is one of you, saluteth you, and always laboureth fervently for you in prayers that ye may stand perfect, and full in all that is the will of God. I bear him record that he hath a fervent mind toward you, and toward them of Laodicea and them of Hierapolis.

Thanks be unto God, which put in the heart of Titus the same good mind toward you. For he accepted the request. Yea, rather he was so well willing, that of his own accord came unto you.

If any man build on this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, timber, hay, or stubble: every man's work shall appear. For the day shall declare it, and it shall be showed in fire, and the fire shall try every man's work what it is. If any man's work, that he hath built upon, abide; he shall receive a reward. read more.
If any man's work burn; he shall suffer loss. But he shall be safe himself, nevertheless yet as it were through fire.

Wherefore from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the congregation. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, "Ye know from the first day that I came unto Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humbleness of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which happened unto me by the layings wait of the Jews, read more.
and how I kept back nothing that was profitable: but that I have showed you, and taught you openly and at home in your houses, witnessing both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, the repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus. And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, and know not what shall come on me there, but that the holy ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and trouble abide me. But none of those things move me. Neither is my life dear unto myself; that I might fulfill my course with joy, and the ministration which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel of the grace of God. And now behold, I am sure that henceforth ye all, through whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record this same day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have kept nothing back: but have showed you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, whereof the holy ghost hath made you overseers: to rule the congregation of God, which he hath purchased with his blood. For I am sure of this: that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, which will not spare the flock. Moreover, of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things, to draw disciples after them. Therefore awake and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one of you, both night and day with tears. And now dear brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build further, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. I have desired no man's silver, gold, or vesture. Ye know well that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to receive the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how that he said, 'It is more blessed to give, than to receive.'" When he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. And they wept all abundantly, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him: sorrowing, most of all, for the words, which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.

Likewise these dreamers defile the flesh, despise rulers, and speak evil of them that are in authority. Yet Michael the archangel, when he strove against the devil, and disputed the body of Moses, durst not give railing sentence, but said, "The Lord rebuke thee." But these speak evil of those things which they know not. In those things which they know naturally - as beasts which are without reason - they corrupt themselves.

Then the chief priest rose up, and all they that were with him: which is the sect of the Sadducees: and were full of indignation, and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors and brought them forth, and said, read more.
"Go step forth, and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life." When they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning and taught. The chief priest came and they that were with him and called a council together, and all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to fetch them. When the ministers came and found them not in the prison, they returned and told, saying, "The prison found we shut as sure as was possible and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened we found no man within." When the chief priest of all and the ruler of the temple and the high priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. Then came one and showed them, "Behold, the men that ye put in prison stand in the temple, and teach the people." Then went the ruler of the temple with ministers, and brought them without violence. For they feared the people lest they should have been stoned. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the chief priest asked them, saying, "Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? And behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and ye intend to bring this man's blood upon us." Peter and the other apostles answered, and said, "We ought more to obey God than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on tree. Him hath God lift up with his right hand, to be a ruler and a saviour: for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are his records as concerning these things: and also the holy ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him." When they heard that, they clave asunder, and sought means to slay them. Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a doctor of law, had in authority among all the people and bade to put the apostles aside a little space, and said unto them, "Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. Before these days rose up one Theudas boasting himself, to whom resorted a number of men, about a four hundred, which was slain, and they all which believed him were scattered abroad, and brought to nought. After this man arose there up one Judas of Galilee, in the time when tribute began, and drew away much people after him. He also perished: and all, even as many as harkened to him, are scattered abroad. And now I say unto you: refrain yourselves from these men, let them alone: For if the counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: but and if it be of God, ye cannot destroy it, lest haply ye be found to strive against God." And to him they agreed, and called the apostles, and beat them, and commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the council rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer rebuke for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house they ceased not, teaching and preaching Jesus Christ.

and because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further, and took Peter also. Then were the days of sweetbread. And when he had caught him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to be kept, intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. Then was Peter kept in prison. But prayer was made without ceasing of the congregation unto God for him. read more.
And when Herod would have brought him out unto the people, the same night slept Peter between two soldiers, bound with two chains; And the keepers before the door kept the prison. And behold, the angel of the Lord was there present, and a light shined in the lodge. And he smote Peter on the side, and stirred him up, saying, "Arise up quickly." And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, "Gird thyself and bind on thy sandals." And so he did. And he said unto him, "Cast on thy mantle about thee, and follow me." And he came out, and followed him: and wist not that it was truth which was done by the angel; but thought he had seen a vision. When they were past the first and the second watch, they came unto the iron gate, that leadeth unto the city, which opened to them by his own accord. And they went out and passed through one street, and by and by the angel departed from him. And when Peter was come to himself, he said, "Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the waiting for of the people of the Jews." And as he considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of one John, which was called Mark also, where many were gathered together in prayer. As Peter knocked at the entry door, a damsel came forth to hearken, named Rhoda. And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the entry for gladness, but ran in and told how Peter stood before the entry. And they said unto her, "Thou art mad." And she bare them down that it was even so. Then said they, "It is his angel." Peter continued knocking: When they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished. And he beckoned unto them with the hand to hold their peace, and told them by what means the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, "Go show these things unto James and to the brethren." And he departed and went into another place. As soon as it was day there was no little ado among the soldiers, what was become of Peter. When Herod had called for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded them to depart. And he descended from Jewry to Caesarea, and there abode.

And it chanced that as Peter walked throughout all quarters, he came to the saints which dwelt at Lydda. And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years sick of the palsy. Then said Peter unto him, "Aeneas, the Lord Jesus Christ make thee whole: Arise and make thy bed." And he arose immediately. read more.
And all that dwelt at Lydda and Sharon, saw him, and turned to the Lord.

The next day, we that were of Paul's company, departed and came unto Caesarea. And we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven deacons, and abode with him. The same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. And as we tarried there a good many days, there came a certain prophet from Jewry, named Agabus.

And when they were escaped, then they knew that the isle was called Melita. and the people of the country showed us no little kindness, for they kindled a fire and received us every one because of the present rain, and because of cold. And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, And put them into the fire, there came a viper out of the heat and leapt on his hand. read more.
When the men of the country saw the worm hang on his hand, they said among themselves, "This man must needs be a murderer: Whom, though he have escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live." But he shook off the vermin into the fire, and felt no harm. Howbeit, they waited when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly. But after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god. In the same quarters, the chief man of the isle whose name was Publius, had a lordship: the same received us, and lodged us three days courteously. And it fortuned that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever, and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in and prayed, and laid his hands on him and healed him. When this was done, others also which had diseases in the isle, came and were healed: and they did us great honour. And when we departed, they laded us with things necessary.

And it fell on a day, that Elisha came to Shunem, where was a rich woman that took him in for to eat bread. And as oft as he came that way, he turned in thither to eat bread. And she said unto her husband, "See, I perceive that the man of God is perfect, and cometh always by us. Let us make him a chamber with a little wall, and let us set him there a bed, a table, a stool and a candlestick, that he may turn in thither, when he cometh to us."

When Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands on them, the holy ghost was given: he offered them money, saying, "Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I put the hands, he may receive the holy ghost." Then said Peter unto him, "Thy money perish with thee, because thou wenest that the gift of God may be obtained with money. read more.
Thou hast neither part nor fellowship in this business. For thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent, therefore, of this thy wickedness, and pray God that the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art full of bitter gall, and wrapped in iniquity."

When they had gone throughout the Isle unto the city of Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer: a false prophet, which was a Jew, named Barjesus: which was with the ruler of the country, one Sergius Paulus, a prudent man. The same ruler called unto him Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. But the sorcerer Elymas - for so was his name by interpretation - withstood them, and sought to turn away the ruler from the faith. read more.
Then Saul, which also is called Paul, being full of the holy ghost, set his eyes on him, and said, "O full of all subtlety and deceitfulness, and child of the devil, and the enemy of all righteousness: thou ceasest not to pervert the straight ways of the Lord. And now behold the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind and not see the sun for a season." And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; And he went about, seeking them that should lead him by the hand.

For they could not keep it at that time: for there were not priests enough sanctified, neither was the people gathered together to Jerusalem.

And they decreed that it should be proclaimed throughout all Israel from Beersheba to Dan, that they should come and hold the feast of the Passover unto the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not often done it, as it is written how they should.

And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses, because of his wife the Ethiopian which he had taken: for he had taken a Ethiopian to wife. And they said, "Doth the LORD speak only through Moses? Doth he not speak also by us?" And the LORD heard it. But Moses was a very meek man, above all the men of the earth. read more.
And the LORD spake at once unto Moses, unto Aaron and Miriam, "Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of witness." And they came out all three. And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle and called Aaron and Miriam. And they went out both of them. And he said, "Hear my words. If there be a prophet of the LORD's among you, I will show myself unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. But my servant Moses is not so, which is faithful in all mine house. Unto him I speak mouth to mouth and he seeth the sight and the fashion of the LORD, and not through riddles. Wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?" And the LORD was angry with them and went his way, and the cloud departed from the tabernacle. And behold, Miriam was become leprous, as it were snow. And when Aaron looked upon Miriam and saw that she was leprous, he said unto Moses, "Oh I beseech thee my lord, put not the sin upon us which we have foolishly committed and sinned. Oh, let her not be as one that came dead out of his mother's womb: for half her flesh is eaten away."

When Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands on them, the holy ghost was given: he offered them money, saying, "Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I put the hands, he may receive the holy ghost." Then said Peter unto him, "Thy money perish with thee, because thou wenest that the gift of God may be obtained with money. read more.
Thou hast neither part nor fellowship in this business. For thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent, therefore, of this thy wickedness, and pray God that the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art full of bitter gall, and wrapped in iniquity."

If the ministration of death through the letters figured in stones was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not behold the face of Moses for the glory of countenance - which glory nevertheless is done away - why shall not the ministration of the spirit be much more glorious? For if the ministering of condemnation be glorious: much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. read more.
For no doubt that which was there glorified is not once glorified in respect of this exceeding glory. Then if that which is destroyed was glorious, much more shall that which remaineth be glorious.

I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother: Did Titus defraud you of any thing? Walked we not in one spirit? Walked we not in like steps?

Then came he to Derbe and to Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there named Timothy, a woman's son which was a Jewess and believed: but his father was a Greek. Of whom reported well, the brethren of Lystra and of Iconium. The same, Paul would that he should go forth with him, and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters, for they knew all that his father was a Greek. read more.
As they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.

As they ministered to the Lord and fasted; The holy ghost said, "Separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the work whereunto I have called them." Then fasted they and prayed, and put their hands on them, and let them go.

Whereupon Asa was wroth with the seer and put him in the converting house, for he was displeased with him because of that. Moreover Asa oppressed certain of the people the same season.

And there was a certain man called Simon, which beforetime in the same city, used witchcraft and bewitched the people of Samaria, saying that he was a man that could do great things. Whom they regarded, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This fellow is the great power of God." And him they set much by, because of long time with sorcery he had mocked their wits.

Therefore it is no great thing, though his ministers fashion themselves as though they were the ministers of righteousness: whose end shall be according to their deeds.

And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censor, and put fire therein, and put cense upon; and brought strange fire before the LORD: which he commanded them not. And there went a fire out from the LORD, and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.

The word of the lord came unto the prophet Jonah, the son of Amittai, saying, "Rise and get thee to Nineveh that great city and preach unto them, how that their wickedness is come up before me." And Jonah made him ready to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and gat him down to Joppa, and found there a ship ready to go to Tarshish, and paid his fare, and went aboard, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. read more.
But the LORD hurled a great wind in to the sea, so that there was a mighty tempest in the sea: insomuch that the ship was like to go in pieces. And the mariners were afraid and cried every man unto his god, and cast out the goods that were in the ship in to the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah gat him under the hatches and laid him down and slumbered. And the master of the ship came to him and said unto him, "Why slumberest thou? Up! And call unto thy god, that God may think on us, that we perish not."

Above all things, show thyself an example of good works with uncorrupt doctrine, with honesty, and with the wholesome word which cannot be rebuked, that he which withstandeth may be ashamed, having no thing in you that he may dispraise.

Then when Judas, which betrayed him, saw that he was condemned, he repented himself; and brought again the thirty plates of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, "I have sinned, betraying the innocent blood." And they said, "What is that to us? see thou to that." And he cast down the silver plates in the temple, and departed, and went and hung himself. read more.
And the chief priests took the silver plates and said, "It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood." And they took counsel, and bought with them a potter's field to bury strangers in.

And Elisha said to him, "Say to her I pray thee, 'See, thou hast made all this provision for us, what shall we do for thee? Wouldest thou be spoken for to the king or to the captain of the Host?" And she said, "I dwell among mine own people."

So sent he into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him: Timothy and Erastus: but he himself remained in Asia for a season.

We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, which shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

And Paul chose Silas and departed, delivered of the brethren unto the grace of God.

And the same began to speak boldly in the Synagogue. And when Priscilla and Aquila had heard him: they took him unto them; And expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

And the saying pleased the whole multitude well. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith, and of the holy ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicholas, a convert of Antioch, which they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.

Despise not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee through prophecy, and with laying on of the hands of an elder.

The residue of that holy ground shall be the priests, which do service in the Sanctuary of the LORD, and go in before the LORD to serve him, that they may have room to dwell in.

Let the priests that minister unto the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and say, "Spare, Lord, thy people: and deliver not thine heritage unto rebuke that the heathen should reign over them. Why should they say among the nations, 'Where is their God?'"

As every man hath received the gift, minister the same one to another as good ministers of the manifold grace of God.

But the servant of the Lord must not strive: but must be peaceable unto all men, and apt to teach,

I will set shepherds also over them, which shall feed them. They shall no more fear and dread, for there shall none of them be lost, sayeth the LORD.

And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open, and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders said unto me, "Weep not. Behold, a lion being of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, hath obtained to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof."

hath caused me this to do: partly for Titus' sake - which is my fellow, and helper as concerning you - partly because of others which are our brethren, and the messengers of the congregations, and the glory of Christ.

Now then are we messengers in the room of Christ: even as though God did beseech you through us. So pray we you, in Christ's stead, that ye be at one with God:

He was a burning, and a shining light; and ye would for a season have rejoiced in his light.

And known be it unto you, that ye shall have no authority to require taxing and custom, yearly rents upon any of the priests, Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, and ministers in the house of this God.

Take, my brethren, the prophets: for an example of suffering adversity, and of long patience, which spake in the name of the Lord.

And Samuel did as the LORD bade him. And when he came to Bethlehem, the elders of the town were astonished at his coming, and said, "Betokeneth thy coming peace?"

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, whereof the holy ghost hath made you overseers: to rule the congregation of God, which he hath purchased with his blood.

And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house named Justus, a worshipper of God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.

And because he was of the same craft he abode with them and wrought: their craft was to make tents.

And it fortuned that he tarried many days in Joppa, with one Simon, a tanner.

Then fasted they and prayed, and put their hands on them, and let them go.

And they gave forth their lots, and the lot fell on Mathias. And he was counted with the eleven apostles.

which hath made us able to minister the new testament, not of the letter, but of the spirit. For the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

I wrote unto the congregation: but Diotrephes which loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not,

My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according unto these their works, and of the Prophetess Noadiah and of the other Prophets, that would have put me in fear.

Let men this wise esteem us, even as the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the secrets of God.

For a bishop must be faultless, as it becometh the minister of God; not stubborn, not angry, no drunkard, no fighter, not given to filthy lucre:

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus to be the Lord, and preach ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

The dear brother Tychicus shall tell you of all my business, which is a faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord,

and sent Timothy our brother and minister of God, and our labour fellow in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you over your faith,

Paul, the servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to preach the faith of God's elect, and the knowledge of that truth,

as it becometh me so to judge of you all, because I have you in my heart, and have you also every one companions of grace with me, even in my bonds as I defend, and establish the gospel.

neither spared the old world, but saved Noah, the eighth preacher of righteousness, and brought in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

For the priest's lips should be sure knowledge, that men may seek the law at his mouth, for he is a messenger of the LORD of Hosts.

And he said unto them, "Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me and hath hired me to be his priest."

And he called the twelve, and began to send them, two and two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.

even as they declared them unto us, which from the beginning saw their selves, and were ministers at the doing:

We as helpers therefore exhort you, that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.