4 Bible Verses about Christian Ministers

Now it came to pass after the death of Moses the servant of LORD, that LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, to the land which I give to them, even to the sons of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, to you I have given it, as I spoke to Moses. read more.
From the wilderness, and this Lebanon, even to the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your border. There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee. I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of good courage, for thou shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee. Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou may have good success wherever thou go. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shall meditate on it day and night, that thou may observe to do according to all that is written in it, for then thou shall make thy way prosperous, and then thou sha Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage. Be not frightened, neither be thou dismayed, for LORD thy God is with thee wherever thou go.

And LORD said to Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy fathers' house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary, and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood. And thy brothers also, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou near with thee, that they may be joined to thee, and minister to thee, but thou and thy sons with thee shall be before the tent of the testimony. And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tent. Only they shall not come near to the vessels of the sanctuary and to the altar, that they not die, neither they, nor ye. read more.
And they shall be joined to thee, and keep the charge of the tent of meeting, for all the service of the tent, and a stranger shall not come near to you. And ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar, that there be no more wrath upon the sons of Israel. And I, behold, I have taken your brothers the Levites from among the sons of Israel. They are a gift to you, given to LORD, to do the service of the tent of meeting. And thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priesthood for everything of the altar, and for that within the veil, and ye shall serve. I give you the priesthood as a service of gift. And the stranger who comes near shall be put

And LORD said to Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay thy hand upon him, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation, and give him a charge in their sight. And thou shall put of thine honor upon him, that all the congregation of the sons of Israel may obey. read more.
And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before LORD. At his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the sons of Israel with him, even And Moses did as LORD commanded him. And he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation. And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as LORD spoke by Moses.

And Moses called to Joshua, and said to him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of good courage. For thou shall go with this people into the land which LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and thou shall cause them t And LORD, he it is who goes before thee. He will be with thee. He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Fear not, neither be dismayed.

And LORD said to Moses, Behold, thy days approach that thou must die. Call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tent of meeting, that I may give him a command. And Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the tent of mee And LORD appeared in the tent in a pillar of cloud, and the pillar of cloud stood over the door of the tent. And LORD said to Moses, Behold, thou shall sleep with thy fathers. And this people will rise up, and play the harlot after the strange gods of the land where they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant whic read more.
Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall come upon them, so that they will say in that day, H And I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evil which they shall have wrought, in that they have turned to other gods. Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach thou it the sons of Israel. Put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the sons of Israel. For when I shall have brought them into the land which I swore to their fathers, flowing with milk and honey, and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and grown fat, then they will turn to other gods, and serve them, and de And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles have come upon them, that this song shall testify before them as a witness, for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed. For I know their imagination which t So Moses wrote this song the same day, and taught it to the sons of Israel. And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a command, and said, Be strong and of good courage, for thou shall bring the sons of Israel into the land which I swore to them, and I will be with thee.

Then he says to his disciples, The harvest truly is plentiful, but the workmen are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth workmen into his harvest.

Therefore he said to them, The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the workmen are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth workmen into his harvest.

Now I beseech you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive with me in prayers to God for me. So that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may become acceptable to the sanctified, so that I may come to you in joy through the will of God, and be rested with you.

And of you who help together by supplication for us (a gift for us from many persons, because of many), so that there may be gratitude about you.

praying through every prayer and entreaty at every time in spirit, and being alert in this same thing in all perseverance and entreaty for all the sanctified, and for me, so that utterance may be given to me in boldness in opening my mouth to make known the mystery of the good-news, for which I am an ambassador in bondage, so that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Aristarchus my fellow prisoner salutes you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom ye received orders, if he comes to you, welcome him),

And we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who labor among you, and who lead you in Lord, and who admonish you, and to esteem them with exceptional love because of their work. Live peaceably among yourselves.

Remember those who lead you, men who spoke the word of God to you, of whom, carefully observing the outcome of their conduct, imitate the faith--

And Moses called to Joshua, and said to him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of good courage. For thou shall go with this people into the land which LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and thou shall cause them t

Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before thee, he shall go in there. Encourage thou him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.

Indeed the signs of the apostle were performed among you in all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty works.

because the good-news from us happened to you not in word only, but also in power, and in Holy Spirit, and in much assurance, as ye know what kind of men we became among you, because of you.

Holding firm the word of life, for a boast by me in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain nor labor in vain.

And Paul having stood up, and having motioned with the hand, he said, Men, Israelites, and those who fear God, listen. The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and raised up the people during the sojourn in the land of Egypt. And with a lofty arm he brought them out of it. And for about a forty-year time he was patient with them in the wilderness. read more.
And having destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he allotted their land to them. And after these things he gave them judges about four hundred and fifty years until Samuel the prophet. And afterward they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. And having removed him, he raised up David for a king to them, also about whom he said, when he testified, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man according to my heart, who will do all my purposes. From this man's seed according to promise, God brought salvation to Israel, John having earlier proclaimed, before his coming presence, the immersion of repentance to Israel. And as John was fulfilling his course, he said, Whom do ye suppose me to be? I am not, but behold, he comes after me of whom I am not worthy to loose the shoes of his feet. Men, brothers, sons of the race of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation was sent. For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, not having known this and the voices of the prophets being read at every Sabbath, they fulfilled, having condemned him. And not having found one cause of death in him, they asked for Pilate to kill him. And when they completed all the things written about him, having taken him down from the tree, they laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead, who was seen for more days by those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are witnesses of him to the people. And we proclaim good-news to you: the promise to the fathers, which happened because God has fulfilled this to us their children, having raised up Jesus, as also it is written in the second psalm, Thou are my Son, today I have begotten thee. And because he raised him from the dead, no longer going to return to decay, he has spoken this way: I will give to you the faithful holy things of David. Therefore also he says in another, Thou will not give thy Holy man to see decay. For indeed David, who served his own generation in the plan of God, became asleep, and was added near his fathers, and saw decay. But he whom God raised up saw no decay. Be it known to you therefore, men, brothers, that through this man remission of sins is proclaimed to you. And from all things of which ye could not be make righteous by the Law of Moses, in this man every man who believes is made righteous. Watch therefore, lest that which is spoken in the prophets should come upon you: Behold, ye scoffers, and wonder, and perish, because I work a work in your days, which ye would, no, not believe, if some man should fully narrate it to you. And as they went out from the synagogue of the Jews, the Gentiles urged that these sayings be spoken to them the next Sabbath. Now after the synagogue was dismissed, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, while conversing, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

For though ye have countless instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus I begot you through the good-news.

And they were offended by him. But Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor, except in his fatherland, and in his house.

Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of LORD been revealed?

Behold, I have made thy face hard against their faces, and thy forehead hard against their foreheads. As an adamant, harder than flint, I have made thy forehead. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.

So the Spirit lifted me up, and took me away. And I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit, and the hand of LORD was strong upon me.

O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou will not hear? I cry out to thee of violence, and thou will not save. Why do thou show me iniquity, and look upon perverseness? For destruction and violence are before me, and there is strife, and contention rises up.

Now when these things were done, the rulers drew near to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, [doing] according to their abominations, even For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the peoples of the lands. Yea, the hand of the heads and rulers has been chief in this trespass.

And of the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name. These sought their registration [among] those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found. Therefore were they deemed polluted and put away from the priesthood.

And among the sons of the priests there were found who had married foreign women, [namely], of the sons of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and his brothers, Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah. And they gave their hand that they would put away their wives. And being guilty, [they offered] a ram of the flock for their guilt. And of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah. read more.
And of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah. And of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah. And of the Levites: Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah (the same is Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer. And of the singers: Eliashib. And of the porters: Shallum, and Telem, and Uri.

Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being allied to Tobiah, had prepared for him a great chamber, where formerly they laid the meal-offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, and the s But in all this [time] I was not at Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king. And after certain days I asked leave of the king, read more.
and I came to Jerusalem, and understood the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. And it grieved me greatly. Therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers. And there I brought again the vessels of the house of God, with the meal-offerings and the frankincense. And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them, so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had fled each one to his field. Then I contended with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place. Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the treasuries. And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah, and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah. For they were counted faithful, and their busin

And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite. Therefore I chased him from me. Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.

Now there were some men from the congregation that was in Antioch, prophets and teachers, including Barnabas, and Simeon called Niger, and Lucius the Cyrenian, and Manaen reared with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

And the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said to him, Do thou know that LORD will take away thy master from thy head today? And he said, Yes, I know it; hold ye your peace.

And Saul sent messengers to take David. And when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.

And the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came near to Elisha, and said to him, Do thou know that LORD will take away thy master from thy head today? And he answered, Yes, I know it; hold ye your peace.

And when the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho opposite him saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.

And though LORD give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet thy teachers shall not be hidden anymore, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers.

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall on the ground independent of your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore, ye are of worth more than many sparrows.

And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the sojourners of Gilead, said to Ahab, As LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. And the word of LORD came to him, saying, Get thee from here, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith that is before the Jordan. read more.
And it shall be, that thou shall drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. So he went and did according to the word of LORD, for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith that is before the Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening, and he drank of the brook. And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up because there was no rain in the land. And the word of LORD came to him, saying, Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to sustain thee. So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel that I may drink. And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thy hand. And she said, As LORD thy God lives, I do not have a cake, but a handful of meal in the jar, and a little oil in the cruse. And, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son that we may eat it, And Elijah said to her, Fear not, go and do as thou have said. But make me of it a little cake first, and bring it forth to me, and afterward make for thee and for thy son. For thus says LORD, the God of Israel, The jar of meal shall not be used up, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that LORD sends rain upon the earth. And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah. And she, and he, and her house, ate [many] days. The jar of meal was not used up, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of LORD, which he spoke by Elijah.

And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and also how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel send a messenger to Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time. And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life. And he came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. read more.
But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree. And he requested for himself that he might die, and said, It is enough, now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my And he lay down and slept under a juniper tree, and, behold, a [heavenly] agent touched him, and said to him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was at his head a cake baked on the coals, and a cruse of water. And he ate and drank, and laid him down again. And the agent of LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose, and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God. And he came to a cave there, and lodged there. And, behold, the word of LORD came to him, and he said to him, What are thou doing here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for LORD, the God of hosts. For the sons of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword. And I, even I only, am left, and they seek my lif And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before LORD. And, behold, LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before LORD, but LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind a And after the earthquake a fire, but LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire a still small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entrance of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice to him, and said, What are thou doing here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for LORD, the God of hosts. For the sons of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword. And I, even I only, am left, and they seek my lif And LORD said to him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when thou come, thou shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. And thou shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi to be king over Israel. And thou shall anoint Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah to be prophet in thy place. And it shall come to pass, that he who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall kill. And he who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall kill. Yet I have reserved [for me] seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth which has not kissed him.

Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten in the sight of God. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore, ye are superior to many sparrows.

Indeed therefore Peter was kept in the prison, but fervent prayer was being made by the church to God for him.

Now therefore arise, O LORD God, into thy resting-place, thou, and the ark of thy strength. Let thy priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy sanctified rejoice in goodness.

And now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to thy bondmen with all boldness to speak thy word,

Let thy priest be clothed with righteousness, and let thy sanctified shout for joy.

And having prayed, they said, Thou, Lord, knowing the hearts of all men, show which one of these two thou have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas transgressed to go to his own place.

Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, having gone to the chief priests, he said, What are ye willing to give me, and I will deliver him to you? And they weighed out to him thirty silver pieces. And from that time he sought a favorable opportunity so that he might betray him.

(Indeed therefore this man obtained a field from the reward of his unrighteousness, and having become headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.

Then Judas, who betrayed him, after seeing that he was condemned, having repented, he brought back the thirty silver pieces to the chief priests and elders, saying, I sinned, having betrayed innocent blood. But they said, What is it to us? See thou to it. And having cast down the silver pieces in the temple, he departed, and after going away, he hanged himself.

And as they were eating, he said, Truly I say to you, that one of you will betray me. And being exceedingly sorrowful, they began, each of them, to say to him, Is it I, Lord? And having answered, he said, He who dipped his hand with me in the dish, this man will betray me. read more.
The Son of man indeed goes as it is written about him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! It were good for him if that man had not been born. And Judas (the man who betrayed him) having answered, he said, Is it I, Rabbi? He says to him, Thou have said.

And while he was still speaking, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs from the chief priest and elders of the people. Now the man who betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomever I may kiss is he. Seize him. And straightaway having come to Jesus, he said, Hail, Rabbi, and kissed him much. read more.
And Jesus said to him, Friend, why are thou here. Then having come, they threw their hands on Jesus, and seized him.

having forsaked a straight path, they were led astray, men who followed the way of Balaam, son of Beor, who loved the wage of unrighteousness. But he had a rebuke of his own lawbreaking. A mute donkey, uttering in a man's voice, restrained the madness of the prophet.

And Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of LORD my God, to do less or more.

And Balak said to Balaam, Did I not earnestly send to thee to call thee? Why did thou not come to me? Am I not able indeed to promote thee to honor? And Balaam said to Balak, Lo, I have come to thee. Have I now any power at all to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.

How shall I curse, whom God has not cursed? And how shall I defy, whom LORD has not defied?

And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which LORD puts in my mouth?

The overseer therefore must be blameless, the husband of one wife, without wine, serious minded, disciplined, loving strangers, able to teach,

Let helpers be husbands of one wife, ruling children and their own houses well.

Have we no, not a right to lead about a sister wife, as also the other apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

And when Jesus came into Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law, having been laid down, and feverish.

They shall not take a woman who is a harlot, or profane, neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband, for he is holy to his God. Thou shall sanctify him therefore, for he offers the bread of thy God. He shall be holy to thee, for I LORD, who sanctify you, am holy. And the daughter of any priest, if she profanes herself by playing the harlot, she profanes her father. She shall be burnt with fire. read more.
And he who is the high priest among his brothers, upon whose head the anointing oil is poured, and who is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not let the hair of his head go loose, nor tear his clothes, neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother, neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God, for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him. I am LORD. And he shall take a wife in her virginity. A widow, or one divorced, or a profane woman, a harlot, these he shall not take, but he shall take to wife a virgin of his own people. And he shall not profane his seed among his people, for I am LORD who sanctifies him.

But when they opposed and slandered him, having shaken out his clothes, he said to them, Your blood is upon your heads. I am clean. From henceforth I will go to the Gentiles.

Son of man, I have made thee a watchman to the house of Israel. Therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say to a wicked man, Thou shall surely die, and thou give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked man from his wicked way, to save his life, the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but I will require his blood at Yet if thou warn the wicked man, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity, but thou have delivered thy soul. read more.
Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because thou have not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteous deeds which h Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous man not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning, and thou have delivered thy soul.

When I say to the wicked man, O wicked man, thou shall surely die, and thou do not speak to warn the wicked man from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but I will require his blood at thy hand.

And whoever will not receive you, nor hear your words, while departing that house or that city, shake off the dust of your feet. Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city. Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. Become ye therefore wise as serpents, and innocent as doves. read more.
But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues, and ye will be brought to governors and even kings because of me, for a witness to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, be not anxious how or what ye should speak, for it will be given you in that hour what ye will speak. For ye are not who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking in you. And a brother will deliver up a brother to death, and a father a child. And children will rise up against parents, and condemn them to death. And ye will be hated by all men because of my name, but he who endures to the end, this man will be saved. But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the other, for truly I say to you, ye will, no, not have completed the cities of Israel, until the Son of man comes. A pupil is not above his teacher, nor a bondman above his lord. It is enough for the pupil that he becomes like his teacher, and the bondman like his lord. If they have called the house-ruler Beelzebub, how much more those of his household. Fear them not therefore, for there is nothing covered, that will not be revealed, and hid, that will not be known. What I tell you in the darkness, speak ye in the light, and what ye hear in the ear, proclaim upon the housetops. And be not afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. But rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall on the ground independent of your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore, ye are of worth more than many sparrows. Therefore every man, whoever will profess in me before men, I also will profess in him before my Father in the heavens. But whoever would deny me before men, I also will deny him before my Father in the heavens. Think not that I came to spread peace on the earth. I came not to spread peace, but a sword. For I came to divide a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man's foes, are those of his own household. He who loves father or mother above me is not worthy of me, and he who loves son or daughter above me is not worthy of me. And he who does not take his cross and follow behind me, is not worthy of me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life because of me will find it. He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me.

Therefore I solemnly declare to you this day, that I am clean from the blood of all men. For I did not withdraw from declaring to you the whole plan of God.

And he spoke many things to them in parables, saying, Behold, the man who sows went forth to sow. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside, and the birds came and devoured them. But others fell upon the rocky places, where they had not much soil, and straightaway they sprang up because they had no depth of soil. read more.
But when the sun was risen, they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered. And others fell in the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. But others fell upon the good ground, and yielded fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

He who goes forth and weeps, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with joy, bringing his sheaves.

Listen. Behold, the man who sows went forth to sow. And it came to pass during the sowing, some fell by the path, and the birds came and devoured it. And others fell on the rocky ground where it had not much soil. And straightaway it sprang up, because it had no depth of soil. read more.
And when the sun was risen it was scorched, and because it had no root it dried out. And others fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it gave no fruit. And others fell into the good ground and gave fruit, coming up and increasing, and brought forth, one thirty, and one sixty, and one a hundred. And he said, He who has ears to hear, let him hear. And when he became alone, those around him, with the twelve, asked him the parable. And he said to them, To you is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God, but to those outside, all things occur in parables. So that seeing they may see, and not perceive, and hearing they may hear, and not understand, lest they should turn, and the sins would be forgiven them. And he says to them, Do ye not know this parable? And how will ye understand all the parables? The man who sows sows the word. And these are those by the path where the word is sown. And whenever they may hear, straightaway Satan comes, and takes away the word that has been sown in their hearts. And these in like manner are those being sown upon the rocky places, who, whenever they may hear the word, straightaway receive it with joy. And they have no root in themselves, but are temporary. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution develops because of the word, straightaway they are caused to stumble. And these are those being sown in the thorns, who hear the word, and the cares of this age, and the deceitfulness of wealth, and the cravings about other things entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. And these are those that were sown upon the good ground, who hear the word and receive it, and bear fruit, one thirty, and one sixty, and one a hundred.

The man who sows went forth to sow his seed. And during his sowing, some fell by the way, and it was trampled, and the birds of the sky devoured it. And another fell on the rock, and having grown, it withered away because of not having moisture. And another fell amidst the thorns, and having grown together, the thorns choked it. read more.
And another fell on the good ground, and having grown it produced fruit a hundredfold. As he said these things, he called out, He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

And those who seized Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest where the scholars and the elders were assembled together.

Ye know that after two days the Passover comes, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified. Then the chief priests, and the scholars, and the elders of the people, assembled together to the courtyard of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,

But Jesus was silent. And having responded, the high priest said to him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us if thou are the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus says to him, Thou have said. Nevertheless I say to you, Henceforth ye will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming in the clouds of the sky. Then the high priest tore his garments, saying, He has blasphemed. What further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now ye heard his blasphemy.

And a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, Ye know nothing at all, nor do ye consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not the whole nation should perish. Now he said this not from himself, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation.

Now Caiaphas was the man who counseled the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people.

And when they prayed, the place in which they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

And Peter having seen, he responded to the people, Men, Israelites, why do ye marvel at this man? Or why do ye stare at us, as by our own power or piety we have made him to walk? The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Boy Jesus, whom ye actually delivered up and denied him in the presence of Pilate who preferred to release that man. But ye denied the Holy and Righteous, and asked for a man, a murderer to be granted to you. read more.
And ye killed the Pathfinder of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. And by faith in his name, this man whom ye see and know, his name has made strong. And faith through him has given him this complete soundness in the presence of you all. And now, brothers, I know that ye did it from ignorance, as also your rulers. But this way God fulfilled what things were foretold, through the mouth of all his prophets, the Christ was to endure. Repent ye therefore, and be converted in order to wipe away your sins, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. And he may send Christ Jesus who has been pre-ordained for you, whom heaven must indeed receive until the times of restoration of all things, of which God spoke through the mouth of all his holy prophets from the age. For Moses indeed said to the fathers, Lord our God will raise up a prophet for you, from your brothers, like me. Ye shall hear him in all things, as many as he might speak to you. And every soul, whichever it will be, if it will not hear that prophet will be utterly destroyed from the people. And also all the prophets from Samuel and those in succession, as many as spoke, also proclaimed these days. Ye are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant that God made for our fathers, saying to Abraham, And in thy seed all the patriarchies of the earth will be blessed. To you first, having raised up his Boy Jesus, God sent him blessing you, in turning away each man from your evils.

if we are examined today about a good deed, of a feeble man, by what this man has been healed, be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by this, this man stands here before you healthy. This is the stone that was rejected by you who build, which became into the head of the corner. read more.
And salvation is not in any other man, for there is no other name under the heaven, that has been given among men, by which we must be saved. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and having perceived that they are illiterate and uneducated men, they marveled. And they recognized them, that they had been with Jesus.

But Peter and John having replied to them, they said, Whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken to you rather than God, judge ye. For we are not able not to speak what we saw and heard.

And having heard, they entered into the temple at early morning, and taught. But the high priest having arrived, and those with him, they called the council together, and all the senate of the sons of Israel. And they sent to the p

As for me, I have not hastened from being a shepherd after thee, nor have I desired the woeful day. Thou know. That which came out of my lips was before thy face.

In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word from LORD came, saying, Thus says LORD: Stand in the court of LORD's house, and speak to all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in LORD's house, all the words that I command thee to speak to them, diminish not a word. It may be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may relent of the evil which I purpose to do to them because of the evil of their doings. read more.
And thou shall say to them, Thus says LORD: If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you, to hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I send to you, even rising up early and sending them, but ye have not hearkened, then I will make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth. And the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of LORD. And it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that LORD had commanded him to speak to all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold on him, saying, Thou shall surely die. Why have thou prophesied in the name of LORD, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate, without inhabitant? And all the people were gathered to Jeremiah in the house of LORD. And when the rulers of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king's house to the house of LORD, and they sat in the entry of the new gate of LORD's [house]. Then the priests and the prophets spoke to the rulers and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy of death, for he has prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears. Then Jeremiah spoke to all the rulers and to all the people, saying, LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard. Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of LORD your God, and LORD will relent of the evil that he has pronounced against you. But as for me, behold, I am in your hand. Do with me as is good and right in your eyes. Only know ye for certain that, if ye put me to death, ye will bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants of it. For of a truth LORD has sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears.

Thus says LORD: Do not deceive yourselves, saying, The Chaldeans shall surely depart from us. For they shall not depart. For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans who fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yea they would rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire.

When Jeremiah came into the dungeon-house, and into the cells, and Jeremiah had remained there many days, then Zedekiah the king sent, and fetched him. And the king asked him secretly in his house, and said, Is there any word from LORD? And Jeremiah said, There is. He also said, Thou shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Baby Moreover Jeremiah said to king Zedekiah, How have I sinned against thee, or against thy servants, or against this people, that ye have put me in prison?

Brothers, become fellow-imitators of me, and watch those who so walk, just as ye have us for an example.

Not because we have no right, but that we might give ourselves an example to you, in order to imitate us.

Let no man disparage thy youth, but become an example of the faithful, in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

nor as domineering over the lots, but becoming examples of the flock.

And to the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might gain Jews, to those under law, as under law, so that I might gain those under law, to those without law, as without law (not being without law to God, but within law to Christ), so that I might gain men without law. To the weak I became as weak, so that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all men, so that by all means I might save some. read more.
And I do this for sake of the good-news, so that I might become a fellow participant of it.

All things are permitted for me, but not all things are expedient. All things are permitted for me, but not all things are constructive.

But if any man say to you, This is a sacrifice to an idol, do not eat for the sake of that man who informed, and the conscience, for the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness of it. And I say conscience, not the one of himself, but the one of the other man. For why is my liberty judged by another conscience? If I partake with thankfulness, why am I maligned about which I express thanks? read more.
Therefore whether ye eat, or drink, or anything ye do, do all to the glory of God. Become ye inoffensive both to Jews and to Greeks, and to the church of God, just as I also strive to please in all things for all men, not seeking my own advantage, but that of the many, so that they may be saved.

But let it be. I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being clever, I caught you with bait.

Then children were brought to him, so that he would lay his hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them.

And they brought children to him, so that he would touch them. And the disciples rebuked those who were bringing them.

And they were also bringing the infants to him, so that he would touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

But he answered her not a word. And his disciples having approached, they besought him, saying, Send her away, because she cries out behind us.

But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him about Herodias his brother's wife, and about all of which evil things Herod had done,

Repent ye, for the kingdom of the heavens has approached. For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of a man crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of Lord. Make his paths straight. Now John himself had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leather belt about his waist. And his food was locusts and wild honey. read more.
Then Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region of the Jordan went out to him, and they were immersed by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his immersion, he said to them, Ye offspring of vipers, who showed you to flee from the coming wrath? Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance. And think not to say within yourselves, We have a father, Abraham. For I say to you, that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. And even now the axe is laid at the root of the trees. Every tree therefore not producing good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire. I indeed immerse you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear. He will immerse you in a Holy Spirit. Whose winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. And he will gather his wheat into the storehouse, but he will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire.

For John said to Herod, It is not permitted for thee to have thy brother's wife. And Herodias was resentful toward him, and wanted to kill him. And she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. And having heard of him--the many things he was doing--he even heard of him gladly. read more.
And having become a convenient day, when Herod on his birthday made a dinner for his chiefs, and the high captains, and the leading men of Galilee, and the daughter of her (of Herodias) having come in and danced, and having pleased Herod and those who sat with the king, he said to the maiden, Ask of me whatever thou may want, and I will give to thee. And he swore to her, Whatever thou may ask of me, I will give to thee, as much as half of my kingdom. And having gone out, she said to her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the immerser. And having come in straightaway with haste to the king, she asked, saying, I want that thou may give me, of it on a platter, the head of John the immerser. And the king, who became exceeding sorry, did not want to refuse her because of the oaths, and of those dining together. And straightaway having sent an executioner, the king commanded his head to be brought. And having departed, he beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the maiden. And the maiden gave it to her mother.

He said therefore to the multitudes who went out to be immersed by him, Ye offspring of vipers, who showed you to flee from the coming wrath? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say within yourselves, We have a father, Abraham. For I say to you, that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. And even now the ax is laid at the root of the trees. Every tree therefore not making good fruit is cut down, and cast into fire.

And indeed he gave the apostles, and the prophets, and the evangelists, and the shepherds and teachers

He says to him again a second time, Simon, son of Jonah, do thou love me? He says to him, Yea, Lord. Thou know that I love thee. He says to him, Feed my sheep. He says to him the third time, Simon, son of Jonah, do thou love me? Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, Do thou love me? And he said to him, Lord, thou know all things. Thou know that I love thee. Jesus says t Truly, truly, I say to thee, When thou were younger, thou girded thyself, and walked where thou would, but when thou become old, thou will stretch forth thy hands, and another will gird thee, and carry thee where thou do not want.

And Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of LORD my God, to do less or more.

How shall I curse, whom God has not cursed? And how shall I defy, whom LORD has not defied?

And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which LORD puts in my mouth?

And Balaam said to Balak, Did I not also speak to thy messengers that thou sent to me, saying, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of LORD, to do either good or bad of my own mind. What LORD speaks, that I will speak? And now, behold, I go to my people. Come, I will advise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.

And Balaam said to Balak, Lo, I have come to thee. Have I now any power at all to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.

Then Samuel took the vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not that LORD has anointed thee to be prince over his inheritance?

Now LORD had revealed to Samuel a day before Saul came, saying, Tomorrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. And he shall save my people out of the hand of the Philistines, for I have looked upon my pe

And LORD said to Samuel, How long will thou mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill thy horn with oil, and go. I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for me a king among And Samuel said, How do I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me. And LORD said, Take a heifer with thee, and say, I have come to sacrifice to LORD. And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show thee what thou shall do. And thou shall anoint to me him whom I name to thee. read more.
And Samuel did that which LORD spoke, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, Do thou come peaceably? And he said, Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to LORD. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice. And it came to pass, when they came, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely LORD's anointed is before him. But LORD said to Samuel, Do not look on his countenance, or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For [LORD sees] not as man sees, for man looks on the outward appearance, but LORD looks on the heart. Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither has LORD chosen this man. Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither has LORD chosen this man. And Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, LORD has not chosen these men. And Samuel said to Jesse, Are all thy sons here? And he said, There remains yet the youngest, and, behold, he is keeping the sheep. And Samuel said to Jesse, Send and fetch him, for we will not sit down till he comes here. And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and of a beautiful countenance, and fine to look upon. And LORD said, Arise, anoint him, for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

During which time the myriads of the multitude having gathered together so as to trample each other, he began first to say to his disciples, Take heed to yourselves from the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Woe to you, ye blind guides, who say, Whoever may swear by the temple, it is nothing, but whoever may swear by the gold of the temple, he is obligated.

And Jesus said to them, Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. And they deliberated among themselves, saying, We took no loaves. And having known it, Jesus said to them, O ye of little faith, why do ye deliberate among yourselves because ye brought no loaves? read more.
Do ye not yet understand, nor remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up, nor the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many hampers ye took up? How do ye not understand that I spoke to you not about bread, to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees? Then they understood that he said not to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Thus being desirous of you, we were pleased to impart to you, not only the good-news of God, but also our own souls, because ye have become beloved to us.

Just as it is right for me to think this about all of you, because I have you in my heart, both in my bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the good-news, you all being partners with me of the grace.

We thank God always about all of you, making recollection of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father. Knowing, beloved brothers, your selection by God,

just as ye know, as each one of you as a father of his own children, imploring you, and comforting,

And Moses was indeed faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of the things that were going to be spoken,

I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before thee life and death, the blessing and the curse. Therefore choose life, that thou may live, thou and thy seed,

who was faithful to him who appointed him, as also was Moses in all his house.

I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land to which ye go over the Jordan to possess it. Ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall be utterly destroyed.

Therefore they cried to LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood. For thou, O LORD, have done as it pleased thee.

Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man to his god. And they cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it to them. But Jonah was gone down into the innermost parts of the ship, and he lay, and w So the shipmaster came to him, and said to him, What do thou mean, O sleeper? Arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we not perish.

And he said to them, I am a Hebrew, and I fear LORD, the God of heaven, who has made the sea and the dry land.

Then the men feared LORD exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to LORD, and made vows.

And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey. And he cried out, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. And the people of Nineveh believed God, and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. And the news reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and laid his robe from him, and covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. read more.
And he made proclamation and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed, nor drink water, but let them be covered with sackcloth, both man and beast, and let them cry mightily to God. Yea, let them turn each one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows whether God will not turn and relent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we not perish?

Now Eli was very old. And he heard all that his sons did to all Israel, and how that they lay with the women who assembled at the door of the tent of meeting.

If one man sins against another, God shall judge him, but if a man sins against LORD, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding, they did not hearken to the voice of their father, because LORD intended to kill them.

Now the sons of Eli were base men; they knew not LORD. And the custom of the priests with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was boiling, with a flesh-hook of three teeth in his hand, and he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot. All that the flesh-hook brought up the priest took with it. So they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. read more.
And before they burned the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man who sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest, for he will not have boiled flesh from thee, but raw. And if the man said to him, They will surely burn the fat first, and then take as much as thy soul desires, then he would say, No, but thou shall give it to me now, and if not, I will take it by force. And the sin of the young men was very great before LORD, for the men despised the offering of LORD.

And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? And did I give to the house of thy father all the offerings of the sons of Israel made by fire Why do ye kick at my sacrifice and at my offering, which I have commanded in [my] habitation, and honor thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chief of all the offerings of Israel my people?

And Samuel said, What have thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines assembled themselves together at Michmash, therefore I said, Now the Philistines will come down upon me to Gilgal, and I have not entreated the favor of LORD. I forced myself therefore, and offered the burnt-offering. And Samuel said to Saul, Thou have done foolishly. Thou have not kept the commandment of LORD thy God, which he commanded thee. For now LORD would have established thy kingdom upon Israel forever, read more.
but now thy kingdom shall not continue. LORD has sought for him a man after his own heart, and LORD has appointed him to be prince over his people, because thou have not kept that which LORD commanded thee.

Then the word of LORD came to Samuel, saying, I regret that I have set up Saul to be king, for he has turned back from following me, and has not performed my commandments. And Samuel was angry, and he cried out to LORD all night. And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, and it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set up for him a monument, and turned, and passed on, and went down to Gilgal. read more.
And Samuel came to Saul. And Saul said to him, Blessed be thou of LORD. I have performed the commandment of LORD. And Samuel said, What then means this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing 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 to LORD thy God, and the rest we have utterly destroyed. Then Samuel said to Saul, Stop, and I will tell thee what LORD has said to me this night. And he said to him, Say on. And Samuel said, Though thou were little in thine own sight, were thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel? And LORD anointed thee king over Israel. And LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed. Why then did thou not obey the voice of LORD, but did fly upon the spoil, and did that which was evil in the sight of LORD? And Saul said to Samuel, Yes, I have obeyed the voice of LORD, and have gone the way which LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the devoted things, to sacrifice to LORD thy God in Gilgal. And Samuel said, Has LORD as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because thou have rejected the word of LORD, he has also rejected thee from being king. And Saul said to Samuel, I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of LORD, and thy words, because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me that I may worship LORD. And Samuel said to Saul, I will not return with thee, for thou have rejected the word of LORD, and LORD has rejected thee from being king over Israel. And as Samuel turned about to go away, [Saul] laid hold upon the skirt of his robe, and it tore. And Samuel said to him, LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and has given it to a neighbor of thine, who is better than thou. And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent, for he is not a man that he should repent. Then he said, I have sinned. Yet honor me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship LORD thy God. So Samuel turned again after Saul, and Saul worshipped LORD.

And certain men, who came down from Judea, taught the brothers, Unless ye will be circumcised in the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth workmen into his harvest.

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy the brother, to Philemon our beloved and co-workman,

Then king Joash called for Jehoiada the priest, and for the [other] priests, and said to them, Why do ye not repair the broken parts of the house? Now therefore take no [more] money from your acquaintance, but deliver it for the br

And he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, Go out to the cities of Judah, and gather money from all Israel to repair the house of your God from year to year. And see that ye hasten the matter. However t And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said to him, Why have thou not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the tax of Moses the servant of LORD, and of the assembly of Israel, for the tent

Therefore I solemnly declare to you this day, that I am clean from the blood of all men. For I did not withdraw from declaring to you the whole plan of God.

Just as also ye learned from Epaphras our beloved fellow bondman, who is a faithful helper of the Christ for you,

And the sons of Samuel: the first-born [Joel], and the second Abijah.

And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. Now the name of his first-born was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba. And his sons did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain, and took bribes, and perverted justice.

But I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and co-workman and fellow soldier, and your apostle and servant of my need,

Thou therefore endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man who serves in the military entangles himself in the affairs of life, so that he may please the man who enlisted the army.

But ye will receive the power of the Holy Spirit that comes upon you. And ye will be witnesses to me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and as far as of the extremity of the earth.

And we are his witnesses of these things, and also the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.

But arise, and stand upon thy feet, for I appeared to thee for this, to appoint thee an assistant and a witness both of things that thou saw, and of the things that I will make visible to thee,

And though LORD give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet thy teachers shall not be hidden anymore, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers.

And indeed he gave the apostles, and the prophets, and the evangelists, and the shepherds and teachers

And there developed considerable weeping of all. And having fallen on Paul's neck, they kissed him much, sorrowing especially for the word that he had spoken, that they were going to see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.

And when it came to pass for us to finish the days, having gone forth, we were departing, all accompanying us, with women and children, as far as outside the city. And having knelt on the beach we prayed. And having bid farewell to each other, we went up in the ship, and those men returned to their own things.

of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan, so that they may be disciplined not to blaspheme.

and their word will have a feeding field like gangrene, of whom are Hymenaeus and Philetus,

Therefore I said, Look away from me. I will weep bitterly. Labor not to comfort me for the destruction of the daughter of my people. For it is a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity, from the Lord, LORD of hosts, in the valley of vision, a breaking down of the walls, and a crying to the mountains.

Then Isaiah the prophet came to king Hezekiah, and said to him, What did these men say? And from where did they come to thee? And Hezekiah said, They have come from a far country to me, even from Babylon. Then he said, What have they seen in thy house? And Hezekiah answered, They have seen all that is in my house. There is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them. Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, Hear the word of LORD of hosts: read more.
Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in thy house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says LORD. And of thy sons who shall issue from thee, whom thou shall beget, they shall take away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem. They shall never keep silent day nor night. Ye who are LORD's reminders, take ye no rest,

So thou, son of man, I have set thee a watchman to the house of Israel. Therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.

Of which I became a helper according to the gift of that grace of God, which was given to me according to the working of his power.

If ye truly continue in the faith, founded, and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the good-news that ye heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, of which I Paul became a helper.

for me to be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, serving the good-news of God like a priest, so that the offering up of the Gentiles might become acceptable, being sanctified in Holy Spirit.

Thus let a man regard us as of helpers of Christ, and managers of mysteries of God.

But ye shall be named the priests of LORD. Men shall call you the ministers of our God. Ye shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory ye shall boast yourselves.

but in everything commending ourselves as helpers of God, in much perseverance, in afflictions, in necessities, in restrictions,

Paul and Timothy, bondmen of Jesus Christ, to all the sanctified in Jesus Christ who are at Philippi, with the guardians and helpers:

Jude, a bondman of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to the called, sanctified in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:

But be thou sober in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, bring thy ministry to fullness.

And indeed he gave the apostles, and the prophets, and the evangelists, and the shepherds and teachers

And this is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the sons of Israel before his death.

But thou, O man of God, flee these things, and pursue righteousness, piety, faith, love, patience, mildness.

And when it became day, he called his disciples, and chose twelve from them, whom he also named apostles:

Be glad over her, thou heaven, and the sanctified, and the apostles, and the prophets, because God has decreed your judgment of her.

Let the elders who rule well be regarded worthy of double compensation, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching.

I, a fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of the Christ, and a partaker of the glory going be revealed, exhort the elders among you:

Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, having taken along Titus also. And I went up according to revelation, and I declared to them the good-news that I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of repute, lest somehow I might be running or ran in vain. But not even Titus with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. read more.
But that issue was because of those FALSE brothers smuggled in, who sneaked in to spy out our liberty that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might enslave us, to whom we yielded in subjection not even for an hour, so that the truth of the good-news might continue with you. But from those who were reputed to be something (what kind they were formerly, it makes no difference to me, God does not accept a personage of man), for those who were of repute added nothing to me, but to the contrary, when they saw that I was entrusted with the good-news for men of uncircumcision, as Peter for men of circumcision (for he who was working in Peter for the apostleship for men of circumcision was also working in me for the Gentiles), and James and Cephas and John, those who were reputed to be pillars, when they understood the grace that was given to me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship. So that we were for the Gentiles, and they for me

But when it pleased God who separated me from my mother's belly, and called me through his grace, to reveal his Son in me, so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not straightaway confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to the apostles before me, but I went into Arabia and returned again to Damascus. read more.
Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit with Peter, and I remained with him fifteen days. But I did not see another of the apostles except James the Lord's brother. Now what I write to you, behold before God, I do not lie. Later I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was unknown by face to the congregations of Judea in Christ, but they were only hearing that the man who once persecuted us now preaches the good-news, the faith that he once ravaged. And they glorified God in me.

How then will they call on whom they have not believed? And how will they believe of whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without preaching?

For which I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie), a teacher of Gentiles in faith and truth.

Paul, a bondman of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of the chosen of God, and the knowledge of truth according to piety,

James, a bondman of God and of Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion, greeting.

And he says to them, Come behind me, and I will make you fishermen of men.

And Jesus said to them, Come ye behind me, and I will make you to become fishermen of men.

And there was a young man out of Bethlehem-judah, of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there. And the man departed out of the city, out of Bethlehem-judah, to sojourn where he could find [a place]. And he came to the hill-country of Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed. And Micah said to him, From where come thou? And he said to him, I am a Levite of Bethlehem-judah, and I go to sojourn where I may find [a place]. read more.
And Micah said to him, Dwell with me, and be to me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten [pieces] of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy food. So the Levite went in. And the Levite was content to dwell with the man, and the young man was to him as one of his sons. And Micah consecrated the Levite, and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah. Then Micah said, Now I know that LORD will do me good, seeing I have a Levite for my priest.

And straightaway he compelled his disciples to enter into the boat, and to go ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he himself would send the crowd away.

And he said to them, Come ye yourselves in private into a desolate place, and rest a while. For there were many coming and going, and they had no opportunity even to eat. And they departed in the boat to a desolate place in private.

And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest. And he stood above the people, and said to them, Thus says God, Why do ye transgress the commandments of LORD, so that ye cannot prosper? Because ye have for And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of LORD.

Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way did the Spirit of LORD go from me to speak to thee? And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shall see on that day when thou shall go into an inner chamber to hide thyself. And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son, read more.
and say, Thus says the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction until I come in peace.

And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, Is it thou, thou troubler of Israel? And he answered, I have not troubled Israel, but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of LORD, and thou have followed the Baalim.

So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel that I may drink. And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thy hand. And she said, As LORD thy God lives, I do not have a cake, but a handful of meal in the jar, and a little oil in the cruse. And, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son that we may eat it, read more.
And Elijah said to her, Fear not, go and do as thou have said. But make me of it a little cake first, and bring it forth to me, and afterward make for thee and for thy son. For thus says LORD, the God of Israel, The jar of meal shall not be used up, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that LORD sends rain upon the earth. And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah. And she, and he, and her house, ate [many] days. The jar of meal was not used up, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of LORD, which he spoke by Elijah.

And the messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets [declare] good to the king with one mouth. Let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak thou good. And Micaiah said, As LORD lives, what LORD says to me, that I will speak.

Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel. And one of his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel. The words which he had spoken to the king, they also told them to their father. And their father said to them, What way did he go? Now his sons had seen what way the man of God went, who came from Judah. And he said to his sons, Saddle the donkey for me. So they saddled him the donkey, and he rode on it. read more.
And he went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak. And he said to him, Are thou the man of God who came from Judah? And he said, I am. Then he said to him, Come home with me, and eat bread. And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee. Neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place; for it was said to me by the word of LORD, Thou shall eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou came. And he said to him, I also am a prophet as thou are. And a [heavenly] agent spoke to me by the word of LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thy house that he may eat bread and drink water. [But] he lied to him. So he went back with him, and ate bread in his house, and drank water. And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of LORD came to the prophet who brought him back. And he cried out to the man of God who came from Judah, saying, Thus says LORD, Forasmuch as thou have been disobedient to the mouth of LORD, and have not kept the commandment which LORD thy God commanded thee, but came back, and have eaten bread and drunk water in the place of which he said to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water, thy body shall not come to the sepulcher of thy fathers. And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled the donkey for him, [namely], for the prophet whom he had brought back. And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and killed him. And his body was cast in the way, and the donkey stood by it. The lion also stood by the body. And, behold, men passed by, and saw the body cast in the way, and the lion standing by the body. And they came and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt. And when the prophet who brought him back from the way heard of it, he said, It is the man of God who was disobedient to the mouth of LORD. Therefore LORD has delivered him to the lion, which has torn him, and slain him, according And he spoke to his sons, saying, Saddle the donkey for me. And they saddled it. And he went and found his body cast in the way, and the donkey and the lion standing by the body. The lion had not eaten the body, nor torn the donkey. And the prophet took up the body of the man of God, and laid it upon the donkey, and brought it back. And he came to the city of the old prophet, to mourn, and to bury him. And he laid his body in his own grave. And they mourned over him, [saying], Alas, my brother! And it came to pass, after he had buried him, that he spoke to his sons, saying, When I am dead, then bury me in the sepulcher in which the man of God is buried. Lay my bones beside his bones. For the saying which he cried by the word of LORD against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass.

And the messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets [are] good to the king with one mouth. Let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good. And Micaiah said, As LORD lives, what my God says, that will I speak.

But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up, so that he did corruptly, and he trespassed against LORD his God. For he went into the temple of LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense. And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him eighty priests of LORD, who were valiant men. And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said to him, It does not pertain to thee, Uzziah, to burn incense to LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the sanctuary. For thou have tre read more.
Then Uzziah was angry. And he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was angry with the priests, the leprosy broke forth in his forehead before the priests in the house of LORD, beside the altar of incense. And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead. And they thrust him out quickly from there. Yea, he himself also hastened to go out, because LORD had smitten him.

The mystery of the seven stars that thou saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are agents of the seven congregations, and the seven lampstands that thou saw are the seven congregations.

To the agent of the congregation in Ephesus write, These things says he who holds the seven stars in his right hand, he who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:

The mystery of the seven stars that thou saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are agents of the seven congregations, and the seven lampstands that thou saw are the seven congregations.

To the agent of the congregation in Ephesus write, These things says he who holds the seven stars in his right hand, he who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:

And, lo, Zadok also [came], and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar went up until all the people had finished passing out of the city. And the king said to Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city. If I shall find favor in the eyes of LORD he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation. But if he says thus, I have no delight in thee, behold, here I am. Let him do to me as seems good to him. read more.
The king said also to Zadok the priest, Are thou [not] a seer? Return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

And as for thee, son of man, the sons of thy people talk of thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, each one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that comes forth f And they come to thee as the people come, and they sit before thee as my people. And they hear thy words, but do not do them. For with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goes after their gain. And, lo, thou are to them as a very lovely song of he who has a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument. For they hear thy words, but they do not do them. read more.
And when this comes to pass, (behold, it comes), then they shall know that a prophet has been among them.

Then the rulers and all the people said to the priests and to the prophets. This man is not worthy of death, for he has spoken to us in the name of LORD our God. Then certain of the elders of the land rose up, and spoke to all the assembly of the people, saying, Micah the Morashtite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and he spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus says LORD of hosts: Zion shall be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of read more.
Did Hezekiah king of Judah, and all Judah put him to death? Did he not fear LORD, and entreat the favor of LORD. And LORD relented of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Thus might we commit great evil against our own so

Now when Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, a eunuch, who was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon (the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin), Ebed-melech went forth out of the king's house, and spoke to the king, saying, My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet whom they have cast into the dungeon. And he is likely to die in the place where he is because of the famine, for there is no more bread read more.
Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from here thirty men with thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon before he dies. So Ebed-melech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took from there rags and worn-out garments, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah. And Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, Now put these rags and worn-out garments under thine armpits under the cords. And Jeremiah did so. So they drew up Jeremiah with the cords, and took him up out of the dungeon. And Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.

And Barnabas wanted to take along John called Mark.

Therefore a provocation developed, so as for them to separate from each other, and Barnabas to sail for Cyprus, after taking Mark,

And not only so, but who was also chosen by the congregations, a traveling companion of us with this gift administered by us, for the glory of the same Lord and our willingness.

whether on behalf of Titus my partner and co-workman for you, or our brothers, apostles of congregations, a glory of Christ.

And LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him, There were two men in one city: the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up. And it grew up together with him, and with his sons. It ate of his own morsel, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was t read more.
And there came a traveler to the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd to dress for the wayfaring man who came to him, but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man who came to him. And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, As LORD lives, the man who has done this is worthy to die. And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. And Nathan said to David, Thou are the man. Thus says LORD, the God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand 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 if that had been too little, I would have added to thee such and such things. Why have thou despised the word of LORD, to do that which is evil in his sight? Thou have smitten Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be thy wife, and have slain him with the sword of the sons of Ammon. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thy house, because thou have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. Thus says LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house. And I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them to thy neighbor, and he shall lay with thy wives in the sight of this sun. For thou did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun. And David said to Nathan, I have sinned against LORD. And Nathan said to David, LORD also has put away thy sin; thou shall not die. However, because by this deed thou have given great occasion to the enemies of LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born to thee shall surely die.

Indeed therefore those who received his word gladly, were immersed. And there were added in that day about three thousand souls.

And while fulfilling the day of Pentecost, they were all together at the same place. And suddenly there developed a sound from the sky as of a forceful wind moving, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them dividing tongues, as of fire, and they settled upon each one of them. read more.
And they were all filled of Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them to declare.

Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by origin, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus, being mighty in the scriptures. This was a man who was instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in the Spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things about the Lord, knowing only the immersion of John. And this man began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside, and expounded to him the way of God more accurately. read more.
And when he intended to pass through into Achaia, the brothers wrote, having encouraged the disciples to receive him, who, when he arrived, assisted much those who believed through the grace. For he forcibly refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the scriptures Jesus to be the Christ.

And the multitudes unanimously heeded the things that were spoken by Philip during their listening and seeing the signs that he did.

But when they believed Philip preaching good news, the things about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were immersed, both men and women.

And there became great joy in that city.

And having taken them in that hour of the night, he washed from the stripes, and was immersed, he and all those of him, immediately. And having brought them into his house, he set out a table, and rejoiced, having believed in God with all his house.

I now rejoice in sufferings for you, and make complete in my flesh things lacking of the afflictions of the Christ for his body, which is the church. Of which I became a helper according to the administration of God, which was given to me for you to fulfill the word of God,

and their word will have a feeding field like gangrene, of whom are Hymenaeus and Philetus, men who missed the mark about the truth, saying the resurrection happened already, and they overthrow the faith of some.

And LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him, There were two men in one city: the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up. And it grew up together with him, and with his sons. It ate of his own morsel, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was t read more.
And there came a traveler to the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd to dress for the wayfaring man who came to him, but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man who came to him. And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, As LORD lives, the man who has done this is worthy to die. And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. And Nathan said to David, Thou are the man. Thus says LORD, the God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand 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 if that had been too little, I would have added to thee such and such things. Why have thou despised the word of LORD, to do that which is evil in his sight? Thou have smitten Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be thy wife, and have slain him with the sword of the sons of Ammon. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thy house, because thou have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. Thus says LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house. And I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them to thy neighbor, and he shall lay with thy wives in the sight of this sun. For thou did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun. And David said to Nathan, I have sinned against LORD. And Nathan said to David, LORD also has put away thy sin; thou shall not die. However, because by this deed thou have given great occasion to the enemies of LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born to thee shall surely die.

But I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and co-workman and fellow soldier, and your apostle and servant of my need, since he was longing for you all, and distressed because ye heard that he was sick. For also he was sick, near death, but God was merciful to him, and not only him, but also me, so that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow. read more.
Therefore I sent him more urgently, so that having seen him again, ye may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. Receive him therefore in Lord with all gladness, and hold such men esteemed. Because for sake of the work of the Christ he came near the point of death, handing over his life so that he might fill up the deficiency of your service toward me.

Epaphras, the bondman of Christ from you, salutes you, always striving for you in prayers, so that ye may stand perfect and made full in all the will of God. For I testify about him, that he has much zeal for you, and those in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.

But thanks to God who gives the same eagerness for you in the heart of Titus. Because he indeed accepted the exhortation, but his own will being more zealous, he went forth to you.

And if any man builds upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become manifest. For the day will make it known, because it is revealed by fire. And the fire will test each man's work of what kind it is. If any man's work that he built on will remain, he will receive benefit. read more.
If any man's work will be burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but so as through fire.

And from Miletus having sent to Ephesus, he summoned the elders of the congregation. And when they came to him, he said to them, Ye know, from the first day in which I stepped in Asia, how I became with you all the time, serving the Lord with all humility, and many tears and trials that befell me by the conspiracies of the Jews. read more.
How I kept back nothing of these things that are beneficial, not to inform you, and to teach you in public, and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus. And now behold, I, bound in the spirit, am going to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me in it, except that the Holy Spirit testifies from city to city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. But I make nothing of the matter, nor do I hold my life precious to myself, so as to fully complete my course with joy, and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to solemnly testify the good-news of the grace of God. And now behold, I have seen that ye will no longer see my face, ye all among whom I passed through preaching the kingdom of God. Therefore I solemnly declare to you this day, that I am clean from the blood of all men. For I did not withdraw from declaring to you the whole plan of God. Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit placed you guardians, to tend the church of the Lord and God, which he purchased by his own blood. For I know this, that after my departure grievous wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. And from you yourselves men will rise up, speaking distorted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore watch ye, remembering that for three years, night and day, I did not cease warning each one with tears. And now brothers, I commit you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build up, and to give you an inheritance among all those who have been sanctified. I coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Ye yourselves know that these hands served my needs, and to those who were with me. I gave you a glimpse of all things, that so laboring ye ought to aid the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. And having spoken these things, having knelt down, he prayed with them all. And there developed considerable weeping of all. And having fallen on Paul's neck, they kissed him much, sorrowing especially for the word that he had spoken, that they were going to see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.

Nevertheless in the same way also these men who dream, indeed defile flesh, and reject lordship, and speak evil of dignities. But Michael the arch-agent, when he disputed with the devil, contending about the body of Moses, dared not bring a railing judgment, but said, May Lord rebuke thee. But these men indeed revile whatever they have not seen. But whatever they understand naturally, as the irrational beasts, in these things they are corrupted.

But after rising up, the high priest and all those with him (being the sect of the Sadducees) were filled of envy. And they threw their hands on the apostles, and put them in the public prison. But an agent of Lord opened the prison doors by night, and after leading them out, he said, read more.
Go ye, and after standing in the temple, speak to the people all the sayings of this Life. And having heard, they entered into the temple at early morning, and taught. But the high priest having arrived, and those with him, they called the council together, and all the senate of the sons of Israel. And they sent to the p But the subordinates who came did not find them in the prison. And having returned, they reported, saying, We found the prison indeed shut in all security, and the guards standing before the doors, but after opening, we found no man inside. Now when they heard these words, the high priest, and the captain of the temple, and the chief priests, were perplexed about them, whatever this would become. But a certain man who arrived, reported to them, Behold, the men whom ye put in the prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people. Then after departing, the captain with the subordinates brought them, not with violence, for they feared the people, lest they would be stoned. And having brought them, they placed them in the council. And the high priest demanded them, saying, Did we not command by an order for you not to teach in this name? And behold, ye have filled Jerusalem of your doctrine, and intend to bring upon us this man's blood. And Peter and the apostles having answered, they said, We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye murdered, having hung on a tree. God exalted this man with his right hand, a Pathfinder and a Savior to give repentance to Israel and remission of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things, and also the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him. And when they heard this, they were as being split with a saw, and wanted to annihilate them. But after standing up in the council, a certain Pharisee named Gamaliel, a law teacher, esteemed by all the people, commanded to make the apostles be outside a little while. And he said to them, Men, Israelites, take heed to yourselves what ye are going to do against these men. For before these days Theudas rose up saying himself to be somebody, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, bonded themselves, who was killed. And all, as many as were persuaded by him, were dispersed and developed into nothi After this man Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the registration, and drew a considerable crowd behind him. That man was also destroyed, and all, as many as were persuaded by him, were scattered. And now I say to you, keep away from these men, and let them go, because if the project or this work is from men, it will be overthrown, but if it is from God, ye cannot overthrow it, and perhaps ye may be found to be fighting against God. And they were persuaded by him. And after summoning the apostles, having beat them, they commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them. Indeed therefore they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were considered worthy to be treated shamefully for the name of Jesus. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they ceased not teaching and preaching good news, Jesus, the Christ.

And after seeing that it was pleasing the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also (and those were the days of unleavened bread), whom, having also arrested, he put in prison, having delivered to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him forth to the people. Indeed therefore Peter was kept in the prison, but fervent prayer was being made by the church to God for him. read more.
And when Herod was about to bring him forth, that night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound by two chains. And guards in front of the door guarded the prison. And behold, an agent of Lord stood near, and light shone in the room. And after striking the side of Peter, he raised him up, saying, Get up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the agent said to him, Gird thyself, and tie on thy sandals. And he did so. And he says to him, Throw on thy garment, and follow me. And after going out, he followed him. And he had not seen that the thing happening by the heavenly agent was true, but presumed to see a vision. And when they passed a first and a second watch, they came to the iron gate, the one leading to the city, which opened spontaneously to them. And after going out, they advanced one street. And straightaway the agent withdrew from h And when Peter came to himself, he said, Now I know truly, that Lord dispatched his agent and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and all the expectation of the people of the Jews. And having realized it, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, surnamed Mark, where a considerable were gathered and praying. And when Peter knocked the door of the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to hearken. And after recognizing Peter's voice, she did not open the gate for joy, but having ran in, she reported Peter was standing in front of the gate. And they said to her, Thou are mad. But she insisted to have it so. But they said, It is his heavenly agent. But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him, and were astonished. But after motioning to them with the hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord brought him out of the prison. And he said, Report these things to James, and to the brothers. And having departed, he went to a different pl But having become day, there was no small stir among the soldiers what then became of Peter. And Herod, who sought for him, and not having found, having examined the guards, he commanded them to be led away. And going down from Judea to Caesarea, he remained there.

And it came to pass, Peter, passing through all parts, to also come down to the sanctified who dwell at Lydda. And he found there a certain man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed, laying on a bed for eight years. And Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals thee. Arise and make thy bed. And straightaway he arose. read more.
And all those dwelling at Lydda and Sharon who saw him, turned to the Lord.

And on the morrow, after going forth, those around Paul came to Caesarea. And having entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, being of the seven, we dwelt with him. Now four virgin daughters who prophesied were with this man. And as we remained more days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.

And after being saved, then they learned that the island was called Malta. And the foreigners presented uncommon kindness to us, for, having kindled a fire, they received us all because of the present rain, and because of the cold. And Paul having gathered a quantity of sticks, and having placed them on the fire, a viper having come out from the heat, it fastened on his hand. read more.
And when the foreigners saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to each other, Certainly this man is a murderer, whom, though saved from the sea, Justice did not allow to live. Indeed therefore having shaken off the creature into the fire, he experienced nothing harmful. But they expected he was going to swell up, or suddenly fall down dead, but when they were long expecting, and seeing nothing amiss happening to him, thinking differently, they declared him to be a god. Now among the things around that place were fields of the chief of the island, named Publius, who, having received us kindly, lodged us three days. And it came about for the father of Publius to be laid down, gripped by fever and dysentery, to whom Paul, having entered in, and having prayed, having laid his hands on him, healed him. Therefore when this happened, the others also who had infirmities on the island came and were healed, who also honored us with many honorariums. And while putting out to sea, they furnished the things for our necessities.

And it fell on a day that Elisha passed to Shunem where there was a prominent woman. And she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as often as he passed by he turned in there to eat bread. And she said to her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God who passes by us continually. Let us make, I pray thee, a little chamber on the wall. And let us set a bed for him there, and a table, and a seat, and a candlestick. And it shall be, when he comes to us, that he shall turn in there.

Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he brought money to them, saying, Give me also this power, so that on whomever I lay hands, he may receive Holy Spirit. But Peter said to him, Thy silver with thee, may it be for destruction, because thou thought to obtain the gift of God by money. read more.
There is no part nor lot for thee in this matter, for thy heart is not straight in the sight of God. Repent therefore from this thine evil, and beg God, if perhaps the thought of thy heart will be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou are in the gall of bitterness and the bond of unrighteousness.

And after going through the island as far as Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a Jewish FALSE prophet, whose name was Bar-jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man, having summoned Barnabas and Saul, sought to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) opposed them, seeking to deviate the proconsul from the faith. read more.
But Saul (the man is also Paul) having been filled with Holy Spirit, and having gazed on him, said, O man full of all deceit and all recklessness, thou son of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, will thou not cease distorting the straight ways of Lord? And now, behold, a hand of Lord is upon thee, and thou will be blind, not seeing the sun until a time. And immediately there fell on him gloom and darkness, and going around he sought hand-guides.

For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves in sufficient number, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem.

So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the Passover to LORD, the God of Israel, at Jerusalem. For they had not kept it in great numbers in

And Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman. And they said, Has LORD indeed spoken only with Moses? Has he not spoken also with us? And LORD heard it. Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men who were upon the face of the earth. read more.
And LORD spoke suddenly to Moses, and to Aaron, and to Miriam, Come out ye three to the tent of meeting. And the three came out. And LORD came down in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the door of the tent, and called Aaron and Miriam. And they both came forth. And he said, Hear now my words. If there be a prophet among you, I LORD will make myself known to him in a vision. I will speak with him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so. He is faithful in all my house. With him I will speak mouth to mouth, even manifestly, and not in dark speeches, and he shall behold the form of LORD. Why then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant, against Moses? And the anger of LORD was kindled against them, and he departed. And the cloud removed from over the tent. And, behold, Miriam was leprous, as snow. And Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous. And Aaron said to Moses, Oh, my lord, lay not, I pray thee, sin upon us, in which we have done foolishly, and in which we have sinned. Let her not, I pray, be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he comes out of his mother's womb.

Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he brought money to them, saying, Give me also this power, so that on whomever I lay hands, he may receive Holy Spirit. But Peter said to him, Thy silver with thee, may it be for destruction, because thou thought to obtain the gift of God by money. read more.
There is no part nor lot for thee in this matter, for thy heart is not straight in the sight of God. Repent therefore from this thine evil, and beg God, if perhaps the thought of thy heart will be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou are in the gall of bitterness and the bond of unrighteousness.

But if the administration of death in writings engraved on stones occurred in glory, so that the sons of Israel could not gaze upon the face of Moses because of the fading glory of his countenance, how will the administration of the spirit not be more in glory? For if the administration of condemnation has glory, the administration of righteousness excels much more in glory. read more.
For also that which has been glorified, has not been glorified in this regard, because of the glory that transcends. For if that which is abolished was through glory, much more that which remains is in glory.

I encouraged Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus exploit you in anything? Did we not walk in the same spirit, not in the same steps?

And he came to Derbe and to Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain faithful Jewish woman, but of a Greek father, who was well reported of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted this man to go forth with him. And having taken him, he circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those regions, for they had all seen that his father was a Greek. read more.
And as they were going through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.

And while they were serving the Lord, and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Separate to me now Barnabas and Saul for the work that I have called them. Then, having fasted and prayed and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in the prison-house. For he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time.

But a certain man in the city, Simon by name, was formerly practicing sorcery, and fascinating the nation of Samaria, saying himself to be some great man, to whom they gave heed, from small to great, saying, This man is the great power of God. And they heeded him, because he facinated them for a considerable time with the sorceries.

Therefore, it is no great thing if his helpers also disguise themselves as helpers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each of them took his censer, and put fire in it, and laid incense on it, and offered strange fire before LORD, which he had not commanded them. And there came forth fire from before LORD, and devoured them, and they died before LORD.

Now the word of LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of LORD. And he went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare of it, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of LORD read more.
But LORD sent out a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken. Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man to his god. And they cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it to them. But Jonah was gone down into the innermost parts of the ship, and he lay, and w So the shipmaster came to him, and said to him, What do thou mean, O sleeper? Arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we not perish.

Concerning all things presenting thyself a pattern of good works in the doctrine: incorruption, dignity, incorruptibility, sound speech, irreproachable, so that the man of opposition may be ashamed, having nothing bad to say about us.

Then Judas, who betrayed him, after seeing that he was condemned, having repented, he brought back the thirty silver pieces to the chief priests and elders, saying, I sinned, having betrayed innocent blood. But they said, What is it to us? See thou to it. And having cast down the silver pieces in the temple, he departed, and after going away, he hanged himself. read more.
And after taking the silver pieces, the chief priests said, It is not permitted to put them into the treasury, since it is a price of blood. And having held consultation, they bought the potter's field with them for burial for foreigners.

And he said to him, Say now to her, Behold, thou have been caring for us with all this care. What is to be done for thee? Would thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the army? And she answered, I dwell among my own p

And having sent into Macedonia two of those who help him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.

We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, themselves also declaring the same things by speech.

but Paul, having selected Silas, went forth after being delivered to the grace of God by the brothers.

And this man began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside, and expounded to him the way of God more accurately.

And the word was pleasing before all the multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte, a citizen of Antioch, men whom they placed before the apostles. And having prayed, they laid hands upon them.

Do not neglect the gift in thee, which was given thee by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.

It is a holy portion of the land. It shall be for the priests, the ministers of the sanctuary, who come near to minister to LORD, and it shall be a place for their houses, and a holy place for the sanctuary.

Let the priests, the ministers of LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and do not give thy heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among t

As each has received a gift, serving it for yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

And a bondman of Lord must not quarrel, but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,

And I will set up shepherds over them who shall feed them. And they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed. Neither shall any be lacking, says LORD.

And I wept much because none was found worthy to open the book or to see in it. And one of the elders says to me, Weep not, behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, overcame to open the book and the seven seals of it.

whether on behalf of Titus my partner and co-workman for you, or our brothers, apostles of congregations, a glory of Christ.

We are therefore, ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were calling through us. We plead on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God.

That man was the lamp that burns and shines, and ye were willing to rejoice for an hour in his light.

Also we certify to you, that concerning any of the priests and Levites, the singers, porters, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll, upon them.

Take an example, my brothers, of evil-suffering and longsuffering, the prophets who spoke in the name of Lord.

And Samuel did that which LORD spoke, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, Do thou come peaceably?

Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit placed you guardians, to tend the church of the Lord and God, which he purchased by his own blood.

And having departed from there, he went into the house of a certain man named Justus, who worships God, whose house was adjoining the synagogue.

And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and was working, for they were of the tentmakers craft.

And it came to pass for him to remain considerable days at Joppa with a certain Simon, a tanner.

Then, having fasted and prayed and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

And they gave their lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

who also made us qualified helpers of a new covenant, not of a document, but of a spirit, for the document kills but the spirit makes alive.

I wrote to the congregation, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first of them, did not accept us.

Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and also the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, who would have put me in fear.

Thus let a man regard us as of helpers of Christ, and managers of mysteries of God.

For the overseer must be blameless as a steward of God, not self-willed, not prone to angry, not a drunkard, not a fighter, not greedy of base gain,

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves are your bondmen through Jesus.

Tychicus will make known to you all things about me, the beloved brother and faithful helper and fellow bondman in Lord.

And we sent Timothy, our brother, and a helper of God, and our fellow workman in the good-news of the Christ, in order to establish you and to encourage you about your faith,

Paul, a bondman of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of the chosen of God, and the knowledge of truth according to piety,

Just as it is right for me to think this about all of you, because I have you in my heart, both in my bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the good-news, you all being partners with me of the grace.

and he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, the eighth, a herald of righteousness, when he brought on a flood upon the world of the irreverent,

For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth. For he is the messenger of LORD of hosts.

And he said to them, Thus and thus has Micah dealt with me, and he has hired me, and I have become his priest.

And he summons the twelve, and began to send them forth in pairs. And he gave them authority over the unclean spirits.

just as they delivered them to us, who became from the beginning eyewitnesses and servants of the word,

And working jointly, we urge you also not to receive the grace of God in vain