'Opportunity' in the Bible

And [why] did you not give me opportunity to kiss my grandsons and my daughters [goodbye]? Now you have behaved foolishly [by] doing [this].

‘Then the land [of Israel] will enjoy its Sabbaths as long as it lies desolate, while you are in your enemies’ land; then the land will rest and enjoy its Sabbaths.

Then in the morning, at sunrise, you will get up early and rush upon and attack the city; and when Gaal and the people who are with him come out against you, you shall do to them whatever you can.”

But Samson retorted to his father, "Get her for me, since she looks fine to me." Meanwhile, his father and mother did not know that she was from the LORD, because he had been seeking a favorable opportunity concerning the Philistines, since the Philistines were dominating Israel at that time.

It happened that when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, "Am I God to cause death or to give life? This man [is] sending a man to me to cure his disease. Indeed! But know and see that he seeks an opportunity against me."

For this reason every one of your faithful followers should pray to you while there is a window of opportunity. Certainly when the surging water rises, it will not reach them.

They will call there, 'Pharaoh, the king of Egypt [is but] a roar, {he missed the opportunity}.'

Just then, certain influential Chaldeans took this opportunity to come forward and denounce the Jews.

From there I will give back her vineyards to her, and turn the "Valley of Trouble" into an "Opportunity for Hope." There she will sing as she did when she was young, when she came up from the land of Egypt.

before God's decree becomes reality and the day of opportunity disappears like windblown chaff, before the Lord's raging anger overtakes you -- before the day of the Lord's angry judgment overtakes you!

He replied, "You have been given the opportunity to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but they have not.

And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

And He went into a house. But again the crowd assembled, so that there was no opportunity for them even to snatch a meal.

An opportunity came during Herod's birthday celebration, when he gave a banquet for his top officials, military officers, and the most important people of Galilee.

and he said to them, 'Come ye yourselves apart to a desert place, and rest a little,' for those coming and those going were many, and not even to eat had they opportunity,

And they kept looking out for an opportunity to seize Him, but were afraid of the people; for they saw that in this parable He had referred to *them*. So they left Him and went away.

And when they heard this, they were glad and promised to give him silver. So he started looking for a good opportunity to betray Him.

He said, "You have been given the opportunity to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that although they see they may not see, and although they hear they may not understand.

And Herod said, "John I have beheaded; but who is this, of whom I hear such reports?" And he sought for an opportunity of seeing Jesus.

So they watched [for a chance to trap] Him. They sent spies who pretended to be upright and sincere, in order that they might catch Him in some statement [that they could distort and use against Him], so that they could turn Him over to the control and authority of [Pilate] the governor.

It will lead to an opportunity for you to witness.

And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.

After this Jesus moved from place to place in Galilee. He would not go about in Judaea, because the Jews were seeking an opportunity to kill Him.

So Jesus replied, "My time has not yet arrived, but you are ready at any opportunity!

Availing herself of the opportunity, Mary took a pound weight of pure spikenard, very costly, and poured it over His feet, and wiped His feet with her hair, so that the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

So when he had seen the vision, we immediately looked out for an opportunity of passing on into Macedonia, confidently inferring that God had called us to proclaim the Good News to the people there.

And as he reasoned concerning righteousness, and temperance, and the judgment about to come, Felix, being filled with fear, answered, Go for the present, and when I get an opportunity I will send for thee;

I answered them that it’s not the Romans’ custom to give any man up before the accused confronts the accusers face to face and has an opportunity to give a defense concerning the charges.

And sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind. For apart from the law sin is dead.

For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me, and through it killed me.

But now, with no further place for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you—

What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one.

Were you called while a slave? It should not be a concern to you. But if you can become free, by all means take the opportunity.

because a door of great opportunity stands wide open for me, but there are many opponents.

Now concerning the brother Apollos, I begged him much that he would go to you with the brethren; but it was not at all his will to go now; but he will come when he shall have good opportunity.

And with this confidence I intended to come to you first so that you would get a second opportunity to see us,

Now when I arrived in Troas to proclaim the gospel of Christ, even though the Lord had opened a door of opportunity for me,

We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in the outward appearance rather than in the heart.

We give no opportunity for stumbling to anyone, so that the ministry will not be blamed.

But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to deny the opportunity of those who want an opportunity to be regarded just as our equals in what they boast about.

For you were called to be free, brothers; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

and don’t give the Devil an opportunity.

taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.

Therefore, I want younger women to marry, have children, manage their households, and give the adversary no opportunity to accuse us.

preach the word [as an official messenger]; be ready when the time is right and even when it is not [keep your sense of urgency, whether the opportunity seems favorable or unfavorable, whether convenient or inconvenient, whether welcome or unwelcome]; correct [those who err in doctrine or behavior], warn [those who sin], exhort and encourage [those who are growing toward spiritual maturity], with inexhaustible patience and [faithful] teaching.

Therefore, since the promise remains for some to enter His rest, and those who formerly had the good news preached to them failed to [grasp it and did not] enter because of [their unbelief evidenced by] disobedience,

He again sets a definite day, [a new] “Today,” [providing another opportunity to enter that rest by] saying through David after so long a time, just as has been said before [in the words already quoted],“Today if you hear His voice,Do not harden your hearts.”

For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second one.

And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

For you know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected because he didn’t find any opportunity for repentance, though he sought it with tears.

Also, regard the patience of our Lord as an opportunity for salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him.

If any one is eager to lead others into captivity, he must himself go into captivity. If any one is bent on killing with the sword, he must himself be killed by the sword. Here is an opportunity for endurance, and for the exercise of faith, on the part of God's people.

Here is an opportunity for endurance on the part of God's people, who carefully keep His commandments and the faith of Jesus!"