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And they went to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them: What were you reasoning about on the way here?


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And he sat down and called the twelve; and he said to them: If anyone would be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.


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And he took a little child and set him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them:


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Whoever shall receive one of such little children in my name, receives me. And whoever receives me, receives not me but Him that sent me.


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John said to him: Teacher, we saw one casting out demons in your name and we forbade him, because he does not follow with us.


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But Jesus said: Do not forbid him. For there is no one who shall do a mighty work in my name and then be able straight afterwards to immediately speak evil of me.


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For whoever shall give you a cup of water to drink, because you are Christ's- truly I say to you, he shall in no way lose his reward.<br/> <em><i>Teaching About Offences</i></em>


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And whoever shall cause one of these little ones that believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.


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And if your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is good for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having your two hands and to go into Gehenna- into the unquenched fire,


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And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is good for you to enter into life lame, rather than having your two feet and to be cast into Gehenna,


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And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out. It is good for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes and to be cast into Gehenna,


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Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Teaching About Divorce</i></em><br/> And he left there and went into the regions of Judea on the other side of the Jordan. Crowds gathered around him again, and as was his custom he taught them.


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And there came to him Pharisees, who asked him: Is it lawful for a man to send away his wife? They asked this to test him.


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And he said to them: Whoever shall send away his wife and marry another, commits adultery against her.


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And they were bringing to him little children, that he should touch them; and the disciples rebuked them.


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But when Jesus saw it, he was moved with indignation, and said to them: Permit the little children to come to me; forbid them not. For to such belongs the kingdom of God.


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Truly I say to you, whoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no way enter into it.


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And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands upon them.<br/> <em><i>The Rich Young Man</i></em>


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And as he was proceeding along the road, a man ran to him and kneeled before him, and asked him: Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?


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You know the commandments: Do not kill. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. Do not defraud. Honour your father and mother.


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And Jesus observing him, loved him; and said to him: One thing you lack. Go, sell whatever you have and give it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me.


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But this teaching saddened him, and he went away sorrowful. For he was one that had great possessions.


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And Jesus looked around, and said to his disciples: How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!


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And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus continued and said to them: Children! How hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!


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It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.


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Jesus, observing them, said: With men it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.


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Jesus said: Truly I say to you. Whoever leaves house, or brothers, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or lands for my sake and for the gospel's sake,


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will receive in return, in this present season, a hundredfold houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, and with them persecutions; but in the age to come, eternal life.


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But many that are first shall be last and the last, first.<br/> <em><i>Jesus Talks About His Death</i></em>


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And they were on the road heading up to Jerusalem; and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve aside, he began to tell them what was to happen to him:


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We will go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man shall be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death and shall deliver him to the Gentiles.


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And they shall mock him and shall spit upon him and shall scourge him, and shall kill him; and after three days he shall rise again.


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And there came near to him James and John, the sons of Zebedee, saying to him: Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we shall ask of you.


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And they said to him: Grant to us that we may sit, one on your right hand and one on your left hand, in your glory.


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But Jesus said to them: You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink? Or to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?


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And they said to him: We are able! And Jesus said to them: The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized.


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But to sit on my right hand or on my left hand is not mine to give; but it will be given to them for whom it has been prepared.


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And Jesus called them to him, and said to them: You know that they who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.


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for the Son of Man came not to be served by others, but to serve- and to give his life as a ransom for many.<br/> <em><i>Jesus Heals Bartimaeus</i></em>


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And they arrived in Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus the son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside.


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And when he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out, and say: Jesus! You Son of David, have mercy on me!


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And many rebuked him, saying that he should hold his peace. But he cried out more zealously: You, Son of David, have mercy on me!


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And Jesus stood still and said: Call him. And they called to the blind man, saying to him: Be of good courage! Rise, he calls for you!


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And Jesus said: What will you have me do for you? And the blind man said to him: Rabbi- that I may receive my sight.


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And Jesus said to him: Go your way. Your faith has made you whole. And immediately he received his sight and followed him in the way.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Jesus Enters Jerusalem</i></em><br/> And when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,


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instructing them: Go into the village in front of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here.


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And if anyone says to you: Why are you doing this? You are to say: The Lord has need of him; and immediately he will send him back here.


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And many spread their garments upon the road, and others spread branches which they had cut from the fields.


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And they that went ahead and they that followed, cried, Hosanna! Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord!


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And he entered into Jerusalem and went into the temple, and when he had looked at everything, it being now evening, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.<br/> <em><i>Jesus and the Fig Tree</i></em>


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And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves- for it was not the season for figs.


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And they came to Jerusalem, and he entered into the temple and began to throw out those that sold and those that bought in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money exchangers and the seats of those that sold the doves.


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And he taught and said to them: Is it not written: My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of thieves!


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And the chief priests and the scribes heard it, and sought a way to destroy him. For they feared him, for all the crowd were astonished at his teaching.


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And Peter, remembering, said to him: Rabbi, look at the fig tree which you cursed. It is withered away!


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Truly I say to you, Whoever shall say to this mountain: Be removed and thrown into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart but shall believe that what he said will happen- he shall have it.


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Therefore I say to you: All things, whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you will receive them- and you shall have them.


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And whenever you stand praying, forgive those you have something against; so that your Father who is in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.


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But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your trespasses.<br/> <em><i>The Question of Authority</i></em>


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And they arrived in Jerusalem. And as he was walking into the temple, there came to him the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.


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They said to him: By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you authority to do these things?


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And Jesus said to them: I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.


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And they reasoned among themselves, saying: If we shall say: From Heaven- he will say: Why then did you not believe him?


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And they answered Jesus, saying: We do not know. And Jesus said to them: Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>The Parable of the Vineyard</i></em><br/> And he began to speak to them in parables. A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge about it, and dug a pit for the winepress and built a tower; and rented it to husbandmen. Then he went into another country.


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And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, so he might receive from the husbandmen the fruits of the vineyard.


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But those husbandmen said among themselves: This is the heir! Come, let us kill him and the inheritance shall be ours.


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What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard to others.


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Have you not read in the scripture: The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner?


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And they sought to arrest him; but they feared the crowd. For they perceived that he had spoken that parable against them; and they left him and went away.<br/> <em><i>The Jews Try to Trap Jesus with Trick Questions </i></em>


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And they sent to him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, that they might catch him out in his teaching.


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And when they arrived, they said to him: Teacher, we know you are truthful and do not care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?


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Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them: Why do you test me? Bring me a denarius, that I may look at it.


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And they brought it. And he said to them: Whose is this image and inscription? And they said to him: Caesar's.


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And Jesus said to them: Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled greatly at him.


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Teacher, Moses wrote to us: If a man's brother dies and leaves a wife behind him and leaves no children, then his brother should take his wife and raise up seed to his brother.


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Jesus said to them: Is not the reason you err that you do not know the scriptures, nor the power of God?


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For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels in heaven.


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But concerning the dead, that they are raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying: I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob?


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And one of the scribes came and heard them arguing; and knowing that he had answered them well, he asked him: What commandment is the first of all?


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And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.


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The second is this: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.


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And the scribe said to him: Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, that He is one and there is no other but He.


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And to love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is much more than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.


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And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him: You are not far from the kingdom of God. And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.


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And Jesus asked, as he taught in the temple: Why do the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?


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David himself said in the Holy Spirit: The Lord said to my Lord, Sit on My right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.


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David himself calls him Lord; and how is he therefore his son? And the common people heard him gladly.


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And in his teaching he said: Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk in long robes and to have salutations in the marketplaces,


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They that devour widows' houses and for a pretence make long prayers, these shall receive greater condemnation.


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And he sat down over against the treasury, and watched how the crowd threw money into the treasury; and many that were rich threw in a lot.


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And he gathered his disciples, and said to them: Truly I say to you, this poor widow threw in more than all they that are throwing money into the treasury.


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For they threw in money they didn't need, but she though needy threw in all that she had- all her livelihood.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple</i></em><br/> And as he left the temple, one of his disciples said to him: Teacher, look what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!


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And Jesus said to him: Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another. All will be thrown down.


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And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately:


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Tell us, when will these things occur, and what shall be the sign when these things are about to happen?


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And when you shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be disturbed. These things must take place, but the end is not yet.


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For nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, there shall be earthquakes in various places, there shall be famines. These things are the beginning of the birth pains.


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But be warned. For they shall deliver you up to councils, and in synagogues they shall beat you, and before governors and kings shall you stand for my sake, to bear witness before them.


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Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Say whatever shall be given you in that hour, for it is not you that will speak but the Holy Spirit.


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And brother shall deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children shall rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.


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And you shall be hated by all for my name's sake; but he that endures to the end, the same shall be saved.


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But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not (let him that reads understand), then let them that are in Judea flee to the mountains.


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For those days shall cause distress, such as there has never been similar, from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never shall be again.


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And except the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the elect's sake, which He chose, He shortened the days.


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And then if anyone shall say to you: Look, here is the Christ! or Look! There he is!- do not believe them.


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For false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray (if possible) the elect.


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But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give her light,


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And then shall he send the angels and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.


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Now from the fig tree learn its lesson. When its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that the summer is near.


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But of that day or that hour knows no one except the Father, neither the angels in heaven nor the Son.


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Like a man going on a journey; on leaving his house, he puts his servants in charge, each according to his assigned tasks. He also commands the gatekeeper to stay awake.


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Therefore stay awake. For you do not know when the lord of the house comes, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning.


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<em><i>The Anointing of Jesus</i></em><br/> Now it was two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread; and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might arrest him using trickery and kill him.


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And while he was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, there came a woman with an alabaster vial of ointment of pure nard- very expensive. She broke the vial and poured it over his head.


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But there were some that had indignation among themselves, saying: For what purpose has this waste of the ointment been made?


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For this ointment might have been sold for above three hundred denarii and given to the poor. And they scolded her.


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For you have the poor always with you, and whenever you want you can do them good, but me you do not have always.


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And truly I say to you: Wherever in the whole world the gospel shall be preached, what this woman has done shall be spoken of as a memorial to her.


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And Judas Iscariot, he that was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests, that he might betray him to them.


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And they, when they heard it, were glad; and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.<br/> <em><i>Jesus Prepares to Eat the Passover</i></em>


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And on the first day of unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the Passover, his disciples said to him: Where will you have us prepare for you the Passover to eat?


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And he sent two of his disciples and said to them: Go into the city and there you shall meet a man bearing a pitcher of water. Follow him.


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And wherever he enters, say to the master of the house: The teacher asks, where is the guest room in which I can eat the Passover with my disciples?


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And the disciples went into the city and found as he had said to them. And they made ready the Passover.


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And as they sat and were eating, Jesus said: Truly I say to you, one of you shall betray me- even he that eats with me.


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For the Son of Man goes, even as it is written of him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born.<br/> <em><i>The Last Supper</i></em>


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And as they were eating, he took bread and when he had blessed it, he broke it and gave it to them, and said: Take, eat, this is my body.


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Truly I say to you: I shall no more drink of the fruit of the vine, until the day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.


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And Jesus said to them: All of you shall fall away. For it is written: I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered abroad.


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And Jesus said to him: Truly I say to you, yes to you today, that this night, before the cock crows twice, you shall deny me three times.


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But Peter said emphatically: Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you. And they all said the same.<br/> <em><i>Jesus in Gethsemane</i></em>


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And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples: Sit here while I pray.


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And he went forward a little and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him.


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And he said: Abba, Father, all things are possible for You; remove this cup from me. However, not as I will but what You will.


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And he returned and found them sleeping, and said to Peter: Simon, why do you sleep? Could you not watch one hour?


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Watch and pray so that you do not fall into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak.


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And again he returned and found them sleeping. Their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to answer him.


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And he returned a third time and said to them: Sleep on now and take your rest. It is enough. The hour comes, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.


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And immediately, while he yet spoke, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders bearing swords and staves.


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Now he that betrayed him had given them a signal, saying: Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he. Take him and lead him away safely.


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But one of the disciples that was standing nearby drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.


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I was daily with you in the temple teaching and you did not arrest me; but this is done that the scriptures might be fulfilled.


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And they led Jesus away to the high priest; and there came together all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.


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And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire.


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Now the chief priests and the whole council sought evidence against Jesus to put him to death, and did not find it.


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We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.


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And the high priest stood up in their midst and asked Jesus: Do you answer nothing? What is this that these witnesses say against you?


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But he held his peace and said nothing. Again the high priest questioned him, saying: Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?


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And Jesus said: I am, and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.


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And some began to spit on him and to cover his face, striking him and saying to him: Prophesy! And the guards took him and beat him with their hands.<br/> <em><i>Peter’s Denials</i></em>


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And seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said: You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus!


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But he denied it, saying: I neither know, nor understand what you say; and he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.


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But he again denied it. And after a little while, again they that stood by said to Peter: Of a truth you are one of them; for you are a Galilean.


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And immediately the second time the cock crew. And Peter remembered what Jesus had said to him: Before the cock crows twice, you shall deny me three times. And as he thought upon it, he wept.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>The Trial Before Pilate</i></em><br/> And immediately in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes and the whole council, made their decision and bound Jesus and took him away and delivered him up to Pilate.


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And Pilate again asked him: Have you no answer to make? See how many accusations they make against you.


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And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man named Barabbas.


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And Pilate again answered and said to them: What then shall I do to him whom you call the King of the Jews?


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And Pilate, wishing to calm the crowd, released to them Barabbas and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.


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Then the soldiers led him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they called together the whole battalion.


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And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple cloak and dressed him in his own garments. And they led him out to crucify him.<br/> <em><i>The Crucifixion</i></em>


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And they compelled a passer-by to carry his cross, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the countryside, the father of Alexander and Rufus.


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And they crucify him and part his garments among themselves, casting lots for them to determine what every man should take.


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And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying: Ha! You that would destroy the temple and build it in three days,


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In like manner also the chief priests mocked among themselves and the scribes, saying: He saved others. Himself he cannot save!


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Let the Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so we may see and believe! And they that were crucified with him ridiculed him.


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And at the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice: Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? Which means: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?


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And one ran and filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a rod and gave it to him to drink, saying: Leave him be. Let us see if Elijah will come to take Him down.


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And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw how he breathed his last breathe, he said: Truly this man was the Son of God.<br/> <em><i>The Burial of Jesus</i></em>


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And there were also women watching from afar, among whom were both Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;


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who, when he was in Galilee, had also followed him and ministered to him; and many other women that also had come with him up to Jerusalem.


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Joseph of Arimathaea, a councillor of honourable rank, who also was looking for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.


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And Pilate wondered if he were already dead, and called the centurion. He asked him whether he was already dead.


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And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.


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<em><i>The Resurrection</i></em><br/> And when the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.


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And they were talking among themselves: Who shall roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?


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And entering into the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.


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And he said to them: Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus the Nazarene who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here! See the place where they laid him!


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Go tell his disciples, and Peter, that he goes ahead of you into Galilee. There shall you see him, just as he told you.


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And they went out and ran from the tomb. Trembling and astonishment had come upon them, and they said nothing to anyone. For they were afraid.


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Now when he had risen from the dead early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.


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And after these things he was manifested in another guise to two of them as they walked on their way into the countryside.


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And later he was manifested to the eleven themselves as they were eating; and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those that had seen him after he had risen.


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And these signs shall accompany them that believe- in my name shall they cast out demons, they shall speak with new tongues,


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they shall pick up snakes, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no way hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.


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So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.


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And they went and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to draw up a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,


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even as they delivered them to us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word,


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it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus,


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that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.<br/> <em><i>The Conception of John the Baptist</i></em>


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There was in the days of Herod, king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah, and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron and her name was Elisabeth.


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And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.


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according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.


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But the angel said to him: Fear not, Zacharias, because your prayer is heard; your wife Elisabeth shall carry a son and you shall call his name John.


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for he shall be great in the sight of the Lord. And he shall drink no wine nor strong drink, and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.


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and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.


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And Zacharias said to the angel: How shall I know this? For I am an old man and my wife well stricken in years.


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And the angel answering said to him: I am Gabriel who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you these good tidings.


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And you shall be dumb and not able to speak until the day that these things shall come to pass, because you did not believe my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.


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And when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, and he continued making signs to them and remained dumb.


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Thus has the Lord done to me in the days wherein he looked upon me, to take away my reproach among men.<br/> <em><i>The Conception of Jesus</i></em>


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to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.


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But she was greatly disturbed at the saying, and cast in her mind what manner of greeting this might be.


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He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God shall give to him the throne of his ancestor David.


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And the angel answered and said to her: The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow you. Therefore also the holy thing which is begotten within you shall be called the Son of God.


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And Elisabeth your kinswoman, she who was called barren, has in her old age also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month of her pregnancy.


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And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord! Be it unto me according to your word! And the angel departed from her.


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And it came to pass, when Elisabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the baby jumped within her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.


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And she lifted up her voice with a loud cry and said: Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!


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And blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord.


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because He has looked upon the low estate of His handmaid. For from this time forward all generations shall call me blessed.


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And Mary stayed with her about three months and then returned home.<br/> <em><i>The Birth of John</i></em>


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And her neighbours and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified His mercy towards her; and they rejoiced with her.


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And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child, and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of the father,


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And fear came on all their neighbours. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea.


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And all that heard them laid them up in their heart, saying: What then shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.


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to grant to us, that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve Him without fear,


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Yes, and you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High. For you shall go before the presence of the Lord to make ready His ways,


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to shine upon them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace.


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And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>The Birth of Jesus</i></em><br/> Now it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.


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And Joseph also went from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem (because he was of the house and family of David)


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And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.


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And there were shepherds in the same region staying in the field and keeping watch at night over their flock.


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And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were terrified.


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And the angel said to them: Be not afraid. For I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people.


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And this will be a sign to you: You shall find a baby wrapped in birth clothes and lying in a manger.


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And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to each other: Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.


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And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it had been spoken to them.


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And after eight days, when he was circumcised, his name was called Jesus, which name was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.<br/> <em><i>Simeon and Anna Meet Jesus</i></em>


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And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord


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(as it is written in the law of the Lord: Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord),


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and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord: A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.


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And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Spirit was upon him.


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And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.


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And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, that they might do concerning him after the custom of the law,


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And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother: Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against.


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Yes, and a sword shall pierce through your own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.


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And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity,


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and she had been a widow eighty four years. She departed not from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.


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And coming up to worship at that very same hour, she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all those that were looking for redemption in Jerusalem.


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And when they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.


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And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon him.<br/> <em><i>Jesus at Twelve Years Old</i></em>


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And when they had finished the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not.


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Supposing him to be in the company, they went a day's journey; and then they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances.


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And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them and asking them questions.


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And when they saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him: Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.


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And he said to them: How is it you searched for me? Did you not know that I would be in my Father's house?


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And he left with them and went to Nazareth, and was subject to them; and his mother treasured all these sayings in her heart.


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<em><i>The Preaching of John the Baptist</i></em><br/> Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,


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in the highpriesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.


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And he came into all the region round about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.


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As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: The voice of one crying, In the wilderness make ready the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.


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Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked paths shall become straight, and the rough ways smooth.


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He said to the crowds that went out to be baptized by him: You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?


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Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves: We have Abraham as our father. For I say to you, that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.


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And even now, the axe also lies at the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bring forth good fruit, is hewn down and cast into the fire.


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And he answered and said to them: He that has two coats, let him give to him that has none, and he that has food, let him do likewise.


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And soldiers also asked him, saying: And we, what must we do? And he said to them: Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.


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And as the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether he was the Christ,


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John answered, saying to them all: I indeed baptize you with water, but there comes he that is mightier than I, whose shoelaces I am not worthy to untie. He shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire.


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Whose fan is in his hand, to cleanse his threshing-floor thoroughly, and to gather the wheat into his barn; but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.


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


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Now it came to pass, when all the people were baptized, that Jesus also having been baptized and praying, the heaven was opened,


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and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in a bodily form as a dove, and a voice came out of heaven: You are My beloved Son. In you I am well pleased.


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And Jesus, when he began to teach, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was legally reckoned) of Joseph, the son of Heli,


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the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan,


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<em><i>The Wilderness Temptations</i></em><br/> And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,


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being tempted by the Devil for forty days. And he ate nothing in those days; and when they were completed, he was hungry.


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And the Devil said to him: To you will I give all this authority and the glory of them. For it has been delivered to me, and to whomsoever I will, I give it.


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And Jesus answered and said to him: It is written, you shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.


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And he led him to Jerusalem, set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him: If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down from here.


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And when the Devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him for a time.<br/> <em><i>Jesus in Nazareth</i></em>


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And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and the news about him went out throughout all the region.


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And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and he entered, as his custom was, into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read.


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And there was delivered to him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And he opened the book, and found the place where it was written:


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The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and the recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those that are bruised,


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And he closed the book and gave it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.


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And all bore him witness, and wondered at the words of grace which proceeded out of his mouth; and they said: Is this not Joseph's son?


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And he said to them: Doubtless you will say to me this proverb: Physician, heal yourself. Whatever we have heard done at Capernaum, do also here in your hometown.


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But of a truth I say to you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when there came a great famine over all the land.


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And to none of them was Elijah sent, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman that was a widow.


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And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them were cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.


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And they rose up and threw him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might throw him down headlong.


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And in the synagogue, there was a man that had a spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice:


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Leave us alone! What have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are! The Holy One of God!


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And Jesus rebuked him, saying: Hold your peace and come out of him. And when the demon had thrown him down in the midst, he came out of him, having done him no hurt.


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And amazement came upon all, and they spoke together, one with another, saying: What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits and they come out.


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And he rose up from the synagogue and entered into the house of Simon. And Simon's wife's mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of him concerning her.


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And he stood over her and rebuked the fever; and it left her, and immediately she rose up and served them.


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And when the sun was setting, they brought to him all that were sick with various diseases; and he laid his hands on everyone of them and healed them.


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And demons also came out from many, crying out and saying: You are the Son of God! But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.


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Now when it was day, he departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought him and came to him, and tried to keep him from leaving them.


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But he said to them: I must preach the good tidings of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for this is why I was sent.


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<em><i>The Call of the Disciples</i></em><br/> Now it came to pass, while the crowd pressed upon him and heard the word of God, that he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret.


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And he saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.


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And he entered into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little from the shore. And he sat down and taught the crowds out of the boat.


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And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon: Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.


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And Simon answered and said: Master, we toiled all night and took nothing, but at your word I will let down the nets.


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And they beckoned to their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.


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But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus' knees, saying: Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.


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And so were also James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon: Fear not. From this time forward you shall catch men.


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And when they had brought their boats to land, they left all and followed him.<br/> <em><i>Jesus Cures a Leper and a Paralyzed Man</i></em>


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And it came to pass, while he was in one of the cities, that there was a man full of leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, saying: Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.


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And he stretched forth his hand and touched him, saying: I will. Be made clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him,


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and he ordered him: Tell no one, but go your way and show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing according as Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.


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However, the report went around concerning him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.


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And it came to pass on one of those days that he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, who had come out of every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was with him to heal.


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And men brought on a bed a man that was paralysed; and they sought to bring him in and to lay him before him.


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But not finding by what way they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went to the housetop and let him down through the tiles with his couch, into the midst before Jesus.


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And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying: Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?


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But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins (he said to him who was paralyzed): I say to you, arise and take up your bedding and go to your house.


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And immediately, he stood up before them, picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God.


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And they were all amazed, and they glorified God; and they were filled with fear, saying: We have seen strange things today.<br/> <em><i>The Need for Change</i></em>


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And after these things he went and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and said to him: Follow me.


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And Levi made him a great feast in his house; and there was a great crowd of tax collectors and of others that were dining with them.


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And the Pharisees and their scribes murmured against his disciples, saying: Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?


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And Jesus answering said to them: They that are in health have no need of a doctor, but they that are sick.


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And they said to him: The disciples of John fast often and make supplications, likewise also the disciples of the Pharisees; but your disciples eat and drink.


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But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them; then will they fast, in those days.


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And he spoke also a parable to them: No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it upon an old garment, else he will tear the new, and also the piece from the new will not agree with the old.


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And no one puts new wine into old wine-skins, or else the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilt, and the skins will perish.


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And no one having drunk old wine immediately then desires new wine; for he says: The old is good.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Sabbath Controversies</i></em><br/> Now it came to pass on a Sabbath that he was going through the grain fields; and his disciples plucked the ears and ate, rubbing them in their hands.


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And Jesus answered them, saying: Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and they that were with him?


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How he entered the house of God, and took and ate the consecrated bread, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?


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And it came to pass on another Sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught; and there was a man there whose right hand was withered.


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And the scribes and Pharisees watched him closely, whether he would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against him.


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But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man that had his hand withered: Rise up and stand in the midst. And he arose and stood.


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And Jesus said to them: I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good, or to do harm? To save a life, or to destroy it?


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And he looked round about on them all, and then said to him: Stretch out your hand. And he did so, and his hand was restored.


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But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.<br/> <em><i>Jesus Calls and Teaches His Disciples</i></em>


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And it came to pass in these days that he went out into the mountain to pray; and he continued all night in prayer to God.


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


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Simon, whom he also named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James, and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew,


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And he came down with them and stood on a level place; and a great crowd of his disciples, and a great number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases.


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Then he lifted up his eyes toward his disciples, and said: Blessed are you poor; for yours is the kingdom of God.


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Blessed are you that hunger now; for you shall be filled. Blessed are you that weep now; for you shall laugh.


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Blessed are you, when men shall hate you, and when they shall reject you, and reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake.


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Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy; for your reward is great in heaven. For in the same manner did their fathers treat the prophets.


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Woe to you, you that are full now! For you shall hunger. Woe to you that laugh now! For you shall mourn and weep.


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Woe to you, when all men shall speak well of you! For in the same manner did their fathers do to the false prophets.


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To him that hits you on the cheek offer also the other, and from him that takes away your cloak- withhold not your coat also.


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For if you love those that love you, what praise do you have? For even sinners love those that love them.


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And if you do good to those that do good to you, what praise do you have? For even sinners do the same.


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And if you lend to those of whom you hope to receive, what praise do you have? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive again as much.


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But love your enemies, and do good and lend, never despairing, and your reward shall be great, and you shall be sons of the Most High. For He is kind toward the unthankful and evil.


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Judge not, and you shall not be judged; condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you shall be forgiven.


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Give; and it shall be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall they pour into your lap. For with what measure you use, it shall be measured to you again.


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And he spoke also a parable to them: Can the blind guide the blind? Shall they not both fall into a pit?


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And why do you see the splinter that is in your brother's eye, but do not consider the beam that is in your own eye?


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Or how can you say to your brother: Brother, let me cast out the splinter that is in your eye- when you yourself do not perceive the beam that is in your own eye? You hypocrite! Cast out first the beam out of your own eye, and then shall you see clearly to cast out the splinter that is in your brother's eye.


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For there is no good tree that brings forth corrupt fruit, nor a corrupt tree that brings forth good fruit.


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For each tree is known by its own fruit. For from thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush do they gather grapes.


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The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good, and the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.


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He is like a man building a house, who dug and went deep, and laid a foundation upon the rock; and when the flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it; because it had been founded upon a rock.


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But he that hears and does not do is like a man that built a house upon the earth without a foundation, against which the stream broke- and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>A Centurion’s Servant Cured</i></em><br/> After he had ended all his sayings in the ears of the people, he entered into Capernaum.


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And when he heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, pleading with him to come and heal his servant.


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And they, when they came to Jesus, pleaded earnestly, saying: He is worthy to have you do this for him,


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And Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him: Lord, trouble not yourself. For I am not worthy that you should come under my roof;


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therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to you. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.


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For I also am a man under authority, having under myself soldiers; and I say to one: Go! And he goes. And to another: Come! And he comes. And to my servant: Do this. And he does it.


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And when Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned and said to the crowd that followed him: I say to you, I have not found so great a faith, not even in Israel.


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And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant healed.<br/> <em><i>Jesus Raises a Dead Man</i></em>


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And it came to pass soon afterwards, that he went to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him.


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Now when he came near to the gate of the city, there was carried out one that was dead, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and many people of the city were with her.


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And he came near and touched the coffin; and the bearers stood still. And he said: Young man, I say to you, arise.


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And fear took hold of all, and they glorified God, saying: A great prophet has arisen among us, and God has visited His people!


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And this report about him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.<br/> <em><i>Jesus Gives His Opinion About John</i></em>


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And John calling to himself two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, asking: Are you he that comes, or look we for another?


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And when the men came to him, they said: John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask: Are you he that comes, or do we look for another?


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In that hour he cured many of diseases and illnesses and evil spirits, and on many that were blind he bestowed sight.


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And he answered and said to them: Go and tell John the things which you have seen and heard. The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the good news preached to them.


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And when the messengers of John had departed, he began to say to the crowds concerning John: What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?


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But what went you out to see? A man clothed in soft clothing? Look, they that are gorgeously apparelled and live delicately, are in kings' courts.


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This is he of whom it is written: Look, I send My messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way before you.


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I say to you, among those that are born of women- there is none greater than John. Yet he that is but little in the kingdom of God is greater than he.


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When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they acknowledged God's justice, having been baptized with the baptism of John.


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But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected for themselves the counsel of God, being not baptized by him.


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They are like children that sit in the marketplace and call to each other, who say: We piped to you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not weep.


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The Son of Man comes eating and drinking, and you say: Behold a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!


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And one of the Pharisees requested him to eat with him. And he entered into the Pharisee's house and sat down to the meal.


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And a woman who was in the city, a sinner, when she knew that he was dining in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment,


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and standing behind at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.


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Now when the Pharisee that had invited him saw it, he spoke within himself, saying: This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what manner of woman this is that touches him, that she is a sinner.


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And Jesus answering said to him: Simon, I have something to say to you. And he said: Teacher, speak.


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When they had nothing with which to pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?


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Simon answered and said: He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most. And he said to him: You have rightly judged.


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And turning to the woman, he said to Simon: Saw you this woman? I entered into your house, you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wetted my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.


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Therefore I say to you, that her sins, which are many, are forgiven (for she loved much). But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.


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And they that sat at food with him began to say within themselves: Who is this that even forgives sins?


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<em><i>The Parable of the Sower</i></em><br/> And it came to pass soon afterwards, that he went about through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good tidings of the kingdom of God; and companying with him were the twelve,


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and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary that was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,


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and Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered to them out of their means.


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And when a great crowd came together, and they of every city had come to him, he spoke by a parable:


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The sower went to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and it was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it.


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And other fell into the good ground, and grew, and brought forth fruit a hundredfold. As he said these things, he cried: He that has ears to hear, let him hear.


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And he said: To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest the parables remain as parables; so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.


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Those by the way side are they that have heard; then comes the Devil and takes away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved.


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And those on the rock are they who, when they have heard, receive the word with joy; but these have no root, they for a while believe, but in time of temptation fall away.


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And that which fell among the thorns, these are those that have heard, but as they go on their way, they are choked with cares and riches and the pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.


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And that in the good ground are those with an honest and good heart, who having heard the word, hold it fast and bring forth fruit with patience.


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Nobody, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed; but puts it on a stand, so that they that enter may see the light.


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For nothing is hid, that shall not be revealed; nor anything secret, that shall not be known and come to light.


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Take heed therefore how you hear. For whoever has, to him shall be given; and whoever has not, from him shall be taken away even that which he thinks he has.<br/> <em><i>Jesus Calms the Storm</i></em>


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And there came to him his mother and relatives; and they could not come to him because of the crowd.


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But he answered and said to them: My mother and my relatives are these that hear the word of God and do it.


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Now it came to pass on one of those days that he boarded a boat, he and his disciples, and he said to them: Let us go over to the other side of the lake. And they cast off.


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But as they sailed, he fell asleep; and there came down a storm of wind on the lake, and they were filling with water; and were in danger for their lives.


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And they came to him and woke him, saying: Master, master, we perish! And he awoke, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water; and they ceased, and there was a calm.


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And he said to them: Where is your faith? And being afraid they marvelled, saying to each other: Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?<br/> <em><i>The Healing of Legion</i></em>


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And when he had arrived upon the land, there met him a certain man out of the city, who had demons, and for a long time he had worn no clothes and abode not in any house, but in the tombs.


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And when he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said: What have I to do with you, Jesus, you Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.


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For he was commanding the unclean spirit to come out from the man. For oftentimes it had seized him, and he was kept under guard and bound with chains and fetters; and breaking the chains apart, he was driven by the demon into the desert.


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Now there was there a herd of many swine feeding on the mountain, and they begged him that he would give them leave to enter into them. And he gave them permission.


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And the demons came out from the man, and entered into the swine, and the herd rushed down the hill into the lake and were drowned.


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And when the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and reported it in the nearby town and in the countryside.


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And they went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man, from whom the demons had left, sitting, clothed and in his right mind, at the feet of Jesus; and they were afraid.


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And all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into a boat and returned.


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But the man from whom the demons had left pleaded with him that he might be with him; but he sent him away, saying:


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Return to your family, and declare what great things God has done for you. And he went his way, publishing throughout the whole city how great were the things Jesus had done for him.


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And there came a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue; and he fell down at Jesus' feet and begged him to come into his house.


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For he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age; and she was dying. But as he went, the crowds crushed him.


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And a woman who had suffered from chronic bleeding for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood upon doctors and could not be healed by any,


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And Jesus said: Who is it that touched me? And when all denied, Peter and they that were with him said: Master, the crowds press upon you and crush you.


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And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him, declared in the presence of all the people for what reason she touched him, and how she was healed immediately.


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While he yet spoke, there came one from the house of the ruler of the synagogue, saying: Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.


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And when he came to the house, he did not permit anyone to enter with him, except Peter, John and James, and the father and mother of the girl.


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And her spirit returned and she rose up immediately, and he commanded that something be given her to eat.


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And her parents were amazed, but he ordered them to tell no one what had been done.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>The Twelve are Sent Out to Preach</i></em><br/> And he called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases.


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And he said to them: Take nothing for your journey, neither staff, nor wallet, nor bread, nor money. Neither have two coats.


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And as many as do not welcome you, when you depart from that city, shake off the dust from your feet for a testimony against them.


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Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done; and he was very worried, because of what was said by some, that John had risen from the dead;


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And Herod said: John I beheaded, but who is this, about whom I hear such things? And he sought to see him.<br/> <em><i>Jesus Feeds 5000 Men</i></em>


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And the apostles, when they had returned, declared to him what things they had done. And he took them and withdrew to a city called Bethsaida.


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But the crowds knew it, and they followed him; and he welcomed them, and spoke to them of the kingdom of God, and those that had need of healing he cured.


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And the day began to wear away; and the twelve came and said to him: Send the crowd away, that they may go into the villages and countryside and lodge and get provisions. For we are here in a deserted place.


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But he said to them: You give them something to eat. And they said: We have no more than five loaves and two fishes, unless we go and buy food for all these people.


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For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples: Make them sit down in groups, about fifty in each.


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And he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.


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And they ate and were all filled, and there was taken up of the leftovers twelve baskets.<br/> <em><i>Jesus Talks Privately with the Disciples</i></em>


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And it came to pass, as he was praying alone, that his disciples joined him; and he asked them, saying: Who do the crowds say that I am?


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And they answering said: John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and others, that one of the old prophets has risen.


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saying: The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed, and the third day be raised up.


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And he said to all: If anyone would follow me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.


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For whoever would save his life shall lose it, but whoever shall lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.


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For whoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his own glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.


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But I tell you a truth: There are some that stand here, who shall in no way taste death, until they see the kingdom of God.<br/> <em><i>The Transfiguration</i></em>


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And it came to pass about eight days after these sayings, that he took with him Peter, John and James and went up into the mountain to pray.


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And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered and his garment became white and dazzling.


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Now Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they were fully awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.


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And it came to pass, as they were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus: Master, it is good for us to be here! Let us make three booths, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah. Not knowing what he said.


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And while he said these things, there came a cloud that overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered into the cloud.


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And when the voice came, Jesus was found alone. And they kept quiet and told no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.


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And it came to pass, the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him.


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And a man from the crowd cried, saying: Teacher, I beg you to look upon my son; for he is my only child.


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And a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out; it convulses him so that he foams at the mouth; and it departs from him with great difficulty, bruising him.


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And Jesus answered and said: O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.


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And as he was coming, the demon dashed him down and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.


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And they were all astonished at the majesty of God. But while all were marvelling at all the things which he did, he said to his disciples:


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Let these words sink into your ears. For the Son of Man shall be delivered up into the hands of men.


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But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it, and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying.<br/> <em><i>Who is the Greatest?</i></em>


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and said to them: Whoever shall receive this little child in my name receives me, and whoever shall receive me, receives Him that sent me. For he that is least among you all, the same is great.


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And John answered and said: Master, we saw one casting out demons in your name and we forbade him, because he follows not with us.


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But Jesus said to him: Forbid not. For he that is not against you is for you.<br/> <em><i>The Challenge of the Cross</i></em>


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Now it came to pass, when the time had come for him to be received up, that he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,


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and sent messengers before his face; and they went and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.


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And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said: Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?


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And Jesus said to him: The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.


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But he said to him: Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but you go and publish the kingdom of God.


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And another also said: I will follow you Lord, but first permit me to bid farewell to them that are at my house.


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But Jesus said to him: No one, having put his hand to the plough and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>The Sending of the Seventy </i></em><br/> Now after these things the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them two by two ahead of him into every city and place, where he was about to go.


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And he said to them: The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest, that He send out labourers into His harvest.


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And in that same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give. For the labourer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house.


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But into whatever city you shall enter and they do not welcome you, go out into the streets of it and say:


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Even the dust from your city, that clings to our feet, we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God comes near.


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Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which were done in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.


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He that hears you hears me; and he that rejects you rejects me, and he that rejects me rejects Him that sent me.


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See, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall in any way hurt you.


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Nevertheless, rejoice not that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.


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In that same hour he rejoiced in spirit, and said: I thank You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You hid these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to babes. Yes, Father. For so it was pleasing in Your sight.


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All things have been delivered to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is, save the Son, and he to whomever the Son wills to reveal Him.


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For I say to you, that many prophets and kings desired to see the things which you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them.<br/> <em><i>The Parable of the Good Samaritan</i></em>


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And a certain lawyer stood up, and to test him, asked: Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?


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And he answered saying: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.


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Jesus answered and said: A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he encountered robbers who both stripped him and beat him, and departed leaving him half dead.


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And by chance a certain priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.


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And in like manner a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.


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But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he was moved with compassion,


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and came to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on them oil and wine, and he put him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.


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And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the host, and said: Take care of him, and if you spend more, I, when I come back again, will repay you.


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Now as they went on their way, he entered into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.


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But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said: Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.


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But the Lord answered and said to her: Martha, Martha, you are anxious and disturbed about many things.


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But one thing is needful. For Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Teaching about Prayer</i></em><br/> And it came to pass, as he was praying in a certain place, that when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him: Lord, teach us to pray, even as John also taught his disciples.


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And forgive us our sins. For we ourselves also forgive everyone that is indebted to us. And bring us not into temptation.


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And he said to them: Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go to him at midnight and say to him: Friend, lend me three loaves,


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And he from within shall answer and say: Do not trouble me! The door is now shut and my children are with me in bed, I cannot rise and give anything to you?


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I say to you, though he will not want to rise and give anything to him, yet because he is his friend, and because of the man's persistence, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.


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And I say to you: Ask and it shall be given you, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you.


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If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him? <em><i>The Controversy About Beelzebub</i></em>


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And he was casting out a demon that was dumb. And it came to pass, when the demon had gone out, the dumb man spoke and the crowds marvelled.


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But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them: Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a family divided against a family falls apart.


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And if Satan also is divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? Because you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebub.


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And even if I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore shall they be your judges.


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But when one stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him his whole armour in which he had trusted, and divides his spoils.


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When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says: I will return to my house from which I came.


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Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first.


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And it came to pass, as he said these things, that a certain woman out of the crowd lifted up her voice and said to him: Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts which you did suck.


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But he said: Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it.<br/> <em><i>Jesus Criticizes the Jews</i></em>


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And when the crowds were gathering together to him, he began to say: This generation is an evil generation. It seeks after a sign, but there shall no sign be given to it, except the sign of Jonah.


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For even as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of Man be to this generation.


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The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and shall condemn them. For she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater than Solomon is here.


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The men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with this generation and shall condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, a greater than Jonah is here.


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No one when he has lit a lamp puts it in a cellar, neither under a bucket, but on the lightstand, so that they who enter in may see the light.


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The lamp of your body is your eye. When your eye is single, your whole body also is full of light; but when it is evil, your body also is full of darkness.


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If therefore your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it shall be wholly full of light, as when the lamp with its bright shining gives you light.


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And the Lord said to him: Now you the Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and plate, but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness.


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But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint, rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God; but these you should have done and not to leave the other undone.


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Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the chief seats in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces.


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And he said: Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.


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So you are witnesses and consent to the works of your fathers; for they killed them and you build their tombs.


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Therefore also the Wisdom of God said: I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,


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so that the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation:


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from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I say to you, it shall be required of this generation.


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Woe to you lawyers! For you took away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those that were entering in, you hindered.


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And when he got out from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press upon him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things,


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<em><i>Jesus Repeats the Teaching of the Sermon on the Mount</i></em><br/> In the mean time, when the many thousands of the crowd were gathered together, so much so that they trod one upon another, he began to say to his disciples first of all: Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.


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Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.


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And I say to you my friends, do not be afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.


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But I will warn you about whom you shall fear. Fear Him, who after He has killed has power to cast you into Gehenna. Yes, I say to you, fear Him!


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Are not five sparrows sold for two very small coins? And not one of them is forgotten in the sight of God.


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But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not! You are of more value than many sparrows.


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And I say to you, every one who shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of Man also confess before the angels of God.


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And everyone who shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him, but to him that blasphemes against the Holy Spirit it shall not be forgiven.


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And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious how or what you shall answer, or what you shall say.


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And he said to them: Take heed and keep yourselves from all covetousness. For a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses.


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And he reasoned within himself, saying: What shall I do, because I do not have anywhere to store my crops?


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And he said: This will I do. I will pull down my barns and build greater ones, and there will I store all my grain and my goods.


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And I will say to my soul: Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.


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But God said to him: You foolish one, this night is your soul required from you, and the things which you have prepared, whose shall they be?


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And he said to his disciples: Therefore I say to you, do not be anxious for life, what you shall eat. Nor yet for your body, what you shall put on.


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Consider the ravens, how they do not sow nor reap. They have no store nor barn, but God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!


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Consider the lilies, how they grow. They do not toil, nor do they spin. Yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these.


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But if God does so clothe the grass in the field, which today is and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more shall he clothe you, O you of little faith?


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For all these things the nations of the world seek after, but your Father knows you have need of these things.


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Sell that which you have and give alms. Make for yourselves purses which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief draws near nor moth destroys.


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For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.<br/> <em><i>Readiness for Christ’s Return</i></em>


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and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.


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Blessed are those servants, whom the master when he comes shall find awake. Truly I say to you, that he shall dress himself for service and make them sit down to eat, and shall come and serve them.


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And if he shall come in the second watch and if in the third and find them waiting, so blessed are they.


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But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake, and not have left his house to be broken into.


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And the Lord said: Who then is the faithful and wise steward whom his master shall set over his household to give them their portion of food in due season?


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But if that servant shall say in his heart: My lord delays his coming, and shall begin to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and to be drunk,


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the master of that servant shall come in a day when he does not expect, and at an hour he does not know, and shall cut him into pieces and put him with the unbelievers.


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And that servant, who knew his master's will and did not prepare or did not do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.


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But he that did not know and did things worthy of stripes, he shall be beaten with few stripes. And to whom much is given, of him shall much be required, and to whom people commit much, of him will they ask the more.


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They shall be divided, father against son and son against father. Mother against daughter and daughter against her mother. Mother in law against her daughter in law and daughter in law against her mother in law.


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And he said to the crowds: Also, When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, Here comes a shower- and so it comes to pass.


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And when you see a south wind blowing, you say, There will be a scorching heat- and it comes to pass.


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You hypocrites, you know how to interpret the signs of the earth and the sky, but how is it you do not know how to interpret this time?


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For as you are going with your adversary before the magistrate, on the way give diligence to be rid of him. Lest he drag you to the judge and the judge shall deliver you to the officer, and the officer shall throw you into prison.


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<em><i>The Problem of Suffering</i></em><br/> Now there were some present at that very time who told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.


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And he answered and said to them: Do you think that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they have suffered these things?


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Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them. Do you think that they were offenders above all the men that dwell in Jerusalem?


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And he spoke this parable: A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit thereon and found none.


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And he said to the vinedresser: Behold, these three years I came seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?


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And he answering said to him: Master, leave it alone this year also, I shall dig about it and fertilize it.


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And a woman was there who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years; she was bent over and could in no way straighten herself.


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And the ruler of the synagogue, being moved with indignation because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, answered and said to the crowd: There are six days in which men ought to work. In them therefore come and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.


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But the Lord answered them and said: You hypocrites! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath release his ox or his ass from the stall and lead him away for watering?


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And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham whom Satan had bound for eighteen years, to have been freed from this bond on the Sabbath day?


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And as he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the crowd rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.<br/> <em><i>The Last Judgment</i></em>


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It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and threw into his own garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky lodged in the branches of it.


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It is like the yeast which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all raised.


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Strive to enter in by the narrow door. For I say to you, many shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able.


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When the master of the house is risen and has shut the door, and you begin to stand without and to knock at the door, saying: Lord, open to us!- he shall answer and say to you: I do not know who you are.


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Then shall you begin to say: We did eat and drink in your presence, and you did teach in our streets.


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And he shall say: I tell you, I do not know from where you are. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity.


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There shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth, when you shall see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves cast out.


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And they shall come from the east and the west, and from the north and the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.


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And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.<br/> <em><i>Sorrow for Jerusalem</i></em>


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In that very hour certain Pharisees came warning him: Get out and leave here. For Herod wants to kill you.


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And he said to them: Go and say to that fox, Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow; and on the third day I shall reach my goal.


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Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following. For it cannot be possible that a prophet can die anywhere except Jerusalem.


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O Jerusalem! Jerusalem that kills the prophets and stones them that are sent to her! How often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her own brood under her wings, and you were not willing!


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Look, your house is left to you desolate; and I say to you, you shall not see me, until you shall say: Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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And it came to pass, when he went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees on a Sabbath to eat bread, that they were watching him.


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And Jesus answering spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying: Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?


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And he said to them: Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fall into a well, and will not immediately draw him up on a Sabbath day?


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And when he noted how they chose out the chief seats, he told a parable to those that were invited, saying to them:


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When you are invited by anyone to a marriage feast, do not sit in the chief seat; lest a more honourable man than you be invited by him,


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and he that invited you shall come and say to you: Give this man your place. Then you shall be shamed into taking the lowest place.


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But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place; that when he that has invited you comes, he may say to you: Friend, go up higher. Then shall you have glory in the presence of all that sit to eat with you.


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And he also said to him that had invited him: When you make a dinner or a supper, call not your friends, nor your brothers and sisters, nor your kinsmen, nor rich neighbours, unless they also invite you and repay you.


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and you shall be blessed; because they do not have anything to repay you with. For you shall be recompensed in the resurrection of the just.<br/> <em><i>The Parable of the Great Supper</i></em>


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And when one of his dinner guests heard these things, he said to him: Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!


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And he sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were invited: Come. For everything is now ready.


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And they all began to make similar excuses. The first said to him: I have bought a field and I need to go out and see it; I pray you excuse me.


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And another said: I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to test them. I pray you, have me excused.


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And the servant came and told his master these things. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant: Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor and maimed and blind and lame.


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And the master said to the servant: Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come, that my house may be filled.


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For I say to you, that none of those men that were invited shall taste my supper.<br/> <em><i>Radical Demands</i></em>


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If anyone comes to me, and hates not his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.


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For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he have enough to complete it?


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Unless, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish it, all that watch begin to mock him, saying:


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Or what king, as he goes to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take counsel, whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him that comes against him with twenty thousand?


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Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an ambassador and asks conditions of peace.


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It is useful neither for the soil nor for the manure heap, it is thrown away. He that has ears to hear, let him hear.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>The Lost Sheep</i></em><br/> Now all the tax collectors and sinners were drawing near to him to hear him teach.


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And both the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying: This man receives sinners and eats with them.


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What man of you, having a hundred sheep and having lost one of them, does not leave the other ninety nine in the wilderness and go after that which is lost, until he finds it?


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And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbours, saying to them: Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!


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I say to you, that even so there shall be more joy in heaven over one sinner that repents, than over ninety nine righteous persons, who need no repentance.<br/> <em><i>The Lost Coin</i></em>


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Or what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she loses one piece, does not light a lamp and sweeps the house and seeks diligently until she finds it?


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And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying: Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had lost.


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Even so, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents.<br/> <em><i>The Lost Sons</i></em>


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And the younger of them said to his father: Father, give me the inheritance of property that is coming to me. And he divided his property between them.


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Not many days later, the younger son gathered into money all he had, and took a journey into a far country; and there he squandered his inheritance in reckless living.


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And he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs.


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And he would gladly have filled his belly with the husks that the pigs ate, but no one gave him anything.


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But when he came to his senses he said: How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough to spare, but I perish here with hunger!


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I will rise and go to my father, and will say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight.


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And he rose and went to his father. But while he was yet far away, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran and embraced and kissed him.


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And the son said to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no more worthy to be called your son.


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But the father said to his servants: Bring quickly the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet.


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Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.


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And he said to him: Your brother came, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.


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But he answered and said to his father: Look! For so many years I have served you, and I never transgressed a commandment of yours, and yet you never gave me a kid that I might make merry with my friends.


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But when this your son came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed for him the fatted calf.


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But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad. For this your brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost and is found.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>The Parable of the Clever Steward</i></em><br/> And he said also to the disciples: There was a certain rich man, who had a steward; and the same was accused of wasting his goods.


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And he called him and said to him: What is this that I hear of you? Render the account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.


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And the steward said to himself: What shall I do, seeing that my master takes away the stewardship from me? I do not have strength to dig. To beg I am ashamed.


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I have resolved what to do, so that when I am discharged as steward, others may receive me into their houses.


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And calling to him each one of his master's debtors, he said to the first: How much do you owe my master?


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And he said: A hundred measures of oil. And he said to him: Take your bill and sit down quickly and write fifty.


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Then said he to another: And how much do you owe? And he said: A hundred measures of wheat. He said to him: Take your bill and write eighty.


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And his master commended the unrighteous steward, because he had done wisely. For the sons of this world are for their own generation wiser than the sons of the light.


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And I say to you: Make to yourselves friends by means of worldly riches; that, when they shall fail, they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.


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He that is faithful in a very little, is faithful also in much, and he that is unrighteous in a very little, is unrighteous also in much.


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If therefore you have not been faithful in the handling of worldly riches, who will commit to your trust the true riches?


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No servant can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or else, he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.


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And he said to them: You are they that justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.


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The law and the prophets were until John. From that time the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and every man enters violently into it.


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Everyone that puts away his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he that marries one that is put away from a husband commits adultery.<br/> <em><i>The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus</i></em>


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Now there was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen, dining sumptuously every day.


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desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores.


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And it came to pass, that the beggar died; and he was carried away by the angels into Abraham's breast, and the rich man also died and was buried.


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And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his breast.


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And he cried and said: Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.


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But Abraham said: Son, remember how you in your lifetime received your good things and Lazarus in like manner evil things, but now here he is comforted, and you are in anguish.


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And besides all this, between us and you there is fixed a great gulf, so that they that would pass from here to you cannot, and none may cross over from there to us.


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For I have five brothers. That he may testify to them, lest they also come into this place of torment.


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And he said to him: If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, even if one rises from the dead.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Jesus Teaches About Faith and Forgiveness</i></em><br/> And he said to his disciples: Stumbling blocks are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come!


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It would be better for him if a millstone was hung about his neck and he was thrown into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.


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And if he sins against you seven times in the day and seven times turns again to you, saying: I repent: You shall forgive him.


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And the Lord said: If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this sycamore tree: Be rooted up and be planted in the sea- and it would obey you.


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But who is there of you, having a servant ploughing or keeping sheep, that will say to him when he comes in from the field: Come immediately and sit down to eat.


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Instead will he not say to him: Make ready my supper and dress yourself and serve me, and after I have eaten and drunk, then you shall eat and drink?


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Even so you also, when you shall have done all the things that are commanded of you, say: We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which it was our duty to do.<br/> <em><i>Jesus Heals Ten Lepers</i></em>


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And it came to pass, as they were on their way to Jerusalem, that he was passing along the borders of Samaria and Galilee.


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And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men who were lepers, who stood far away.


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And when he saw them, he said to them: Go and show yourselves to the priests. And it came to pass, as they went, they were cleansed.


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And he said to him: Arise and go your way. Your faith has made you whole.<br/> <em><i>The Coming of Messiah</i></em>


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And being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God comes, he answered them and said: The kingdom of God comes not with observation.


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And he said to the disciples: The days will come, when you shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man and you shall not see it.


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For as the lightning shines from one part under the heaven to the other part under heaven, so shall the Son of Man be in his day.


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They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark and the flood came and destroyed them all.


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Likewise even as it came to pass in the days of Lot- they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built.


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But in the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.


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In that day, he that shall be on the housetop with his goods in the house, let him not go down to take them away, and let him that is in the field likewise not return back.


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I say to you: In that night there shall be two men in one bed. One shall be taken, and the other shall be left.


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There shall be two women grinding together at the mill; one shall be taken and the other shall be left.


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And they answered and said to him: Where, Lord? And he said to them: Where the body is, there will also the eagles gather together.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Jesus Teaches About Prayer</i></em><br/> And he spoke a parable to them, that they should always pray and not lose heart, saying:


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And there was a widow in that city; and she came often to him, saying: Give me justice against my adversary.


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And for a while he would not, but afterward he said to himself: Though I neither fear God, nor regard man,


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yet because this widow troubles me, I will give her justice, lest she wear me out by her continual coming.


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And shall not God give justice to His chosen, who cry to Him day and night? Will He be slow to help them?


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I say to you, that He will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, shall he find faith on the earth?


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And he spoke also this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt.


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The Pharisee stood and prayed thus: God, I thank you that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.


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But the tax collector, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven, but struck his breast, saying: God, be merciful to me, the sinner.


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I say to you, this man went home rendered righteous rather than the other. For everyone that exalts himself shall be humbled, but he that humbles himself shall be exalted.


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And they were bringing to him even their babies, that he should touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.


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But Jesus called them to him, saying: Permit the little children to come to me, and do not forbid them. For to such belongs the kingdom of God.


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Truly I say to you, Whoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no way enter into it.<br/> <em><i>The Rich Ruler</i></em>


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You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery. Do not kill. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. Honour your father and mother.


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And when Jesus heard it, he said to him: One thing you lack yet. Sell all you have and distribute to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come follow me.


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And Jesus looking at him, said: How hard it shall be for those that have riches to enter into the kingdom of God!


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For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.


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And he said to them: Truly I say to you: There is no one that has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,


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who shall not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come, eternal life.<br/> <em><i>The Way to Jerusalem</i></em>


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And he took aside the twelve, and said to them: We will go up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets about the Son of Man shall be accomplished.


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For he shall be delivered up to the Gentiles, and shall be mocked and shamefully treated, and spat upon.


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And they understood none of these things, and this saying was hid from them, and they did not understand the things that were said.


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And those who led the way rebuked him, saying that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more: You son of David, have mercy on me!


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And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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was seeking to see who Jesus was; but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small of stature.


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And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him: Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.


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And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying: He is gone in to lodge with a man that is a sinner.


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And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord: Behold Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have wrongfully exacted something from anyone, I restore fourfold.


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For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.<br/> <em><i>The Parable of the Minas</i></em>


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And as they heard these things, he added and spoke a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was immediately to appear.


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He therefore said: A certain nobleman went into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.


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And he called ten servants of his, gave them ten minas and said to them: Trade with this until I return.


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But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying: We do not want this man to reign over us.


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And it came to pass, when he had returned, having received the kingdom, that he commanded these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by trading.


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And he said to him: Well done, you good servant. Because you were found faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.


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for I feared you, because you are a hard man. You demand what you did not deposit, and reap that which you did not sow.


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He said to him: Out of your own mouth will I judge you, you wicked servant. You thought that I am a hard man, demanding back what I did not deposit, and reaping that which I did not sow?


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Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?


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And he said to those that stood by: Take away from him the mina and give it to him that has the ten minas.


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I say to you, that to everyone that has, shall be given, but from him that has not, even that which he has shall be taken away from him.


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But bring here my enemies, and slay them before me, those who did not want me to reign over them.<br/> <em><i>Jesus Enters Jerusalem</i></em>


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And it came to pass, when he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples,


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saying: Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here.


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And as he was now drawing near, at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works which they had seen, saying:


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And he answered and said: I tell you, that if these shall hold their peace, the stones will cry out.


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saying: If you had known in this day, even you, the things which belong to your peace! But now they are hid from your eyes.


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For the days shall come upon you, when your enemies shall set up a barricade around you, and surround you, and hem you in on every side,


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and shall dash you to the ground, and your children within you; and they shall not leave in you one stone upon another. All this will happen because you did not perceive the time of your visitation.


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saying to them: It is written: My house shall be a house of prayer. But you have made it a den of thieves!


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And he was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the leading men of the people sought to destroy him.


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But they could not figure out what they might do, because all the people so hung upon his words.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>The Question of Authority</i></em><br/> And it came to pass, on one of the days he was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, there came to him the chief priests and the scribes with the elders.


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And they spoke, saying to him: Tell us. By what authority do you do these things? Or, who is he that gave you this authority?


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And they discussed it among themselves, saying: If we shall say from heaven, he will say, why did you not believe him?


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But if we shall say, from men, all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.


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And Jesus said to them: Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.<br/> <em><i>The Parable of the Vineyard</i></em>


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And he began to speak to the people this parable: A man planted a vineyard and rented it to husbandmen, and went into another country for a long time.


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And when the time came, he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard; but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty handed.


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And he sent yet another servant, and him also they beat, and handled him shamefully, and sent him away empty handed.


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And the lord of the vineyard said: What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. It may be they will respect him.


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But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned one with another, saying: This is the heir! Let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.


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And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do to them?


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He will come and destroy these husbandmen, and will give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said: God forbid.


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But he looked upon them, and said: What then is this that is written: The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the headstone of the corner?


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Everyone that falls on that stone shall be broken to pieces, but on whoever it shall fall, it will grind him to dust.<br/> <em><i>The Jews Try to Catch Out Jesus</i></em>


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And the scribes and the chief priests sought to arrest him in that very hour, but they feared the people. For they perceived that he spoke this parable against them.


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And they watched him and sent out spies, who pretended to be sincere, so that they might catch him in something he said; so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the Roman governor.


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And they asked him, saying: Teacher, we know you say and teach rightly, and show no favouritism to any person, but in truth teach the way of God.


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And he said to them: Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.


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And they were not able to catch him in what he said in the presence of the people, so they marvelled at his answer and held their peace.


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And they asked him, saying: Teacher, Moses wrote to us, that if a man's brother dies, having a wife but he is childless, his brother should take the wife and raise up seed to his brother.


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But they that are accounted worthy to attain to that world and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage.


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Neither can they die any more; for they are equal to the angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.


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But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, when he called the Lord: The God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.


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Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk in long robes and love greetings in the marketplaces, and chief seats in the synagogues, and chief places at feasts,


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who devour widows' houses and for a pretence make long prayers. These shall receive greater condemnation.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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For all these out of their abundance have put in offerings, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.<br/> <em><i>Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple</i></em>


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As for these things which you behold, the days will come, in which there shall not be left here one stone upon another; all shall be thrown down.


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And they asked him, saying: Teacher, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign when these things are about to happen?


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And he said: Take heed you are not led astray. For many shall come in my name, saying: I am he, and, The time is at hand. Do not be led astray by them.


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And when you shall hear of wars and revolutions, do not be terrified. For these things are necessary and must happen first, but the end will not be immediately.


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and there shall be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences, and there shall be terrors and great signs from heaven.


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But more significantly than all these things, they shall lay their hands on you and shall persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name's sake.


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For I will give you the words and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to withstand or to contradict.


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But you shall be delivered up even by your parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they shall kill some of you.


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Then let them that are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let them that are in the midst of her depart, and do not let them that are in the countryside enter therein.


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Woe to them that are with child in those days, and to those nursing babies! For there shall be great distress upon the land, and wrath upon this people.


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And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led captive into all the nations, and Jerusalem shall be trodden under foot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.


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And there shall be signs in sun, moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the waves.


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Men will be fainting for fear in expectation of the things which are coming on the world; for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.


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But when these things begin to happen, look up, lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.


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But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with partying, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you unexpectedly.


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But watch continually, praying that you may have strength to prevail against all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.


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And every day he was teaching in the temple, and every night he went and stayed on the mount that is called Olivet.


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And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, to hear him.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>The Last Passover</i></em><br/> Now the feast of unleavened bread drew near, which is called the Passover.


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And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might put him to death, for they feared the people.


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And he went away, and discussed with the chief priests and captains how he might betray him to them.


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And he sent Peter and John on an errand, saying: Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.


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And he said to them: When you enter into the city, there you shall meet a man carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him into the house to which he goes.


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And you shall say to the master of the house: The Teacher says to you: Where is the guest room, in which I shall eat the Passover with my disciples?


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For I say to you, I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine from this time forward, until the kingdom of God shall come.


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And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying: This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.


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And the cup in like manner after supper, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.


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For the Son of Man indeed goes, as it has been determined, but woe to that man through whom he is betrayed!


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And he said to them: The kings of the Gentiles have lordship over them, and they that have authority over them are called Benefactors.


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But you shall not be so, but he that is the elder among you, let him become as the younger, and he that is chief, as he that does serve.


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For which is greater, he that sits at the table, or he that serves? Is not he that sits at the table? But among you, I am he that serves.


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so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom; and you shall sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.


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But I prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have been converted, strengthen your brothers.


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And he said: I tell you Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, until you shall deny three times that you know me.


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And he said to them: When I sent you out without purse and wallet and shoes, did you lack anything? And they said: Nothing.


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And he said to them: But now, he that has a purse, let him take it, and likewise a wallet, and he that has none, let him sell his cloak and buy a sword.


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For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: And he was numbered with the transgressors. For what is written about me must have its fulfilment.


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And they said: Lord, look, here are two swords. And he said to them: That is quite enough.<br/> <em><i>The Prayer and Arrest of Jesus</i></em>


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And he came out and went, as his custom was, to the mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him.


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saying: Father, if You be willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless let not my will, but Yours be done.


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And being in anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became as it were great drops of blood falling down upon the ground.


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While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him.


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And when they that were about him saw what would follow, they said: Lord, shall we strike with the sword?


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And Jesus said to the chief priests and captains of the temple and elders that had come against him: Have you come as against a robber, with swords and staves?


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When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.<br/> <em><i>Peter Denies Jesus</i></em>


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And they seized him and led him away, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed from a distance.


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And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat among them.


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And a certain maid seeing him as he sat in the light of the fire and looking earnestly upon him, said: This man also was with him.


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And after a little while another person saw him and said: You also are one of them. But Peter said: Man, I am not.


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And after the space of about one hour another confidently affirmed, saying: Of a truth, this man also was with him. For he is a Galilean.


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And the Lord turned and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord that he had said to him: Before the cock crow this day, you shall deny me three times.


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And as soon as it was day, the assembly of the elders of the people was gathered together, both chief priests and scribes; and they led him away into their council, saying:


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And they said: What further testimony do we need? For we ourselves have heard it from his own mouth.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Jesus Before Pilate and Herod</i></em><br/> And the whole company of them rose and brought him before Pilate.


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And they began to accuse him, saying: We found this man perverting our nation and forbidding giving tribute to Caesar, and saying that he is Christ a king.


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And Pilate asked him, saying: Are you the King of the Jews? And he answered them and said: You say it.


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But they were the more urgent, saying: He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee even to this place.


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And when he knew that he was of Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem in those days.


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Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad. For he had for a long time been desirous to see him, because he had heard about him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by him.


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And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him, and dressing him in gorgeous apparel, sent him back to Pilate.


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And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day. For before they had been enemies.


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and said to them: You brought to me this man, as one that perverts the people; and I, having examined him before you, found no fault in this man concerning those things of which you accuse him.


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And he said to them the third time: Why! What evil has this man done? I have found no cause of death in him. I will therefore punish him and release him.


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But they were insistent with loud voices, asking that he might be crucified. And their voices prevailed.


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And he released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.<br/> <em><i>The Crucifixion</i></em>


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And when they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it after Jesus.


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But Jesus turning to them, said: Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.


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For the days are coming in which they shall say: Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!


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And when they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.


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And Jesus said: Father, forgive them. For they do not know what they do. And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.


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And the people stood watching. And the rulers also scoffed at him, saying: He saved others. Let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, His chosen!


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And one of the criminals that hung there hurled insults at him, saying: Are not you the Christ? Save yourself and us.


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But the other answered, and rebuking him said: Do you not even fear God, seeing you have the same judgment?


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But we indeed justly. For we receive the due reward of our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.


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And he said to him: Truly, I can say to you today right now, that you will indeed be with me in Paradise.


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And Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said: Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. And having said this, he breathed his last.


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And when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying: Certainly this was a righteous man.


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And all the crowds that came together to this sight, when they saw the things that were done, returned, striking their breasts.<br/> <em><i>The Burial of Jesus</i></em>


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And all his acquaintances, and the women that had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching these things.


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(he had not consented to their decision and deed), a man of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who was looking for the kingdom of God,


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And he took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that was hewn in stone, where never man had yet been laid.


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And the women, who had come with him out of Galilee, followed and saw the tomb, and how his body was laid.


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And they returned and prepared spices and ointments. And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>The Resurrection</i></em><br/> And on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared.


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And it came to pass, while they were wondering about this, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.


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And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them: Why do you seek the living among the dead?


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saying that the Son of Man must be delivered up into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.


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Now they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles.


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But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he departed to his home, wondering about what had happened.<br/> <em><i>Jesus Appears to His Followers</i></em>


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And two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was sixty furlongs from Jerusalem.


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And it came to pass, while they talked and questioned together, that Jesus himself drew near and went with them.


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And he said to them: What communications are these you have one with another as you walk? And they stood still, looking sad.


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And one of them, named Cleopas, answering said to him: Do you live alone in Jerusalem, and therefore do not know the things which have happened there recently?


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And he said to them: What things? And they told him the things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, that he was a prophet, mighty in deed and word before God and all the people;


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and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death and crucified him.


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But we had hoped that it was he who should redeem Israel. Moreover besides all this, it is now the third day since these things came to pass.


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And when they did not find his body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.


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And some of them that were with us went to the tomb, and found it even as the women had said. But him they saw not.


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And he said to them: O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!


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And beginning from Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted for them from all the scriptures, the things concerning himself.


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And they urged him, saying: Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent. And he went in to stay with them.


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And it came to pass, when he had sat down with them to eat, he took the bread, and blessing and breaking it, he gave to them.


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And they said to each other: Was not our heart burning within us, while he spoke to us on the road, while he opened up the scriptures to us?


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And they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem and found the eleven gathered together, and those that were with them,


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And they told the things that had happened on the road, and how he was known to them by the breaking of the bread.


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See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Handle me and see! For a ghost has not flesh and bones, as you see me having.


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And while they still disbelieved for joy and wondered, he said to them: Have you here anything to eat?


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And he said to them: These are my words which I spoke to you while I was yet with you, that all things necessary be fulfilled which are written in the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms concerning me.


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And he said to them: Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day,


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and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.


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And I will send to you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.


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<em><i>Prologue: The Word Becomes Flesh</i></em><br/> In the beginning was the word logos, and the word was towards God, and the word was Divine.


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All things created came into existence on account of it; and without it nothing created came into existence.


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He was in the world, and though the world had originated on account of him, the world recognised him not.


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But whoever accepts him, those who believe in his name, to them he gave the right to become children of God.


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For this, the word became flesh, and indwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.


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John testifies of him and cries out, saying: This was he of whom I said: He that comes after me is ranked above me! For he was senior to me.


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No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made Him known.<br/> <em><i>The Ministry of John</i></em>


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And this is the witness of John, when the Jews sent from Jerusalem priests and Levites to ask him: Who are you?


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And they asked him: What then? Are you Elijah? And he said: I am not. Are you the prophet? And he answered: No.


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They replied to him: Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. How do you describe yourself?


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John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet: I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord.


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Again they asked him: Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?


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The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him, and he said: Behold! The Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world!


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I did not perceive him, but so he should be made manifest to Israel, for this reason I come baptizing in water.


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And John testified, saying: I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and it remained upon him.


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I would not have perceived him except He that sent me to baptize in water, He had said to me: Upon whomsoever you shall see the Spirit descend and remain upon him, the same is he that baptizes in the Holy Spirit.


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Jesus turned around, and observing they were following him, said to them: What do you seek? And they replied: Rabbi (we would say Teacher). Where are you staying?


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He said to them: Come, and you shall see. They went therefore, and saw where he stayed; and they stayed with him that day. It was about the tenth hour.<br/> <em><i>The Calling of the Disciples</i></em>


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The first thing he did was to find his brother Simon; and he said to him: We have found the Messiah (we would say Christ).


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He took him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said: You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas (we call him Peter).


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Philip found Nathanael and said to him: We have found him, of whom Moses in the law and the prophets wrote! Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.


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And Nathanael said to him: Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him: Come and see.


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Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, and said of him: Behold, a true Israelite in whom is no deceit!


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Nathanael said to him: How is it you know me? Jesus answered: Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.


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Jesus replied: Because I said to you: I saw you underneath the fig tree- do you believe? You shall see greater things than these!


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And he said to him: Truly, truly, I say to you. You shall see the heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Jesus Turns Water into Wine</i></em><br/> On the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee. The mother of Jesus was there;


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Nearby there were six stone waterpots, placed there for the Jewish custom of purifications, each holding 75 to 115 litres


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When the master of the feast tasted the water which had now become wine, and not knowing where it came from (but the servants that had drawn the water knew), he called to the bridegroom,


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and said to him: Everyone serves good wine first, and when all have drunk freely, serves something inferior. But you have kept the good wine until now!


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This, the first of his signs, Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, thereby revealing his glory; and his disciples believed in him.<br/> <em><i>Jesus Purges the Temple</i></em>


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After this he went down to Capernaum, he and his mother and brothers and disciples; and there they stayed for a few days.


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And he found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers sitting at their tables.


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He made a whip out of cords and drove them all, with the sheep and oxen, out of the temple; and he poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.


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To them that sold the doves he said: Take these things away! Do not make my Father's house a market.


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The Jews therefore answered and said to him: What sign will you show us, seeing you do these things?


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The Jews replied: Forty six years was this temple in building, and will you raise it up in three days?


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When he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he spoke this, and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had spoken.


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Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs which he did.


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and because he did not need any testimony concerning himself from any human being. For he understood what was in man.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Jesus and Nicodemus</i></em><br/> Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.


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The same came to him by night, and said to him: Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God. For no one can do the signs you do, except God be with him.


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Jesus answered and said to him: Truly, truly, I say to you: Except one be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.


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Nicodemus said to him: How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?


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Jesus answered: Truly, truly, I say to you: Except one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God!


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The wind blows where it wills, and you hear its sound, but do not know from where it comes and where it goes. So is every one that is born of the Spirit.


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Jesus answered and said to him: Are you the teacher of Israel and yet do not understand these things?


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Truly, truly, I say to you: We speak that which we know and testify of that which we have seen; and you do not welcome our witness.


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If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how shall you believe if I tell you heavenly things?


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No one has ascended into heaven, but he that descended from heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven.


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For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.


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For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him.


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He that believes in him is not condemned. He that does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.


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And this is the ground of condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light- for their works were evil.


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For every one that does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, in case his works should be reproved.


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But he that does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.<br/> <em><i>Jesus and John the Baptist</i></em>


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After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judea; and there he stayed with them and baptized.


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And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there; and people came to be baptized.


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And they came to John, and said to him: Rabbi, he that was with you on the other side of the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, the same baptizes, and all men come to him.


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He that has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, that stands by and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. In this my joy is made full.


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He that comes from above is above all. He that is of the earth is of the earth, and of the earth he speaks. He that comes from heaven is above all.


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He that believes on the Son has eternal life; but he that does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Jesus Converts a Samaritan Woman</i></em><br/> When therefore the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John


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So he came to the city of Samaria called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground which Jacob gave his son Joseph.


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Jacob's well was also there. Jesus, being tired from his journey, sat tired by the well. It was about the sixth hour.


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The Samaritan woman replied to him: How is it that you, being a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink? (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans).


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Jesus answered and said to her: If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that said to you: Give me a drink, you would have asked of him and he would have given you living water.


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The woman said to him: Sir, you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. From where then have you that living water?


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Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his cattle?


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but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him, shall never thirst. The water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water, springing up to eternal life.


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The woman said to him: Sir, give me this water, that I do not thirst ever again, nor come all the way here to get water.


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The woman answered and said to him: I have no husband. Jesus said to her: You said well that you have no husband,


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for you have had five husbands; and he whom you now have is not your husband. This you have said truthfully.


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Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.


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Jesus said to her: Woman, believe me, the hour is coming, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall you worship the Father.


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But the hour comes and now is, when true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such worshipers are who the Father seeks.


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The woman said to him: I know that the Messiah is coming (he that is called Christ). When he comes, he will declare to us all things.


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And upon this scene came his disciples, and they marvelled that he was speaking with a woman. Yet no one said: What are you seeking? Or, Why do you speak with her?


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Do you not say: There are yet four months and then comes the harvest? Behold, I say to you, Lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white, ready to harvest.


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He that reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit to everlasting life; that he that sows and he that reaps may rejoice together.


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I sent you to harvest that upon which you have not laboured; others have laboured, and you are taking over their labour.


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And from that city many of the Samaritans believed in him because of the word of the woman, who testified: He told me all things that I have ever done.


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So when the Samaritans came to him, they pleaded with him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days.


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And they said to the woman: Now we believe, not because of your speaking; for we have heard for ourselves and know that this is indeed the Saviour of the world.<br/> <em><i>Jesus Returns to Galilee</i></em>


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So when he came into Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all the things that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they also had gone up to the feast.


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He came again to Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.


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When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to him and pleaded that he would come to Capernaum and heal his son. For his son was at the point of death.


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Jesus said to him: Go your way. Your son lives. The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.


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So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. They replied to him: Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.


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The father knew that that was the hour when Jesus had said to him: Your son lives. And so he and his household believed.


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This was the second sign that Jesus did, when he had gone from Judea to Galilee.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Jesus Heals a Lame Man</i></em><br/> After these things there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.


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Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porches.


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In these lay a crowd of those who were sick, blind, lame, paralysed, waiting for the moving of the water.


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For an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and disturbed the water. Whoever was first to step into the pool, after the waters were disturbed, was healed of whatever disease he had.


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When Jesus saw him lying there, knowing he had been there a long time, he said to him: Would you be made whole?


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The sick man answered him: Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is disturbed. As I approach someone else steps in front of me.


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And straightway the man was made whole and took up his bed and walked. Now it was the Sabbath on that day.


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So the Jews said to him who had been cured: It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.


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But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place


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Afterwards, Jesus found him in the temple and said to him: Look, you are made whole. Sin no more, lest a worse thing befall you.


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The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him whole.<br/> <em><i>Jesus Comments Upon His Relationship with God</i></em>


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For this cause the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath law, but he called God his own Father, making himself seem like God.


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Jesus therefore answered and said to them: Truly, truly, I say to you: The Son can do nothing of himself but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever works He does, these the Son does in like manner.


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For the Father loves the Son and shows him all things that Himself does; and greater works than these will He show him, that you may marvel.


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For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he will.


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that all may honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that does not honour the Son does not honour the Father that sent him.


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Truly, truly, I say to you: He that hears my word and believes Him that sent me has eternal life, and comes not into condemnation, but has passed out of death into life.


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Truly, truly, I say to you: The hour comes and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live.


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and shall come forth; they that have done good, to the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.


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I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and my judgment is righteous, because I seek not my own will, but the will of Him that sent me.


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But the witness which I have is greater than that of John. For the works which the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I do, testify that the Father has sent me.


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And the Father that sent me, He has testified of me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape.


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You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of me;


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I come in my Father's Name, and you do not accept me. If another shall come in his own name, you will accept him.


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How can you believe, you who accept praise from each other, but do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?


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Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one that accuses you, Moses, on whom you have set your hope.


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<em><i>Jesus Feeds 5000 Men</i></em><br/> After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.


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And a great crowd followed him, because they saw the signs which he performed on those that were sick.


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Jesus therefore lifting up his eyes, and seeing that a great crowd came to him, said to Philip: Where are we to buy bread that these may eat?


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Philip answered him: Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one may take a little.


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Jesus said: Make the people sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.


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Jesus therefore took the loaves and having given thanks, he distributed them to those that were sitting down. Likewise also the fishes, as much as they could eat.


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And when they were filled, he said to his disciples: Gather up the broken pieces which remain over, so nothing goes to waste.


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So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.


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When the people saw the sign which he did, they said: This is of a truth the prophet that comes into the world!


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So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take him by force to make him king, withdrew again to the mountain by himself.


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And they entered into a boat and were going over by sea to Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.


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When therefore they had rowed about five or six kilometres, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were afraid.


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Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.


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On the next day the people who remained on the other side of the sea noticed that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone.


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(Some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks).


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When the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.


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And when they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him: Rabbi, when did you come here?


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Jesus answered them and said: Truly, truly, I say to you: You seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.<br/> <em><i>Bread from Heaven</i></em>


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Do not labour for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set His seal of approval.


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They replied to him: What then will you do for a sign, so that we may see and believe you? What work will you do?


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Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.


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Jesus replied to them: Truly, truly, I say to you: It was not Moses that gave you the bread out of heaven, but my Father; who now gives you the true bread out of heaven.


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Jesus said to them: I am the bread of life. He that comes to me shall not hunger, and he that believes on me shall never thirst.


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And this is the will of Him that sent me, that of all which He has given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.


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For this is the will of my Father: That every one that sees the Son and believes in him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.


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The Jews therefore murmured concerning him, because he said: I am the bread which came down out of Heaven.


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And they said: Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, I came down out of Heaven?


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No one can come to me, except the Father that sent me draws him; and I will raise him up in the last day.


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It is written in the prophets: And they shall all be taught by God. Everyone therefore who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me.


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I am the living bread which came down out of Heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he shall live forever. Yes! The bread which I will give is my flesh – given for the life of the world.


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Jesus replied to them: Truly, truly, I say to you: Except you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life in yourselves.


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He that eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.


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As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he that eats me, he also shall live because of me.


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This is the bread which came down out of Heaven. Not as the fathers ate and died; he that eats this bread shall live forever.


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Many therefore of his disciples, when they heard this, said: This is a hard saying; who can hear it?


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But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at this, said to them: Does this cause you to stumble?


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It is the spirit that gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit, and are life.


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But there are some of you that do not believe. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that did not believe, and who it was that would betray him.


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And he said: For this cause have I said to you, that no one can came to me, except it be given to him of the Father.


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Now he spoke of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot; for he was the one of those twelve who would betray him.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>The Feast of Tabernacles</i></em><br/> And after these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for he would not walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him.


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His brothers said to him: Depart from here and go into Judea, so your disciples may also see the works you do.


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For no one does anything in secret while he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, manifest yourself to the world.


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But when his brothers had gone to the feast, then he also went to it, not publicly but as it were in secret.


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And there was much murmuring among the crowds concerning him. Some said: He is a good man. Others said: Not so. He deceives the people.


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Yet no one spoke openly about him for fear of the Jews.<br/> <em><i>Jesus Teaches at the Feast</i></em>


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The Jews marvelled, saying: How is it that this man has learning, when he has never had an education?


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If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know of this teaching, whether it is of God, or I speak from myself.


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He that speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but he that seeks the glory of Him that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.


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Moses has given you circumcision (not that it is of Moses but of the fathers) and on the Sabbath you circumcise a man.


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If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me, because I made a man completely whole on the Sabbath?


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And lo, he speaks openly and they say nothing to him. Can it be that the rulers indeed know that this is the Christ?


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Therefore Jesus cried out in the temple, teaching and saying: You both know me, and know from where I am, and that I have not come of myself. But He that sent me is true, whom you do not know.


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Therefore they sought to take him, but no one laid his hand on him- because his hour had not yet come.


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But of the crowd many believed in him; and they said: When the Christ comes, will he do more signs than those which this man has done?


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The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to take him.


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The Jews queried among themselves: Where will this man go that we shall not find him? Will he go to the diaspora among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?


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What is his meaning when he said: You shall seek me and shall not find me; and, Where I am, you cannot come?


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Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying: If anyone thirsts, let him came to me and drink.


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He that believes on me, as the scripture has said: From within him shall flow rivers of living water.


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He spoke of the Spirit, which they that believed in him were to receive. For the Spirit had not yet been received, as Jesus had not yet been glorified.


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Has not the scripture said that the Christ comes of the seed of David and from Bethlehem, the village where David was born?


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said to them: Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and knowing what he is doing?


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They answered and said to him: Are you also of Galilee? Search the scrolls and you will see, that no prophet is to rise from Galilee.


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And early in the morning he again went into the temple, and all the people came to him; and he sat down and taught them.


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And the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in the act of adultery; and having placed her before him,


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And this they said to test him, so they might have some reason to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground.


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But when they continued asking him, he stood up and said to them: He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.


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And they, when they heard it, went out one by one, beginning from the eldest, to the last; and Jesus was left alone with the woman, with her still standing in the middle.


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And she said: No one, Lord. And Jesus said: Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From this time forward, sin no more.<br/> <em><i>Controversy with the Jews</i></em>


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Again Jesus spoke to the crowd, saying: I am the light of the world. He that follows me shall not walk in the darkness but shall have the light of life.


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Jesus answered and said to them: Even if I testify of myself, my witness is true. For I know from where I came and where I go; but you do not know where I come from, nor where I go to.


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Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone that judge, but I and He who sent me


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They replied to him: Where is your Father? Jesus answered: You know neither me, nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.


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These words spoke he in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; and no one took him- because his hour had not yet come.


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He replied again to them: I go away, and you shall seek me, and shall die in your sins. Where I go, you cannot come.


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And he said to them: You are from beneath. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world.


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I replied to you, that you shall die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am he, you shall die in your sins.


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They replied to him: Who are you? Jesus said to them: Even that which I have spoken to you from the beginning.


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I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you. However, He that sent me is true, and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world.


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Jesus continued: When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.


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And He that sent me is with me. He has not left me alone. For I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.


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Jesus replied to those Jews that had believed him: If you abide in my word, then are you truly my disciples.


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They answered him: We are Abraham's seed, and have never yet been in bondage to anyone. What do you mean, you shall be made free?


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I speak the things which I have seen with my Father, and you also do the things which you heard from your father.


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They answered and said to him: Our father is Abraham. Jesus said to them: If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham.


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But now you seek to kill me, a man that has told you the truth, which I heard from God. This Abraham did not do.


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You do the works of your father. They said to him: We were not born of fornication. We have one Father, even God.


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Jesus said to them: If God were your Father, you would love me. For I came forth and am come from God. For neither have I come of myself, but He sent me.


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You are of your father the Devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.


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He that is of God hears the words of God. For this cause you do not hear them, because you are not of God.


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The Jews said to him: Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets, but you say: If a man keep my word, he shall never taste of death.


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Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died, and the prophets who died? Whom do you make yourself?


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Jesus answered: If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father that glorifies me, whom you say is your God.


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You have not known Him, but I know Him; and if I should say I know Him not, I shall be like you, a liar; but I know Him and keep His word.


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Therefore they took up stones to cast at him; but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Jesus Cures a Blind Man</i></em><br/> And as he passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth.


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And his disciples asked him: Rabbi, who sinned, this man, or his parents, that he should be born blind?


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Jesus answered: Neither did this man sin, nor his parents; but that the works of God should be revealed in him.


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When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle, and anointed his eyes with the clay,


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and said to him: Go, wash in the pool of Siloam (which means Sent). He went away therefore and washed, and went home seeing.


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His neighbours and those that had seen him previously, as a beggar, said: Is this not he that sat and begged?


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He answered: The man that is called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes, and said to me: Go to Siloam and wash. So I went away and washed, and I received sight.


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So the Pharisees asked him how he received his sight. And he said to them: He put clay upon my eyes, and I washed and I could see.


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Therefore, some of the Pharisees said: This man is not from God, because he keeps not the Sabbath. But others said: How can a man that is a sinner do such signs? And there was division among them.


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Therefore they said to the man born blind: What do you say concerning him, in that he opened your eyes? And he said: He is a prophet!


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The Jews did not believe him, that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called his parents,


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But how he now sees, we do not know. Or who opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him! He is of age. He shall speak for himself.


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These things said his parents, because they feared the Jews. For the Jews had agreed already, that if anyone should confess him to be Christ, he should be thrown out of the synagogue.


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So they questioned the man that was born blind a second time, and said to him: Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.


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He answered: Whether he is a sinner, I do not know. One thing I know, whereas I was blind, now I see.


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He answered them: I told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Would you also become his disciples?


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The man answered and said to them: This is the marvel! You do not know from where he came, even though he opened my eyes.


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We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone be a worshiper of God and does His will, him He hears!


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They answered and said to him: You were altogether born in sins, and you teach us! And they excommunicated him.


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Jesus heard that they had excommunicated him; and on finding him, he said: Do you believe on the Son of God?


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And Jesus said: For judgment I came into this world, that they that cannot see may see, and that they that see may become blind.


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Jesus said to them: If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say: We see, therefore your sin remains.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Jesus as the Good Shepherd</i></em><br/> Truly, truly, I say to you: He that enters not by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.


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To him the gatekeeper opens the gate, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his sheep by name and leads them out.


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When he brings out all his sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.


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A stranger they will not follow, but will flee from him. For they do not know the voice of strangers.


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I am the door. By me if anyone enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall find pasture.


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The thief only comes so that he may steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it more abundantly.


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He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.


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And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold. Them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and they shall become one flock with one shepherd.


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No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down myself. I have authority to lay it down and I have authority to take it again. This command I received from my Father.


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Others said: These are not the sayings of one possessed with a demon. Can a demon possessed person open the eyes of the blind?<br/><em><i>The Unity of the Father and Son</i></em>


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The Jews surrounded him and said to him: How long do you hold us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.


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Jesus answered them: I told you and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name, these testify of me.


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And I give to them eternal life; and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.


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My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.


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Jesus said to them: Many good works have I shown you from the Father. For which of those works do you stone me?


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The Jews answered him: For a good work we do not stone you, but for blasphemy, and because you, being a man, make yourself as God!


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do you say of him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world: You blaspheme, because I said: I am the Son of God?


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But if I do them, though you do not believe me, believe the works; that you may know and understand, that the Father is in me and I in the Father.


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He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained.


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Many came to him. And they said: John did no miracle, but everything that John said about this man was true.


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<em><i>The Resurrection of Lazarus</i></em><br/> Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister Martha.


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And it was that Mary who had anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.


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But when Jesus heard it, he said: This sickness is not to death, but for the glory of God, that thereby the Son of God may be glorified.


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The disciples said to him: Rabbi, only a few days ago the Jews wanted to stone you; and you want to go there again?


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Jesus answered: Are there not twelve hours in the day? If a man walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.


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These things he spoke, and after this he said to them: Our friend Lazarus is fallen asleep, but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.


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Now Jesus had spoken of Lazarus' death; but they thought that he spoke of Lazarus taking rest in sleep.


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And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.


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Thomas therefore, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples: Let us also go, that we may die with him.


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Jesus said to her: I am the resurrection and the life. He that believes on me, though he die, yet shall he live.


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She said to him: Yes, Lord. I have believed you are the Christ, the Son of God, he that is to come into the world.


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And when she had said this, she went away, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Teacher is here and calls you.


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The Jews then who were with her in the house and were consoling her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up quickly and went out, followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there.


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Therefore, when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying to him: Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.


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When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping who had come with her, he groaned in the spirit and was disturbed,


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But some of them said: Could not this man, who opened the eyes of him that was blind, have also caused that this man should not have died?


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Jesus therefore again groaning in himself, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay across it.


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Jesus said: Take away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, said to him: Lord, by this time the body stinks. For he has been dead four days.


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So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said: Father, I thank you that you have heard me.


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And I know you hear me always, but because of the crowd that stands around I said it, that they may believe you did send me.


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He that was dead came out, bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus said to them: Loose him, and let him go away.


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But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things which Jesus had done.<br/> <em><i>The Response of the Pharisees</i></em>


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The chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said: What will we do? For this man does many miracles.


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If we leave him alone, all men will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.


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But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them: You know nothing at all,


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nor do you take account that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, so that the whole nation does not perish.


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Now this he said not of himself, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation.


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And not for the nation only, but that he might also gather together into one the children of God that are scattered abroad.


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Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but departed from there into the country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim; and there he stayed with the disciples.


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Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand; and many from the countryside went to Jerusalem to purify themselves before the Passover.


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They looked for Jesus, and spoke one with another, as they stood in the temple: What do you think? That he will not come to the feast?


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Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, they were to inform them, so that they might arrest him.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Mary Anoints Jesus</i></em><br/> Therefore, six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.


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Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.


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Now this he said, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.


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The common people of the Jews learned that he was there, and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.


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because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.<br/> <em><i>Jesus Enters Jerusalem</i></em>


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The next day, a great crowd that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,


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took the branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, and cried out: Hosanna! Blessed is he that comes in the Name of the Lord, the King of Israel!


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These things his disciples did not understand at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about him, and that they had done these things to him.


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The crowd that was with him, when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, made testimony.


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The Pharisees complained to one another: You see that you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.<br/> <em><i>Jesus Speaks of His death</i></em>


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Truly, truly, I say to you: Except a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it abides alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.


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He that loves his life loses it, and he that hates his life in this world, shall keep it to everlasting life.


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If anyone desires to serve me, he must follow me. Where I am, there shall also my servant be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honour him.


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Now is my soul disturbed; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? But for this cause came I to this hour.


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Father, glorify your name. Therefore, there came a voice out of Heaven: I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.


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The crowd that stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said an angel had spoken to him.


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The crowd asked him: We have heard out of the law that the Christ abides forever; and how do you say: The Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?


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Jesus replied to them: Yet a little while is the light among you. Walk while you have the light, so that darkness does not overtake you. He that walks in the darkness does not know where he goes.


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While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become sons of light. Jesus spoke these things, then he departed and hid himself from them.<br/> <em><i>Belief in Jesus</i></em>


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So that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, when he spoke: Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?


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He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts, and turn, so that I should heal them.


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Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue.


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And if anyone hear my sayings and keep them not, I judge him not. For I came not to judge the world but to save the world.


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He that rejects me and receives not my sayings has one that judges him. The word that I spoke, the same shall judge him in the last day.


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For I spoke not from myself, but the Father that sent me, He has given me a commandment, what I should say and what I should speak.


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And I know that His commandment is everlasting life. The things therefore which I speak, even as the Father has said to me: So I speak.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>The Last Supper</i></em><br/> Now before the feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that his hour had come, that he should depart out of this world to his Father, having loved his own that were in the world, he loved them to the end.


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And during supper, when the Devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him,


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Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God,


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Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded.


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Jesus answered and said to him: What I am doing you do not comprehend now, but later you shall understand.


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Peter said to him: You shall never wash my feet! Jesus answered him: If I do not wash you, you have no part with me.


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Jesus said to him: He who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but he is clean all over; and you are clean, but not every one of you.


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So when he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and sat down again, he said to them: Do you comprehend what I have done to you?


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Truly, truly, I say to you: A servant is not greater than his lord, neither is one sent greater than he that sent him.


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I speak not of you all. I know whom I have chosen; but the scripture must be fulfilled: He that eats my bread lifted up his heel against me.


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From this time forward I will tell you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe that I am he.


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Truly, truly, I say to you: He that receives whoever I send receives me, and he that receives me, receives Him that sent me.


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When Jesus had said this, he was disturbed in his spirit, and testified: Truly, truly, I say to you: One of you shall betray me.


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Jesus answered: It is he to whom I gave the morsel of bread after I dipped it. When he had dipped the morsel, he had given it to Judas the son of Simon Iscariot.


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Then after Judas had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him: What you are about to do, do quickly.


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Some thought because Judas had the money bag, that Jesus said to him: Buy what things we have need of for the feast, or that he should give something to the poor.


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He then having received the morsel went out immediately into the night.<br/> <em><i>Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denials</i></em>


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Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You shall seek me, but as I said to the Jews, where I go, you cannot come. So now I say to you.


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A new commandment I give to you: Love one another. Even as I have loved you, you also love one another.


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Simon Peter said to him: Lord, where do you go? Jesus answered: Where I go, you cannot follow now, but you shall follow afterwards.


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Jesus answered: Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you: The cock shall not crow, till you have denied me three times.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Knowing the Father and Son</i></em><br/> Do not let your heart be disturbed. Believe in God, believe also in me.


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In my Father's house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.


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And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also.


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Jesus said to him: I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me.


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If you had truly known me, you would have truly known my Father also. From this time forward you will truly know Him and will have seen Him.


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Jesus said to him: Philip, have I been with you such a long time, and still you do not truly know me? He that has seen me has seen the Father. How do you ask: Show us the Father?


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Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak to you, I speak not from myself; but the Father abiding in me does His works.


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Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me; or else believe me for the very works' sake.


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Truly, truly, I say to you: He that believes in me, the works that I do, shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do, because I go to the Father.


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And I will ask the Father, and He shall give you another comforter, that he may be with you for ever-


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the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive. For it neither sees him nor knows him. You truly know him, for he abides with you and shall be in you.


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Yet a little while, and the world sees me no more; but you will see me. Because I live, you shall live also.


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He that has my commandments and keeps them, he it is that loves me; and he that loves me, shall be loved of my Father; and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.


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Judas (not Iscariot) said to him: Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?


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Jesus answered and said to him: If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him; and we will come to him and make our home with him.


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He that does not love me, does not keep my words; and the word which you hear is not mine, but the Father's who sent me.


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But the comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and cause you to remember all that I said to you.


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Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives, do I give it to you. Let not your heart be disturbed, neither let it be fearful.


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You heard how I said to you: I go away and I come to you. If you loved me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father. For the Father is greater than I.


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And he comes so that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, thus I shall now do. Arise, let us leave here.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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Every branch in me that carries no fruit, he prunes away; and every branch that carries fruit, he cleanses it, that it may bear more fruit.


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Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, so neither can you, except you abide in me.


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I am the vine, you are the branches. He that abides in me and I in him, the same carries much fruit. For severed from me you can do nothing.


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If a man does not abide in me, he is thrown out as a branch and withers, and these are gathered and thrown into the fire, and they are burned.


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If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you shall ask whatever you will and it shall be done to you.


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If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.


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No longer do I call you servants. For the servant does not know what his lord does; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you.


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You did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you to go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain. So that whatever you shall ask of the Father in my name, He may give it to you.


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These things I command you, so that you may love one another.<br/> <em><i>The Believer and the World</i></em>


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If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.


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Remember the word that I said to you: A servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will keep yours also.


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But all these things will they do to you for my name's sake, because they do not truly know Him that sent me.


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If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.


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If I had not done among them the works which no other man did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father.


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All this happens so that the word may be fulfilled that is written in their law: They hated me without a cause.


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And when the Comforter comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth which proceeds from the Father, he shall testify of me.


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They shall put you out of the synagogues. Yes, the time is coming, when whoever kills you shall think that he offers service to God.


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But these things have I spoken to you, so that when the time comes, you may remember what I told you. And these things I did not say to you from the beginning, because I was with you.


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Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away. For if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you. I will send him to you.


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And he, when he comes, will convict the world in respect of sin and of righteousness and of judgment.


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However, when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he shall guide you into all the truth. For he shall not speak from himself; but whatever he shall hear, these shall he speak; and he shall declare to you the things that are to come.


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All things, whatever the Father has, are mine. Therefore I said: that he shall take of mine and declare it to you.<br/> <em><i>Jesus Promises to See the Disciples Again</i></em>


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A little while, and you will see me no more; and then a little while, and you shall see me, because I go to the Father.


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Some of his disciples questioned each other: What is this that he said to us? A little while and you will see me no more; and then a little while and you shall see me, because I go to the Father?


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Jesus perceived that they wanted to ask him, and he said to them: Do you inquire among yourselves what I said? A little while and you will see me no more, and then a little while and you shall see me?


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Truly, truly, I say to you: You shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice. You shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy!


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A woman when she is in labour has sorrow, because her hour comes; but when she has delivered the child, she does not remember her anguish, because of her joy that a child is born into the world.


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You now have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no one will take away from you.


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And in that day, you shall ask me no questions. Truly, truly, I say to you: If you shall ask anything of the Father, He will give it you in my name.


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So far you have asked nothing in my name. Ask and you shall receive, that your joy may be made full.


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These things have I spoken to you in figurative language. The hour comes, when I shall no longer speak to you in figurative language, but shall show you plainly about the Father.


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In that day you shall ask in my name; and I do not say to you that I will pray to the Father for you.


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For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came from the Father.


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Now we are sure that you know all things, and do not need anyone to question you. By this we believe you came from God.


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Behold, the hour comes, yes, has come, when you shall be scattered, every man to his own home, and you shall leave me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.


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These things have I spoken to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good courage; I have overcome the world.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Jesus’ Prayer to God</i></em><br/> These things spoke Jesus, and lifting up his eyes to Heaven, he said: Father, the hour comes. Glorify Your son, that the son may glorify you,


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even as You gave him authority over all flesh, so that he should give eternal life to all whom You have given him.


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And this is everlasting life, that they should know You, the only true God, and him whom You sent, Jesus Christ.


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And now Father, glorify me with Your own self with the glory which I had with You before the world was.


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I manifested Your Name to the men whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were and You gave them to me, and they have kept Your word.


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For the words which You gave me I have given to them, and they received them, and knew as a truth that I came forth from You; and they believed that You did send me.


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I pray for them. I pray not for the world, but for those whom You have given me; for they are Yours.


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I am no more in the world; but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them whom You have given me in Your Name, that they may be one, even as we are one.


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While I was with them, I kept them in Your Name which You have given me, and I guarded them; and not one of them perished except the son of perdition, so that the scripture might be fulfilled.


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Now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves.


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I have given them Your word, and the world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.


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I do not pray that You should take them out from the world, but that You should keep them from the evil.


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that they may all be one, even as You, Father, are in me and I in You, that they may also be one in us; that the world may believe You did send me.


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And the glory which You have given me, I have given to them, that they may be one, even as we are one.


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I in them and You in me, that they may be perfected into one, that the world may know You did send me and that You have loved them just as You loved me.


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Father, I desire that they also whom You have given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which You have given me. For You loved me from before the foundation of the world.


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And I declared to them Your Name, and will declare it, so that the love with which You loved me may be in them, and I in them.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Jesus in Gethsemane</i></em><br/> When Jesus had spoken these words, he went with his disciples over the brook Kidron, where there was a garden into which he and his disciples entered.


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Now Judas, the one who betrayed him, also knew the place. For Jesus often met there with his disciples.


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Judas along with a detachment of temple guards whom he had been given, and the servants of the chief priests, and the Pharisees, arrived there with lanterns and torches and weapons.


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Jesus knowing all the things that must come upon him, went forward and said to them: Whom do you seek?


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They answered him: Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus said to them: I am he (Judas, the one who betrayed him, was standing with them).


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Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. Now the servant's name was Malchus.


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Jesus said to Peter: Put the sword into its sheath. The cup which the Father has given me, shall I not drink it?


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So the detachment of temple guards and their chief captain and the magistrates' attendants of the Jews seized Jesus and bound him,


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It was Caiaphas that had counselled the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.


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Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest; and he entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest.


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But Peter was standing outside the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the maid who kept watch at the door.


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The maid keeping watch at the door said to Peter: Are you also one of this man's disciples? He said: I am not!


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Now the servants and the officers were standing there, having made a fire of coals. For it was cold, and they were warming themselves; and Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.


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Jesus answered him: I have spoken openly to the world. I often taught in the synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together, and have never spoken in secret.


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Why do you ask me? Ask those that have heard me what I spoke to them. Behold, these know the things which I said.


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And when he had said this, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying: Do you answer the high priest so?


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Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said to him: Are you also one of his disciples? He denied and said: I am not!


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One of the servants of the high priest, being a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said: Did I not see you in the garden with him?


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They lead Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium; but it was early, and so they did not enter into the Praetorium, that they might not be defiled and might eat the Passover.


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They answered and said to him: If this man were not an evildoer, we should not have delivered him up to you.


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Pilate replied to them: Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law. The Jews said to him: It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.


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That the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spoke, signifying by what manner of death he should die.


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Pilate therefore went into the Praetorium and called Jesus, and said to him: Are you the King of the Jews?


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Pilate answered: Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered you to me. What have you done?


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Jesus answered: My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews, but my kingdom is not from here.


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Pilate replied to him: Are you a king then? Jesus answered: You say that I am a king. To this end have I been born, and to this end I came into the world, that I should testify to the truth. Everyone that is of the truth hears my voice.


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Pilate said to him: What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them: I find no crime in him!


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But you have a custom, that I should release to you one prisoner at the Passover. Will you have me release to you the King of the Jews?


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Therefore they cried out: Not this man but Barabbas! (Now Barabbas was a bandit).<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple garment.


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Pilate went out again to the Jews, and said: Look, I bring him out to you, so you may know that I find no crime in him.


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Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment. And Pilate said to them: Behold the man!


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When the chief priests and the servants saw him, they cried out: Crucify him! Crucify him! Pilate said to them: Take him yourselves and crucify him. For I find no crime in him.


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The Jews answered him: We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.


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And he went back into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus: Where are you from? But Jesus gave him no answer.


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Pilate said to him: Why do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have the power to release you and have the power to crucify you?


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Jesus answered him: You would have no power against me unless it was given to you from above. So the man that delivered me to you has the greater sin.


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Upon this, Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, saying: If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone that makes himself a king speaks against Caesar!


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When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.


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Now it was the preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour, and he said to the Jews: Behold, your King!


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They cried out: Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him! Pilate said to them: Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered: We have no king but Caesar!


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So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha.


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Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And there was written: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.


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This title many of the Jews read, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near to the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin and in Greek.


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The chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate: Do not write, The King of the Jews; but that: He claimed, I am King of the Jews.


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The soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also the coat. Now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.


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They said to each other, Let us not tear it but cast lots for it, to determine whose it shall be; that the scripture might be fulfilled, which said: They divided my garments among them, and for my robe they cast lots.


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These things the soldiers did. There was standing by the cross of Jesus his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.


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When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing by, he said to his mother: Woman, behold your son!


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Then he said to the disciple: Behold, your mother! And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.


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After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now finished, so that the scripture might be accomplished, said: I thirst.


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Nearby was a vessel full of vinegar. So they put a sponge full of the vinegar upon a hyssop stick, and held it to his mouth.


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When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said: It is finished! And he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.


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The Jews, because it was the preparation day, and so that the bodies should not remain on the cross upon the Sabbath (for the day of that Sabbath was a high day), asked of Pilate that their legs be broken so that they might be taken away.


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Therefore the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other that was crucified with him.


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However one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out of his side.


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And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe.


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For these things happened so that the scripture might be fulfilled: A bone of him shall not be broken.


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And again another scripture says: They shall look on him whom they pierced.<br/> <em><i>The Burial of Jesus</i></em>


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And after these things Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus (but secretly for fear of the Jews), asked of Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. Therefore he came and took his body away.


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And there came also Nicodemus, he who came to him at the first by night; but now he brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds 45kg weight.


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So they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as it is the custom of the Jews to bury.


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Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb wherein no one had lain.


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There, because of the Jews' preparation day, they laid Jesus (for the tomb was nearby).<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Mary Magdalene Meets the Risen Jesus</i></em><br/> Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.


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She ran to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them: They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him!


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and the napkin that had been upon his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself.


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Then the other disciple also entered, he who had arrived first to the tomb; and he saw and believed.


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But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping. So, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb.


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And she saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.


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And they said to her: Woman, why do you weep? She said to them: Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.


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When she had said this, she turned herself around and saw Jesus standing there; but did not know that it was Jesus.


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Jesus said to her: Woman, why do you weep? Whom do you seek? She, supposing him to be the gardener, said to him: Sir, if you have taken him from here, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.


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Jesus said to her: Don’t keep touching me; for I am not right now going to ascend to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them: I ascend to my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God.


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Mary Magdalene went and told the disciples: I have seen the Lord! And she told them that he had said these things to her.<br/> <em><i>Jesus Appears to the Disciples</i></em>


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When it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and for fear of the Jews, the doors were locked where the disciples were; and Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said to them: Peace to you.


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And when he had said this, he showed to them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord.


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If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.


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The other disciples told him: We have seen the Lord! But he said to them: Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.


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Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them, and said: Peace to you.


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Then he said to Thomas: Reach here your finger and see my hands, and reach here your hand and put it into my side; and be not faithless but believing.


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Jesus said to him: Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are they that have not seen and have believed.


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But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in his name.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>The Risen Jesus Appears in Galilee</i></em><br/> After these things Jesus manifested himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias; and he manifested himself in this way:


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There was together Simon Peter and Thomas called Didymus and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee and the sons of Zebedee and another two of his disciples.


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Simon Peter said to them: I am going fishing. They said to him: We will go with you. They went out and entered into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.


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And he said to them: Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you shall find. There they cast their net; and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fish.


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That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter: It is the Lord! So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he wrapped his coat about him (for he was naked) and threw himself into the sea.


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But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from the land, only about meters from shore), dragging the net full of fishes.


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So when they reached the shore, they got out of the boat; and saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon and bread.


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Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.


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Jesus said to them: Come. Break your fast. And none of the disciples did inquire of him: Who are you? Knowing that it was the Lord.


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This was the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after he had risen from the dead.<br/> <em><i>Jesus Challenges Peter</i></em>


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So when they had broken their fast, Jesus said to Simon: Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? He said to him: Yes, Lord. You know that I love you. He said to him: Feed my lambs.


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He said to him, a second time: Simon, son of John, do you love me? He said to him: Yes, Lord. You know that I love you. He said to him: Tend my sheep.


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He said to him the third time: Simon, son of John, do you love me? Peter was grieved because he asked him a third time: Do you love me? And he said to him: Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you. Jesus said to him: Feed my sheep.


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Truly, truly, I say to you: When you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you shall be old, you shall stretch forth your hands, and another shall gird you, and carry you where you do not wish to go.


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Now this he spoke, signifying by what manner of death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he said to him: Follow me.


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Peter, turning about, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following- he who had leaned back on his breast at the supper and asked: Lord, who is he that betrays you?


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This saying therefore went forth among the brothers, that that disciple should not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he should not die, but: If I will that he remains till I come, what is that to you?


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This is the disciple that testifies of these things and wrote these things; and we know that his witness is true.


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And there are many other things which Jesus did, which if each one of them should be written down, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that should be written.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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until the day in which he was received up, after that he had given commandments through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.


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To whom, after his suffering, he also showed by many convincing proofs that he was alive, being seen by them for forty days, and speaking about the kingdom of God.


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And, being assembled together with them, he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, you heard from me:


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Therefore, when they had come together, they asked him: Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?


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And he said to them: It is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father has set within his own authority.


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But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the remotest part of the earth. <br/><em><i>The Ascension of Jesus</i></em>


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And when he had said these things, as they were watching, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight.


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And while they were looking earnestly into heaven as he went, two men stood by them in white clothing,


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who also said: You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was received up from you into heaven, shall return in like manner as you saw him going into heaven.


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Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near to Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey.


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And when they arrived, they went into the upper room where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James.


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These all with one accord continued earnestly in prayer with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.<br/> <em><i>A Replacement for Judas</i></em>


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And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty persons) and said:


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Brothers, it was necessary that the Scripture should be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to those that took Jesus.


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Now this man obtained a field with the reward of his iniquity, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out.


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And it became known to all the dwellers at Jerusalem, so much so that in their language that field was called Akeldama, that is, The field of blood.


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For it is written in the book of Psalms: Let his habitation be made desolate and let no one dwell therein, and his office let another take.


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Therefore, of the men that have been with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and went out among us,


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beginning from the baptism of John, to the day that he was received up from us, of these must one become a witness with us of his resurrection.


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And they prayed, and said: Lord, you who knows the hearts of all men, show us which of these two is the one whom you have chosen


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to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place.


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And they cast lots for them; and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>The Holy Spirit is Given </i></em><br/> And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.


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And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.


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And there appeared to them tongues like fire, separating and resting upon each one of them personally.


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And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them to speak.


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And at this sound the crowds came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.


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Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, in Judea and Cappadocia, in Pontus and Asia,


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in Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and sojourners from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,


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But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: You men of Judea and all that dwell in Jerusalem, let this be understood by you, and listen to my words.


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And it shall be in the last days, says God, I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.


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Yes, and in those days will I pour out My Spirit on My servants and on My handmaids, and they shall prophesy.


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And I will show wonders in the heaven above, and signs on the earth beneath: blood and fire and vapour of smoke.


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The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the day of the Lord comes, that great and notable day.


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And it shall be that whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.<br/> <em><i>Peter Preaches About Jesus From the Old Testament</i></em>


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You men of Israel, hear these words. Jesus of Nazareth was a man attested to you by God, by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did through him in the midst of you, even as you yourselves know.


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Him, being delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you, by the hand of men outside the Law, did crucify and slay;


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whom God raised up, having loosened the pangs of death; because it was not possible that he should be held by it.


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For David said concerning him: I saw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.


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because You will not leave my soul in the grave, neither will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.


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Brothers, I may say to you freely about the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.


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Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body he would set one upon his throne;


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he foreseeing this, spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he left in the grave, nor did his flesh see corruption.


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Therefore, being exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which you see and hear.


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For David did not ascend into Heaven, but he himself said: The Lord said to my Lord, sit on My right hand,


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Therefore, let all the house of Israel know for certain, that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.<br/> <em><i>People are Baptized</i></em>


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Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart; and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: Brothers, what shall we do?


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And Peter said to them: Every one of you should repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ to the remission of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.


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For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to him.


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And with many other words he testified and encouraged them, saying: Save yourselves from this crooked generation.


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They that received his word were baptized, and there were added in that day about three thousand people.


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And they continued earnestly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship in the breaking of bread and the prayers.


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And day by day, continuing earnestly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,


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praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to them daily those who were being saved.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Peter and John Cure a Lame Man</i></em><br/> Now Peter and John were going into the temple at the hour of prayer, at the ninth hour.


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And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate, to ask alms of those entering the temple.


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But Peter said: Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!


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And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankle-bones received strength.


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And leaping up, he stood and began to walk; and he entered with them into the temple, walking and leaping and praising God.


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And they recognised him, that it was he that sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.


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While he clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's, astounded.


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And when Peter saw it, he addressed the people: You men of Israel, why do you marvel at this man? Or why fasten you your eyes on us, as though by our own power or reverence towards God we had made him walk?


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The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and rejected before the presence of Pilate, when he had determined to release him.


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And by faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which is through him, has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.<br/> <em><i>Peter Appeals for People to Repent</i></em>


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But the things which God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ should suffer, He thus fulfilled.


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Therefore, repent and be converted, so that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;


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whom the heaven must receive until the time of the restoration of all things, of which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, that have been since the world began.


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Moses indeed said: A prophet like me shall the Lord God raise up for you from among your brothers; you shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.


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And it shall be, that every soul that shall not listen to that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.


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Yes, and all the prophets from Samuel, and those that followed after, as many as have spoken, they also told of these days.


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You are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham: And in your descendant shall all the families of the earth be blessed.


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To you first, God, having raised up His servant, sent him to bless you, in turning every one of you away from your sins.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Jewish Opposition to the Gospel</i></em><br/> And as they spoke to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came upon them,


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being greatly annoyed because they taught the people, and proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.


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But many of those that heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.


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And it came to pass that the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem;


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and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander and as many as were of the family of the high priest.


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And when they had set them in their midst, they enquired: By what power, or in what name, have you done this?


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if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed,


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be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, in him does this man stand here before you healed.


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And in no other is there salvation; for neither is there any other name that is given among men under heaven, wherein we must be saved.


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Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they realised that they had been with Jesus.


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What shall we do to these men? For indeed a notable miracle has been done through them. It is obvious to all that dwell in Jerusalem and we cannot deny it!


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But that it spread no further among the people, let us warn them, that from this time forward they are not to speak to anyone in this name.


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But Peter and John answered and said to them: Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge;


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And they, when they had threatened them further, let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people. For all men glorified God for what was done.


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And being let go, they came to their friends, and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.


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And they, when they heard it, lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said: O Lord, you that made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that are in them,


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who by the Holy Spirit, and by the mouth of our father David your servant, did say: Why did the Gentiles rage and the peoples imagine vain things?


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The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ.


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For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the people of Israel,


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And now Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to your servants to speak Your word with all boldness,


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while You stretch out Your hand to heal, that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.


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And when they had prayed, the place was shaken wherein they were gathered together, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit; and they spoke the word of God with boldness.<br/> <em><i>Powerful Preaching by the Apostles</i></em>


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And the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and not one of them said that anything of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.


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And with great power gave the apostles their witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.


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For neither were there among them any that lacked; for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,


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And Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (we say Son of exhortation), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race,


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having a field, sold it; and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Ananias and Sapphira</i></em><br/> But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,


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and with his wife's knowledge kept back part of the proceeds, and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet.


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And Peter said: Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land?


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While it remained, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your power? How is it you have conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.


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And Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came upon all that heard it.


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And it was about the space of three hours after when his wife, not knowing what had happed, came in.


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And Peter said to her: Tell me whether you sold the land for so much. And she said: Yes, for so much.


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But Peter said to her: How is it you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those that have buried your husband are at the door; and they shall carry you out.


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And she fell down immediately at his feet and breathed her last; and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her next to her husband.


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And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders done among the people; and they were all gathering together in Solomon's porch.<br/> <em><i>The Apostles Arrested</i></em>


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So much so, that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that, as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might fall on some of them.


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And there also gathered crowds from the cities round about Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those that were vexed with unclean spirits; and every one of them was healed.


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But the high priest rose up and all they that were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees) and they were filled with jealousy,


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And when they heard this, in the morning they entered into the temple and taught. But the high priest came and they that were with him, and called the council together and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.


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But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, saying:


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We found the prison shut in all safety, and the keepers standing at the doors, but when we had them opened, we found no one within.


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Now when the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the upshot of all this would be.


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And there came someone that told them: Behold, the men whom you put in the prison are in the temple standing and teaching the people.


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Then went the captain with the officers and brought them, but without violence. For they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.


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And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying:


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We strictly ordered you not to teach in this name, and yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.


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Him did God exalt with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Israel and remission of sins.


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And we are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, which God has given to those that obey Him.<br/> <em><i>Gamaliel’s Advice</i></em>


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But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honour by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while.


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For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.


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After this man, there rose up Judas of Galilee, in the days of the census, and drew away some of the people after him. He also perished and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad.


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And now I say to you, keep away from these men and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will fail.


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But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might be found to be fighting against God.


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They took his advice, and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.


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They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonour for the Name.


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And every day, in the temple and at home, they did not cease to teach and to preach Jesus as the Christ.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Administrative Problems</i></em><br/> Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring amongst the Greek speaking Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.


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And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples to them, and said: It is not fitting that we should forsake the teaching of the word of God and instead handle finances.


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Therefore, brothers, choose from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.


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And the decision pleased the whole crowd; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus a proselyte of Antioch.


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And the word of God increased, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.<br/> <em><i>Stephen is Arrested</i></em>


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Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen.


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Then they secretly induced men to say: We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.


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And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and came upon him and seized him, and brought him into the council,


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and set up false witnesses, who said: This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.


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For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place and shall change the customs which Moses delivered to us.


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And all that sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face as if it had been the face of an angel.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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And he said: Brothers and fathers, listen. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,


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Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran, and from there, when his father was dead, God sent him into this land, wherein you now dwell.


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And He gave him no inheritance in it, no, not enough to set his foot on it, and He promised that He would give it to him in possession and to his seed after him, when he had no child.


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And God spoke in this way, that his seed should live in a strange land, and that they would bring them into bondage and treat them badly for four hundred years.


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And the nation to which they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God, and after that shall they come out and serve Me in this place.


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And He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begat Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs.


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and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom before Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt, and all his house.


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Now there came a famine over all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction; and our fathers found no sustenance.


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And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph's race became manifest to Pharaoh.


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And Joseph sent and called to himself Jacob his father and all his extended family, seventy five people.


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And they were carried back to Shechem, and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.


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But as the time of the fulfilment of the promise which God made to Abraham drew near, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,


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The same dealt craftily with our race and ill-treated our fathers, casting out their babies so that they might not live.


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At this time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair; and he was nourished three months in his father's house.


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And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and works.


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But when he was nearly forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers the children of Israel.


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And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, striking the Egyptian.


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And he supposed that his brothers understood that God by his hand was giving them deliverance; but they did not understand.


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And the following day he appeared to two of them as they were fighting and tried to reconcile them, saying: Gentlemen, you are brothers! Why do you injure each other?


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But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying: Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?


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And when forty years were fulfilled, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush.


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And when Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight; and as he drew near to observe, there came the voice of the Lord:


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I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob. And Moses trembled and dared not look.


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And the Lord said to him: Take off the shoes from your feet; for the place upon which you stand is holy ground.


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I have surely seen the affliction of My people that is in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them; and now, come, I will send you into Egypt.


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This Moses whom they refused, saying: Who made you a ruler and a judge? Him God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer, by the hand of the angel that appeared to him in the bush.


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This man led them out, having done wonders and signs in Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years.


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This is that Moses, who said to the children of Israel: A prophet like me shall God raise up to you from among your brothers.


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This is he that was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel that spoke to him in Mount Sinai and with our fathers, who received living words to give to us.


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Our fathers would not be obedient to him, but thrust him from them and turned back in their hearts to Egypt,


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saying to Aaron: Make us gods that shall go before us. As for this Moses, who led us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.


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And they made a calf in those days and brought a sacrifice to the idol and rejoiced in the works of their hands.


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But God turned and gave them up to serve the host of heaven. As it is written in the book of the prophets: Did you offer to me slain beasts and sacrifices for forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?


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You took up the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of the god Remphan, figures which you made to worship; and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.


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Our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness, even as He who spoke to Moses appointed, that he should make it according to the figure that he had seen.


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Which also our fathers, in their turn, brought into the land with Joshua when they received possession of the nations that God thrust out before the presence of our fathers, to the days of David;


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The Heaven is My throne and the earth a footstool for My feet; what manner of house will you build Me? says the Lord; or what is the place of My rest?


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You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you do always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.


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Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers.


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But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up earnestly into Heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God; and he said:


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And they threw him out of the city, and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.


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And he knelt down and cried with a loud voice: Lord! Do not charge them with this sin. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Saul Persecutes the Church</i></em><br/> And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church which was in Jerusalem, and except the apostles, they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria.


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But Saul treated the church shamefully, entering into every house, dragging out men and women and putting them into prison.


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And the crowds, when they heard and saw the signs which he did, gave heed with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip.


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For from many of those that had unclean spirits, the unclean spirits came out, crying with a loud voice; and many that were paralyzed or lame were healed.


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But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who previously used sorcery in that city and amazed the people of Samaria, boasting that he himself was somebody great.


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To him they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying: This man has that power of God which is called Great.


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But when they believed Philip as he was preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.


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And Simon also himself believed, and being baptized, he continued with Philip; and seeing signs and great miracles done, he was amazed.


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Now when the apostles that were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,


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For as yet it had not fallen upon them. These had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.


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Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying:


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But Peter said to him: May your silver perish with you, because you have thought to obtain the gift of God with money.


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Therefore, repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord, that perhaps the thought of your heart shall be forgiven you.


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And Simon answered and said: Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken come upon me.


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Therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.<br/> <em><i>Philip and the Ethiopian Official</i></em>


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But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying: Arise and go toward the south, to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. The same is desert.


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And he arose and went, and a man from Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, had came to Jerusalem to worship.


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And Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said: Do you understand what you read?


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Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this: He was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, so he did not open his mouth.


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In his humiliation, justice was denied him. Who can declare his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.


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And the eunuch said to Philip: I beg you, of whom does the prophet speak? Of himself, or of somebody else?


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And as they went along the road, they came upon some water; and the eunuch said: Look, water! What is stopping me from being baptized?


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And Philip said: If you believe with all your heart, you may. And he answered and said: I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.


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And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.


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And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, and the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.


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But Philip was found at Azotus; and passing through that area, he preached the gospel to all the towns, until he came to Caesarea.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>The Conversion of Saul</i></em><br/> But Saul, yet breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,


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and asked from him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues, that if he found any that were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.


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And as he journeyed, it came to pass, that he drew near to Damascus; and suddenly there shone round about him a light out of heaven.


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And Saul arose from the earth, and when his eyes were opened he saw nothing, and they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.


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Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision: Ananias. And he said: I am here, Lord.


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And the Lord said to him: Arise and go to the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus. For he prays,


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and he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight.


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But Ananias answered: Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how much evil he did to your saints at Jerusalem,


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But the Lord said to him: Go your way. For he is a chosen vessel to me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.


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And Ananias departed, and entered into the house; and laying his hands on him, said: Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road upon which you travelled, has sent me, that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.


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And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight; and he arose and was baptized.


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And he took food and was strengthened, and was several days with the disciples that were at Damascus.<br/> <em><i>Saul Zealously Preaches the Gospel</i></em>


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And all that heard him were amazed, and said: Is this not he that in Jerusalem made havoc of those that called on this name? And he had come here for this intent, that he might bring them bound before the chief priests.


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But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews that dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the real Christ.


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But their plot became known to Saul; and they watched the gates day and night that they might kill him.


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And when he came to Jerusalem, he decided to attach himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.


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But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.


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preaching boldly in the name of the Lord; and he spoke and disputed against the Greek speaking Jews, and they that were seeking to kill him.


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So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being built up; and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.<br/> <em><i>Peter Cures People</i></em>


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And it came to pass, as Peter went throughout all regions, he came also to the saints that dwelt at Lydda.


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And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years, for he was paralyzed.


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And Peter said to him: Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed. And immediately he rose.


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Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds.


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And it came to pass in those days, that she fell sick and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.


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And as Lydda was near to Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him: Come to us without delay.


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And Peter rose and went with them. And when he had arrived, they brought him into the upper room; and all the widows stood by him, weeping and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas had made, while she was with them.


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But Peter sent them out, and kneeled down and prayed; and turning to the body, he said: Tabitha, rise. And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.


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And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.


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And it came to pass, that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon a tanner.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Peter and Cornelius</i></em><br/> Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Regiment,


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a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, who gave much charity to the Jewish people and prayed to God always.


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About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God, who came to him and said: Cornelius.


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And he, fastening his eyes upon him and being afraid, said: What is it, Lord? And he said to him: Your prayers and your charity have gone up as a memorial before God.


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And when the angel that spoke to him had departed, he called two of his household servants and a devout soldier of them that served him continually.


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Now the next day, as they were on their journey, and drew near to the city, about the sixth hour, Peter went upon the housetop to pray.


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And he saw the heaven open and a certain vessel descending, as if it were a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth,


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wherein were all manner of fourfooted animals, and creeping things of the earth and birds of the sky.


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While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men that had been sent by Cornelius, having made enquiry for Simon's house, stood before the gate,


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And they said: Cornelius a centurion, a righteous man and one that fears God, and who is praised by all the nation of the Jews, was instructed by a holy angel of God to summon you to his house and to hear words from you.


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So he called them in and lodged them. And the next day he arose and went with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.


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And the next day they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and his near friends.


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And when it happened that Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet and did homage to him.


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And he said to them: You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation; and yet to me God has shown that I should not call anyone common or unclean.


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Therefore also I came without objection, when I was sent for. Therefore, I ask with what intent did you send for me.


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And Cornelius said: Four days ago, about this hour, I was keeping the ninth hour of prayer in my house, and a man stood before me in bright apparel,


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and said: Cornelius, your prayer is heard and your charitable acts are held in remembrance in the sight of God.


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Therefore, send to Joppa and summon Simon, who is surnamed Peter. He lodges in the house of Simon a tanner, by the sea side.


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So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Therefore, now we are all here in the presence of God, to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord to say.


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The word which He sent to the children of Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ (he being Lord of all!),


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that message you yourselves know, which was published throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached-


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about Jesus of Nazareth. How God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed by the Devil. For God was with him.


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And we are witnesses of all things which he did, both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. Whom also they slew, hanging him on a tree.


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not to all the people, but to witnesses that were chosen before by God, to us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.


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And he ordered us to preach to the people, and to testify that this is he who is ordained by God to be the judge of the living and the dead.


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To him all the prophets bear witness- that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.


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And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.


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And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Peter Explains his Conversion of Cornelius to the Jewish Brothers</i></em><br/> Now the apostles and the brothers that were in Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.


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I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners; and it came down even to me.


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Looking at it closely, I saw the fourfooted beasts of the earth and wild beasts and creeping things and birds of the sky.


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And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house.


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And he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying: Send to Joppa and fetch Simon, whose surname is Peter,


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And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said that John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.


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If then God gave to these the same gift as He also gave to us, when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could oppose God?


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And when they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying: Then to the Gentiles also has God granted repentance to life.<br/> <em><i>The Church in Antioch</i></em>


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Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews.


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But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they reached Antioch, spoke to the Gentiles also, preaching the Lord Jesus.


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And the report concerning them came to the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas as far as Antioch.


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Who, when he had arrived and had seen the grace of God, was glad; and he encouraged them all, that with purpose of heart they should cleave to the Lord.


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For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith; and many people were added to the Lord.


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And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it came to pass, that for a whole year they were gathered together with the church and taught many people; and there, in Antioch, the disciples were first called Christians.


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And one of them, named Agabus, stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world. This took place in the days of Claudius.


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And the disciples, every man according to his ability, decided to send relief to the believers that lived in Judea.


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Which also they did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Peter is Delivered from Prison</i></em><br/> About that time, Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church.


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And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. And those were the days of unleavened bread.


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And when he had taken him, he put him in prison and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.


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Therefore Peter was kept in the prison; but earnest prayer was offered to God for him by the church.


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And when Herod was about to bring him out, that same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains; and guards before the door were guarding the prison.


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And an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying: Rise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.


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And the angel said to him: Dress yourself and put on your sandals. And he did so. And he said to him: Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.


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And he went out and followed; and he did not perceive that it was true which was done by the angel, but thought he was seeing a vision.


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And when they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city. This opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and passed on through one street; and immediately the angel departed from him.


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And when Peter came to himself, he said: Now I know of a truth, that the Lord has sent his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod and from all that the Jews were expecting.


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And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark. There many were gathered together and were praying.


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And when she recognised Peter's voice, she did not open the gate, but in joy ran inside and told everyone that Peter stood before the gate.


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And they said to her: You are mad. But she confidently affirmed that it was so. And they said: It is his angel.


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But he, motioning with the hand to hold their peace, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said: Tell these things to James and to the brothers. And he departed and went to another place.


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Now as soon as it was day, there was no small anxiety among the soldiers about what had become of Peter.


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And when Herod had searched for him and not found him, he examined the guards, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.<br/> <em><i>The Death of Herod</i></em>


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Now Herod was highly displeased with those at Tyre and Sidon. They came with one accord to him and having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was fed from the king's country.


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And upon a set day, Herod dressed himself in royal apparel and sat on the throne and delivered an oration to them.


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And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give God the glory; and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.


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And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had completed their service, taking with them John whose surname was Mark.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>The First Missionary Journey</i></em><br/> Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas and Symeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene and Manaen the foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.


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And as they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said: Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work unto which I have called them.


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So they, being sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.


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And when they were at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; they had also John to assist them.


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And when they had gone through the whole island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus,


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who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding. The same summoned Barnabas and Saul, and sought to hear the word of God.


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But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.


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and said: You son of the Devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and all villainy, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?


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And now, the hand of the Lord is upon you and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness, and he went about seeking someone to lead him by the hand.


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Then the proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.


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Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John left them and returned to Jerusalem.


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But they, passing through from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia; and they went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.


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And after the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent for them, saying: Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, speak.


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And Paul stood up and beckoning with the hand, said: Men of Israel and you that fear God, listen.<br/> <em><i>Paul’s Sermon at Antioch</i></em>


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The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they sojourned in the land of Egypt, and with a high arm He led them out of it.


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And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He gave them their land for an inheritance, for about four hundred and fifty years.


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And afterwards they asked for a king; and God gave to them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for the space of forty years.


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And when He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, to whom also He bare witness and said: I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who shall do all My will.


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after John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.


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And as John was fulfilling his ministry, he said: Who do you suppose I am? I am not he! But look, there comes one after me the shoes of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.


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Brothers, children of the stock of Abraham, and those among you that fear God, to us is the word of this salvation sent.


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For they that dwell in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.


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And when they had fulfilled all things that were written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.


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And he was seen for many days by those that came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people.


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that God has fulfilled the same to our children, in that He resurrected Jesus. As also it is written in the second Psalm: You are My Son, this day have I begotten you.


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And as for the fact that He raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken in this way: I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.


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For David, after he had in his own generation served the will of God, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers, and saw corruption.


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Therefore, be it known to you, brothers, that through this man is proclaimed to you the remission of sins.


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And through him, everyone that believes is declared righteous in all things in which the law of Moses could not declare you righteous.


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Behold you despisers, wonder and perish. For I work a work in your days, a work which you shall in no way believe, even if someone declares it to you.<br/> <em><i>Paul Turns to the Gentiles</i></em>


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Now when the meeting of the synagogue was dismissed, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.


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But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul and blasphemed.


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And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said: It was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken to you. Seeing you thrust it from you and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.


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For so has the Lord commanded us: I have set you for a light of the Gentiles, that you should bring salvation to the uttermost part of the earth.


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And as the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of God; and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.


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But the Jews incited the religious women of high standing and the leading men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.


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<em><i>Opposition to the Work of Preaching</i></em><br/> Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue, and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.


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Therefore they stayed there for a long time speaking boldly in the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.


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And when there was an attempt by the Gentiles and the Jews, with their rulers, to treat them shamefully and to stone them,


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they became aware of it and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe and the surrounding region.


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Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled since birth and had never walked.


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The same listened to Paul speaking. Paul looked at him intently and perceiving that he had faith to be made whole,


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And when the crowd saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the language of Lycaonia: The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!


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And the priest of Jupiter, whose temple was before the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and would have done sacrifice with the crowds.


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But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they tore their clothes and ran in among the crowd, crying out and saying:


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Sirs, why do you these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.


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and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, and gave you rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.


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But there came Jews from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.


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But as the disciples stood around him, he rose up and entered into the city, and the next day he went with Barnabas to Derbe.


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And when they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,


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confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God.


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So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.


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And from there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled.


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And when they had come and had gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done through them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.


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<em><i>Controversy about Circumcision</i></em><br/> But some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers: Unless you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.


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And Paul and Barnabas argued and debated with them; consequently Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders to resolve this question.


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Therefore, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the believers.


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And when they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all things that God had done through them.


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But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying: It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses.


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And when there had been much debate, Peter rose up and said to them: Brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.


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And God, who knows the heart, did bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as He did to us.


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Therefore, why do you now put God to the test, putting a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?


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And all the crowd kept silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul relating what signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.


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After these things I will return, and I will build again the tabernacle of David which is fallen, and I will build again the ruins of it, and I will raise it up;


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so that the residue of mankind may seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name,


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but that we write to them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, from fornication, from what is strangled and from blood.


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For Moses from generations of old has in every city those that preach him, he being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.<br/> <em><i>The Compromise Reached About the Gentile Converts</i></em>


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Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men out of their company and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, leading men among the brothers.


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With them they sent the following letter: The apostles and the elders, brothers, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting.


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Forasmuch as we have heard that some who went out from us have disturbed you with words, subverting you, to whom we gave no commandment,


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it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to select men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,


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Therefore, we have sent Judas and Silas, who themselves also shall tell you the same things by word of mouth.


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For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:


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that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled and from fornication. From which if you keep yourselves, it shall be well with you. Farewell.


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So they, when they were sent off, went to Antioch; and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter.


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And Judas and Silas, being themselves also prophets, encouraged and strengthened the believers with many words.


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And after they had spent some time there, they were sent off in peace by the brothers back to those that had sent them.


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And Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.<br/> <em><i>Another Missionary Journey</i></em>


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And after some days Paul said to Barnabas: Let us return now and visit the believers in every city wherein we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they fare.


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But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work.


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They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus;


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And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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And he went also to Derbe and to Lystra; and a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess that believed; but his father was a Greek.


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Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.


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And as they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which had been determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.


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And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.


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And when they came to the border of Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia; but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them.


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And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. There was a man of Macedonia standing, urging him and saying: Come into Macedonia and help us!


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And when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.<br/> <em><i>Preaching and an Earthquake in Philippi</i></em>


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Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace and the day following to Neapolis,


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and from there to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the first of the district, a Roman colony; and we stayed in this city for some days.


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And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate by a river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women that had gathered.


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And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, one that worshiped God, heard us; whose heart the Lord opened to give heed to the things which were spoken by Paul.


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And when she was baptized, and her household, she urged us, saying: If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay. So she persuaded us.


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And it came to pass, as we were going to the place of prayer, that a certain slave girl met us, who had a spirit by which she predicted the future and who brought her masters much gain by fortune-telling.


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The same following after Paul and us was crying out, saying: These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation!


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And this she did for many days. But Paul, being greatly disturbed by it, turned and said to the spirit: I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And it came out that very moment.


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But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they laid hold of Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers,


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and when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said: These men, being Jews, are disturbing our city,


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And the crowd rose up together against them; and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten.


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And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailor to guard them carefully.


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But about midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God; and the prisoners were listening to them.


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And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's bonds were unfastened.


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And the jailor, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.


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And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas,


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And at that hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.


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And he brought them into his house, set food before them, and rejoiced greatly with all his family, having believed in God.


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And the jailor reported the words to Paul, saying: The magistrates have sent word to let you go. Therefore come out and go in peace.


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But Paul said to them: They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned men that are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison, and now they want to throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and bring us out.


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And the officers reported these words to the magistrates; and they feared when they heard that they were Romans.


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And they came and pleaded with them, and when they had brought them out, they asked them to go away from the city.


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And they went out of the prison and entered into the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the believers, they comforted them and departed.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Paul Preaches in Thessalonica</i></em><br/> Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.


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And Paul, as his custom was, went in to them for three Sabbath days and reasoned with them from the Scriptures,


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explaining and proving that it was necessary that the Christ suffer and rise from the dead, saying: This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.


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And some of them were persuaded, and joined Paul and Silas, as did many of the devout Greeks; and not a few of the chief women.


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But the Jews, being moved with jealousy, taking along some wicked men from the market place and having assembled a mob, set the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the people.


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And when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brothers before the rulers of the city, crying: These that have turned the world upside down have come here also.


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Jason has received them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.


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And the brother immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night to Berea; who when they arrived there, went into the synagogue of the Jews.


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Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so.


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But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there, likewise stirring up and inciting the crowds.


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Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there.


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But they that escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving instructions for Silas and Timothy (that they should came to him with all speed), they departed.<br/> <em><i>Paul Preaches in Athens</i></em>


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Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw the city full of idols.


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So he reasoned in the synagogue with Jews and the religious persons, and in the marketplace every day with those that met him.


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And some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also encountered him. And some said: What will this babbler say? Others: He seems to be a preacher of strange gods! Because he preached Jesus and the resurrection.


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And they took hold of him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying: May we know what this new teaching is, which is spoken by you?


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For you bring certain strange things to our ears. Therefore, we would like to know what these things mean.


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(Now all the Athenians and the strangers living there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing).


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And Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said: You men of Athens, I perceive you are very religious in all things.


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For as I walked along, I observed the objects of your worship; and I found an altar with this inscription: To the unknown god. Whom you worship in ignorance, Him I proclaim to you.


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The God that made the world and all things therein, He, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwells not in temples made with hands.


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Neither is He served by men's hands, as though He needed anything, seeing He gives to all life and breath and all things.


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And He has made from one, every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined the times set for them and the bounds of their habitation,


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that they should seek God; so that they might feel after Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.


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For in Him we live and move and have our being- as some even of your own poets have said: For we are also his offspring.


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Being then the offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine is like gold, or silver, or stone, something crafted by art and the imagination of man.


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Therefore, the times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands men that they should all everywhere repent.


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Inasmuch as He has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom He has ordained; of which He has given assurance to all men, in that He has raised him from the dead.


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Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but others said: We will hear you concerning this yet again.


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But some people joined him and believed, among whom was Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Paul Preaches at Corinth</i></em><br/> After these things he departed from Athens and went to Corinth.


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And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a man of Pontus by race, lately come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome; and he went to them.


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And because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they worked together, for by trade they were tentmakers.


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But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.


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And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them: Your blood is on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.


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And he departed from there, and went into the house of a certain man named Titus Justus, one that worshiped God, whose house was attached to the synagogue.


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And Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his family; and many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.


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And during the night in a vision, the Lord said to Paul: Do not be afraid, but speak out and do not keep silent.


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But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat,


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But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews: If indeed it were a matter of wrong or of criminal villainy, O you Jews, it would be logical that I should bear with you.


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But if they are questions about words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these matters.


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And they all laid hold on Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of these things.


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And Paul, having stayed after this for many days, took his leave of the believers, and with Priscilla and Aquila sailed to Syria, having shorn his head in Cenchrea. For he had made a vow.


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And they came to Ephesus; and he left them there, but he entered into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.


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but took his leave of them, saying: I will return again to you if God wills. He then set sail from Ephesus.


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And having spent some time there, he departed and went through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, in that order, strengthening all the disciples.<br/> <em><i>The Conversion of Apollos</i></em>


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Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by race, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the scriptures.


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This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John.


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And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.


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And when he decided to go into Achaia, the brothers encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he helped them who through grace had believed.


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For he powerfully refuted the Jews publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Rebaptizing Some of John the Baptist’s Converts</i></em><br/> And it came to pass, that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper country, came to Ephesus and found some disciples.


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And he said to them: Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? And they said to him: No. We have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.


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And Paul said: John baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in him that should come after him, that is, on Jesus.


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And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.


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And he entered into the synagogue and spoke boldly for the space of three months, reasoning and persuading as to the things concerning the kingdom of God.


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But when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the crowd, he departed from them and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.


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And this continued for the space of two years, so that all those who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Gentiles.


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so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and their mental illnesses were cured.


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Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had manic illnesses, saying: I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul proclaims.


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Then the man who had the mania jumped on them and subdued and overpowered all of them, so they fled out of that house naked and wounded.


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And this became known to all that dwelt at Ephesus, both Jews and Gentiles; and fear fell upon them all. And the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.


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And not a few of those that practised magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all; and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.


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When these things were accomplished, Paul purposed in the Spirit to go up to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, saying: After I have been there, I must also see Rome.


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


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For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no little business to the craftsmen.


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He gathered them together, with the workmen of similar occupation, and said: Sirs, you know that by this business we have our wealth,


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and you see and hear, that not only at Ephesus but throughout most of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and led astray many people, saying that they are no gods that are made with hands.


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And not only is there a danger that this our trade will come into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana will be made of no account, and that she whom all Asia and the world worships should even be deposed from her magnificence.


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And when they heard this, they were filled with anger and cried out, saying: Great is Diana of Ephesus!


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And the city was filled with confusion; and they rushed with one accord into the theatre, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel.


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And some also of the Asiarchs, being his friends, sent word to him, pleading that he not venture into the theatre.


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Therefore, some cried one thing and some another. For the assembly was in confusion and most did not know why they had come together.


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And they brought Alexander out of the crowd, the Jews putting him forward; and Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made a defence to the people;


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but when they perceived that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out: Great is Diana of the Ephesians!


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And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said: You men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple-keeper of the great Diana and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?


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For you have brought here these men, who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.


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Therefore, if Demetrius and the craftsmen that are with him have a matter against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them accuse one another.


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For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.


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<em><i>Paul at Troas</i></em><br/> And after the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them he said farewell and departed for Macedonia.


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And when he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came into Greece.


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There he spent three months; but as he was about to set sail for Syria, he was informed that the Jews planned to ambush him, so he decided to return through Macedonia.


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Sopater of Berea, the son of Pyrrhus from Berea, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus.


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And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread; and in five days came to those at Troas, where we stayed seven days.


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And upon the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart the next day; and prolonged his speech until midnight.


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And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep, and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third floor and was picked up dead.


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But Paul went down and bent over him, and embracing him, said: Don't be alarmed. For his life is in him.


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Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed.


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And they brought the lad alive and were greatly comforted.<br/> <em><i>Paul’s Sermon at Miletus</i></em>


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But going ahead to the ship we set sail for Assos, there intending to pick up Paul. For so had he arranged, he intending to go by land.


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And sailing from there, the following day we arrived off Kios, the next day we crossed over to Samos and the day after we came to Miletus.


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For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, that he might not have to spend time in Asia. For he was in a hurry, hoping to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.


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And when they had come to him, he said to them: You know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, after what manner I was with you all the time,


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serving the Lord with all lowliness of mind, and with tears and with trials which befell me by the plots of the Jews.


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You know how I did not hesitate to declare to you anything that was helpful, and taught you in public, and from house to house,


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testifying both to Jews and to Gentiles repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.


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Except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city, saying that imprisonments and afflictions await me.


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But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my race, and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.


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And now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom of God will see my face again.


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Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood.


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I know that after my departing, fierce wolves shall enter in among you and will not spare the flock.


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And from among you, men shall arise speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.


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Therefore be alert, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn every one night and day with tears.


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And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those that are sanctified.


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You yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me.


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In all things I gave you an example, that so labouring you should help the weak, and to remember the words that the Lord Jesus spoke, saying: It is more blessed to give than to receive.


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being sorrowful most of all because of his statement, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>The Journey to Jerusalem</i></em><br/> And when we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.


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When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload its cargo.


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And having found the disciples, we stayed there seven days; and these said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not set foot in Jerusalem.


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When our time was up, we departed and went on our way, and they all accompanied us, with wives and children, until we were out of the city. And we knelt down on the shore and prayed.


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And when we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais; and we greeted the believers and stayed with them one day.


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And the next day we departed, and went to Caesarea, and entering into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him.


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And coming to us and taking Paul's belt, he bound his own feet and hands, and said: Thus said the Holy Spirit: So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owns this belt, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.


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And when we heard these things, both we and they of that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem.


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Then Paul answered: What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready, not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.


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And there went with us also some of the disciples from Caesarea, bringing with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge.


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And when we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly.<br/> <em><i>Paul in Jerusalem</i></em>


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And when he had greeted them, he related one by one the things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.


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And they, when they heard it, glorified God; and they said to him: You saw, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those that have believed; and they are all zealous for the law.


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And they have been informed concerning you, that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to our customs.


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These take and purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses, that they may shave their heads; and all shall know that there is no truth in the things of which they have been informed concerning you, but you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the law.


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But concerning the Gentiles that have believed, we wrote, giving judgment that they should keep themselves from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication.


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Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purifying himself along with them, went into the temple, declaring the fulfilment of the days of purification, until the offering was offered for every one of them.


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And when the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the crowd and laid hands on him,


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crying out: Men of Israel, help! This is the man that teaches all men everywhere against the people and the law, and this place, and moreover he brought Gentiles also into the temple and has defiled this holy place.


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For they had previously seen with him in the city Trophimus the Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.


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And all the city was moved, and the people ran together, laid hold on Paul and dragged him out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut.


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And as they were seeking to kill him, news came to the chief captain of the garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.


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And he took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them; and they, when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, stopped beating Paul.


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Then the chief captain came near, laid hold of him and commanded him to be bound with two chains, and inquired who he was and what he had done.


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And some among the mob shouted one thing, some another; and when he could not know the certainty because of the uproar, he commanded him to be brought into the fortress of Antonia.


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When he reached the stairs, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob.


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And as Paul was about to be brought into the fortress, he said to the chief captain: May I say something to you? And he said: Do you know Greek?


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Are you not that Egyptian, who some time ago stirred up sedition and led out into the wilderness four thousand men that were terrorists?


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But Paul said: I am a Jew, of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I beg you, please let me speak to the people.


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And when he had given him leave, Paul, standing on the stairs, beckoned with the hand to the people; and when there was made a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying:<em><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Paul’s Defence to the Jerusalem Jews</i></em><br/> Brothers and fathers, hear the defence which I now make to you.


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And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they were even more quiet; and he said:


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I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as you all are this day.


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as also the high priest does bear me witness, and all the council of the elders. From whom also I received letters to the brothers and journeyed to Damascus, to bring them also that were there to Jerusalem in bonds to be punished.


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And it came to pass, that as I made my journey and drew near to Damascus, about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.


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And they that were with me saw indeed the light, but they did not understand the voice of him that spoke to me.


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And I said: What shall I do Lord? And the Lord said to me: Arise and go into Damascus, and there you shall be told all things which are appointed for you to do.


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And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand by those that were with me, I came into Damascus.


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And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews that dwelt there,


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came to me; and standing by me, he said to me: Brother Saul, receive your sight. And in that very moment I looked upon him.


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And he said: The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will, and to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth.


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And it came to pass, that when I had returned to Jerusalem and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance,


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and saw him saying to me: Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not welcome your testimony concerning me.


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And I said: Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those that believed in you;


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and when the blood of Stephen your witness was shed, I also was standing by and approved, and guarded the robes of those that slew him.


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And he said to me: Depart! For I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.<br/> <em><i>Paul Uses his Roman Citizenship</i></em>


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And they listened until this word, and then they lifted up their voice and said: Away with such a fellow from the earth! For it is not fitting that he should live.


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the chief captain commanded him to be brought into the fortress, bidding that he should be examined by scourging, that he might know for what cause they so shouted against him.


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And when they had tied him up with the thongs, Paul said to the centurion that stood by: Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?


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And when the centurion heard it, he went to the chief captain and told him, saying: What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman.


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And the chief captain answered: With a great sum of money I obtained this citizenship. And Paul said: But I am Roman born.


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Then those that were about to torture him withdrew from him immediately; and the chief captain also was afraid when he knew that he was a Roman, because he had bound him.


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But the next day, desiring to know with certainty why he was accused by the Jews, he released him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Paul’s Defence Before the High Priest</i></em><br/> And Paul looked straight at the council, and said: Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day.


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Then Paul said to him: God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?


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And Paul said: I did not recognize, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, you shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.


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But when Paul noticed that one part was Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council: Brothers, I am a Pharisee, son of a Pharisee! Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.


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And when he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.


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For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel nor spirit; but the Pharisees believe in both.


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And there arose a great clamour; and some of the scribes of the Pharisees stood up and argued, saying: We find no evil in this man. What if a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel?


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And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing that Paul would be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the fortress.


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And the following night the Lord stood by him, and said: Take courage, for as you have testified concerning me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.<br/> <em><i>The Plan to Kill Paul</i></em>


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And when it was day, the Jews banded together and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.


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And they came to the chief priests and the elders, and said: We have bound ourselves under a great curse, to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.


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Now then, you with the council petition the chief captain to bring him down to you, as though you would judge his case more exactly; and we, before he comes near, will be ready to slay him.


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But Paul's sister's son heard of their ambush, and he went and entered into the fortress and told Paul.


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And Paul summoned one of the centurions, and said: Take this young man to the chief captain; for he has something to tell him.


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So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said: Paul the prisoner summoned me, and asked me to bring this young man, who has something to say to you.


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And the chief captain took him by the hand, and taking him aside asked him privately: What is it you have to tell me?


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He said: The Jews have agreed to ask that you bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire more fully about him.


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But do not yield to them, for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, men who have bound themselves by an oath that they will neither eat nor drink until they have killed him; and now they are ready, waiting for your consent to their request.


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So the chief captain let the young man go, ordering him: Tell no one you have told these things to me.


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And he summoned two of the centurions and said: Make ready two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, and seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen, at the third hour of the night.


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This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be slain by them, when I intervened with soldiers and rescued him, having learnt that he was a Roman.


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I found him to be accused about questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or imprisonment.


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And when it was told that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you, ordering his accusers also to speak against him before you.


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And they, when they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, presented Paul also before him.


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And when he had read it, he asked of what province he was; and when he understood that he was of Cilicia, he said:


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I will hear you fully when your accusers also have come; and he commanded him to be kept in Herod's palace.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Paul Before Felix</i></em><br/> And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus; and these gave evidence to the governor against Paul.


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And when he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: Seeing that by you we enjoy much peace, and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight,


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But, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a few words from us.


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For we have found this man to be a plague, and a mover of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,


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who moreover tried to profane the temple. We laid hold on him, and we would have judged him according to our law.


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commanding his accusers to come before you.You will be able, by examining him yourself, to gain knowledge of all these things of which we accuse him.


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And when the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul answered: Inasmuch as I do know you have been for many years a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defence.


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And neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city did they find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd.


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But this I confess to you, that after the Way, which they call a sect, I serve the God of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the law, and which are written in the prophets;


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having hope toward God, which these people also look for, that there shall be a resurrection, both of the just and unjust.


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Whilst doing this, they found me purified in the temple, with no crowd, nor with uproar; but there were certain Jews from Asia,


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except it be for one statement that I cried standing among them: Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am called in question before you this day.


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But Felix, having more accurate knowledge concerning the Way, adjourned the proceedings, saying: When Lysias the chief captain shall come, I will decide your case.


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Then he gave orders to the centurion, that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty; and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.


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But after some days, Felix came with Drusilla his wife, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.


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And as he reasoned about righteousness, self control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid, and answered: Go away for now. When I have a convenient time I will call for you.


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He hoped meanwhile that money would be given to him by Paul. Therefore, he sent for him more often and conversed with him.


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But after two years, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and desiring to gain favour with the Jews, Felix left Paul in prison.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Paul Appeals to Caesar</i></em><br/> Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went to Jerusalem from Caesarea.


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And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews presented the charges against Paul; and they petitioned him,


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asking a favour against Paul, that he would summon him to Jerusalem; for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.


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However Festus answered that Paul should be kept in custody at Caesarea, and that he intended to go there soon.


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Therefore, said he, let those that have authority among you come with me, and if there is anything amiss in the man, let them accuse him.


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And when he had stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went to Caesarea; and the next day he sat on the judgment seat and commanded Paul to be brought.


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And when he had arrived, the Jews that had come from Jerusalem stood round him, bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not prove;


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while Paul said in his defence: Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all.


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But Festus, desiring to gain favour with the Jews, answered Paul and said: Will you go up to Jerusalem and there be judged of these things before me?


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But Paul said: I am standing before Caesar's judgment seat, where I should be judged. To the Jews have I done no wrong, as you also very well know.


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If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not object to dying, but if none of these things are true of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.


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Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered: You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar shall you go.


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And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the King, saying: There is a certain man left as a prisoner by Felix,


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about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, asking for sentence against him.


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To whom I answered that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone, before the accused has the accusers face to face, and has had opportunity to make his defence concerning the matter charged against him.


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Therefore, when they gathered here, I did not delay, and the next day sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought;


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concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such evil things as I supposed.


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Rather they had certain questions against him of their own religion and of one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.


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And I, being perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, asked whether he would go to Jerusalem and there be judged of these matters.


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But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the Emperor, I commanded him to be kept until I should send him to Caesar.


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And Agrippa said to Festus: I also would like to hear the man myself. Tomorrow, said he, you shall hear him.


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So the next day, when Agrippa had arrived and Bernice, with great pomp, they entered into the place of hearing with the chief captains and principal men of the city; and at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.


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And Festus said: King Agrippa and all men who are here present with us, you see this man, about whom all the crowd of the Jews made appeal to me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying that he should not live any longer.


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But I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death; and as he appealed to the emperor, I decided to send him.


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But I have nothing certain to write to my lord concerning him. Therefore, I have brought him before you all, and especially before you King Agrippa, so that after the examination has taken place I may have something to write.


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For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, without specifying the charges against him.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Paul’s Defence Before Agrippa</i></em><br/> And Agrippa said to Paul: You are permitted to speak for yourself. Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defence.


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I think myself happy, king Agrippa, that I am to make my defence before you this day concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews;


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especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews. Therefore, I beg that you hear me patiently.


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My manner of life from my youth, which was from the beginning among my own nation and at Jerusalem, do all the Jews know;


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having knowledge of me from the first (if they are willing to admit it) that after the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.


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to which our twelve tribes earnestly serve night and day, hoping to attain the promises. And concerning this hope I am accused by the Jews, O king!


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And this I did in Jerusalem, and I shut up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death I gave my vote against them.


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And in all the synagogues I often punished them, trying to force them to blaspheme, and being furiously enraged at them, I persecuted them even in foreign cities.


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but at midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining around me and those that journeyed with me.


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And when we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic: Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the cattle prod.


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But arise, and stand upon your feet. For to this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a servant and a witness both of the things in which you have seen me, and of the things which I will reveal to you.


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to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God; to the end they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those that are sanctified by faith in me.


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but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to their repentance.


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Therefore, having obtained the help that is from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses did say should happen:


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That the Christ must suffer, and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.


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And as he thus made his defence, Festus said with a loud voice: Paul, you are mad. Your much learning is turning you mad.


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For the king knows of these things, to whom also I speak freely. For I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden from him. For this has not been done in a corner.


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And Paul said: I will pray to God, that whether in a little time or a longer time, not you only, but also all that hear me this day might become as I am (apart from these chains).


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And when they had withdrawn, they spoke to each other, saying: This man does nothing worthy of death or of imprisonment.


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And Agrippa said to Festus: This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed to Caesar.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Paul’s Journey to Rome</i></em><br/> And when it was determined that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the Augustan Regiment.


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And embarking in a ship from Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the places on the coast of Asia, we put to sea; Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.


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And the next day we landed at Sidon; and Julius treated Paul kindly, and gave him leave to go to his friends and refresh himself.


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And when we had sailed across the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.


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And when we had sailed slowly many days and had come with difficulty off Cnidus, the wind not permitting us to proceed, we sailed under the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone.


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Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast was already over, Paul advised them


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and said to them: Gentlemen, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.


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But the centurion gave more heed to the master and to the owner of the ship, than to those things which were spoken by Paul.


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And because the harbour was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbour of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and to winter there.


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And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close inshore.<br/> <em><i>The Shipwreck</i></em>


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And when the ship was caught, and could not face the wind, we gave way to it, and were driven along.


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And running under the lee of a small island called Clauda, we were able, with difficulty, to secure the skiff.


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And when they had hoisted it up, they used supports to undergird the ship; and fearing that they would be cast upon the Syrtis sandbar, they lowered the sail and so were driven by the wind.


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And when neither sun nor stars shone upon us for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was now taken away.


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And after they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood in the midst of them and said: Gentlemen, you should have listened to me, and not have set sail from Crete and gained this injury and loss.


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And now I encourage you to be of good courage. For there shall be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.


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saying: Fear not Paul. You must stand before Caesar; and God has granted you the lives of all those who sail with you.


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Therefore gentlemen, be of good courage. For I believe God, that it shall be even as it has been spoken to me.


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But when the fourteenth night had arrived, as we were driven to and fro in the sea of Adria, about midnight, the sailors sensed that they were drawing near to some land.


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And they sounded and found thirty meters; and after a little space, they sounded again and found twenty five meters.


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And fearing that we should run aground on the rocks, they let go four anchors from the stern and wished for daylight.


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And as the sailors were seeking to abandon the ship and had lowered the skiff into the sea, under pretence that they would lay out anchors from the foreship,


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And while the day was dawning, Paul pleaded with them all to take some food, saying: This day is the fourteenth day that you wait and continue fasting, having eaten nothing.


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Therefore, I beg you to take some food. For this is for your health; for not a hair shall perish from the head of any of you.


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And when he had said this and had taken bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all, and he broke it and began to eat.


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And when it was day, they did not recognise the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, and they took counsel whether they could drive the ship upon it.


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And casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosing the bands of the rudders; and hoisting up the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach.


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But striking a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves.


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But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, stopped them from their purpose, and commanded that they who could swim should throw themselves overboard first and get to land;


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and then the rest, some on planks and some on other things from the ship. And so it came to pass, that they all escaped safely to land.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Paul on Malta</i></em><br/> And when we had escaped, then we knew that the island was called Malta.


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And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold.


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But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself onto his hand.


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And when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to each other: No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped from the sea, yet Justice has not permitted to live.


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But they expected that he would have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly; but when they had waited a long time in expectation and saw nothing amiss came to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.


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Now in the neighbourhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us courteously for three days.


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And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. Paul came in to him and prayed, and laying his hands on him, healed him.


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They also honoured us with many honours; and when we sailed away, they put on board such things as we needed.<br/> <em><i>Paul in Rome</i></em>


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And after three months we set sail in a ship of Alexandria which had wintered on the island, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.


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and from there, we circled round and arrived at Rhegium; and after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli,


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where we found believers and were encouraged to stay with them seven days. And so we came towards Rome.


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And from there the brothers, when they heard of us, came to meet us as far as The Market of Appius and The Three Taverns. Whom when Paul saw, he thanked God and took courage.


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And when we entered into Rome, Paul was permitted to live by himself, with the soldier that guarded him.


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And it came to pass, that after three days he called together those that were the leaders of the Jews; and when they came together, he said to them: Brothers, though I had done nothing against the people, or the customs of our fathers, I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.


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Who, when they had examined me, desired to set me free, because there was no cause for putting me to death.


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But when the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar. Not that I had something of which to accuse my nation.


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Therefore, for this reason did I request you see me and speak with me. For because of the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.


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And they said to him: We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor did any of the brothers come here and report or speak any evil of you.


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But we desire to hear of you what you think. For as concerning this sect, it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against.


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And when they had appointed him a day, they came to him into his lodging in great number. To whom he expounded the matter, testifying of the kingdom of God, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning until evening.


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So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed; after Paul had made this final statement: The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, saying:


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Go to this people and say, By hearing you shall hear and shall in no way understand, and seeing you shall see and shall in no way perceive.


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For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing and their eyes they have closed, lest they should perceive with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart; and should repent, and I should heal them.


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Therefore, let it be known to you that this salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles; and they will hear.


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preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, no one forbidding him.<br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Greetings and Introduction</i></em><br/>Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,


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who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord,


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through whom we received grace and apostleship, to obedience of faith among all the nations, for his name's sake.


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To all that are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.


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First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world.


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For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the gospel of His Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you, always in my prayers


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That is: that I with you may be comforted in you, each of us by the other's faith, both yours and mine.


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And I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that oftentimes I intended to come to you (but have so far been hindered), that I might have some fruit in you also, even as in the rest of the Gentiles.


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For I am not ashamed of the gospel. For it is the power of God to salvation to everyone that believes- to the Jew first and also to the Greek.


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For therein is revealed a righteousness of God from faith to faith. As it is written: But the righteous shall live by faith.<br/><em><i>Humanity Without Excuse</i></em>


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For the anger of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hinder the truth in unrighteousness.


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For the invisible things of Him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made- even His everlasting power and Divinity- that they may be without excuse.


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For although they knew God, they did not honour Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.


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and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and fourfooted animals, and creeping things.


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Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonoured among themselves,


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because they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the created rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.


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For this cause God gave them up to vile passions. Their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature.


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And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working unseemliness and receiving in themselves that reward of their error which was due.


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And even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not appropriate,


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being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity;


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whisperers, backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, proud, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,


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Who, knowing the ordinance of God, that they that practise such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also give approval to them that practise them.<br/><em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>The Just Judgment of God</i></em><br/>Therefore you are without excuse, O man, whoever you are that judge; for wherein you judge another, you condemn yourself! For you that judge practise the same things.


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And do you think (O man who judges those that practise such things and yet you do the same) that you shall escape the judgment of God?


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Or do you despise the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?


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But after your hardness and impenitent heart you treasure up for yourself anger in the day of anger and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,


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But to them that are factious and do not obey the truth but obey unrighteousness, anger and indignation-


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tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that works evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek.


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But glory and honour and peace to every man that works good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.


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For as many as have sinned outside of law shall also perish without the law; and as many as have sinned under the law shall be judged by the law.


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For when Gentiles that do not have the law, do by nature the things of the law, these not having the law, are the law to themselves-


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in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness therewith, and their thoughts one with another accusing or else excusing them


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in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my gospel, by Jesus Christ.<br/><em><i>The Hypocrisy of the Jews</i></em>


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a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth-


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you therefore that teach another, don’t you teach yourself? You that preach a man should not steal, do you steal?


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You that say a man should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You that dread idols, do you rob temples?


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For circumcision indeed profits, if you be a doer of the law; but if you be a transgressor of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.


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If therefore the uncircumcision keep the ordinances of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?


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And shall not the uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge you- who with the letter and circumcision are a transgressor of the law?


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For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh.


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But he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not of men but of God.<br/><em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Both Jews and Gentiles Are All Sinners</i></em><br/>What advantage then has the Jew? Or what is the profit of circumcision?


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For what if some were without faith? Shall their lack of faith make of no effect the faithfulness of God?


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God forbid. Yes, let God be found true, but every man a liar. As it is written: You must be justified in Your words and must prevail when You come before judgment.


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But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who visits with anger? (I speak after the manner of men).


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But if the truth of God through my lie abounded to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?


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And why not do evil that good may come? (As some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just).


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What then? Are we better than they? No, in no way. For we before laid to the charge both of Jews and Gentiles that they are all under sin.


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They have all turned aside, they are together become unprofitable, there is none that does good, no, not so much as one.


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Their throat is an open tomb, with their tongues they have used deceit, the poison of asps is under their lips,


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Now we know that whatever things the law said, it speaks to them that are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.


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Because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in His sight; for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.<br/><em><i>A Righteousness Obtained by Faith</i></em>


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But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets-


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even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all them that believe. For there is no distinction.


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Whom God set forth to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to show His righteousness in the passing over of the sins done previously, in the forbearance of God,


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for the showing of His righteousness at this present time; that He might Himself be just, and the justifier of him that has faith in Jesus.


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Where then is the glorying? It is excluded. By what manner of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith!


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Do we then make the law of no effect through faith? God forbid. No, we establish the law.<br/><em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Abraham as Our Role Model</i></em><br/>What then shall we say about Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh?


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But to him that works not, but believes in Him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness.


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Even as David pronounces blessing upon the man to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works, saying:


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Is this blessing then pronounced upon the circumcision, or upon the uncircumcision also? For we say, to Abraham his faith was counted as righteousness.


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How then was it counted? When he was in circumcision or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision but in uncircumcision.


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And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might be counted to them also.


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And the father of circumcision to those who are not only of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had whilst he was uncircumcised.


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For the promise to Abraham and his seed, that he should be heir of the world, did not come through the law- but through the righteousness of faith.


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Therefore it is of faith, that it may be according to grace; to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed. Not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all


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(as it is written, A father of many nations have I made you) before Him whom he believed, God, who gives life to the dead, and called things that are not, as though they were.


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Who in hope believed against hope, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to what had been spoken: So shall your seed be.


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And without being weakened in faith when he considered his own body, now as good as dead (he being about one hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb;


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but instead, looking to the promise of God, he did not waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to God,


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but for our sake also, to whom it shall be counted, who believe in Him that raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.


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Who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.<br/><em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>The Problem of Sin</i></em><br/>Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;


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through whom also we have had our access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and in which we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.


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and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.


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For one will scarcely die for a righteous man! Perhaps for the good man some one would even dare to die.


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Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from the anger of God through him.


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For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.


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And not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.<br/><em><i>Adam and Christ</i></em>


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So through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin; and so death passed to all men, for that all sinned.


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Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the likeness of Adam's transgression, who is a figure of him that was to come.


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But not as the trespass, so also is the free gift. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.


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This gift is unlike the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment came because of one man to condemnation; but the free gift came out of many trespasses to justification.


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For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned on account of the one man; much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life on account of the one man, Jesus Christ.


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So then. As through one act of sin the judgment came to all men to condemnation, even so through one act of righteousness the free gift came to all men to justification of life.


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For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one man shall the many be made righteous.


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Now the law was added to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace increased all the more,


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so that as sin reigned with the result of death, even so might grace reign through righteousness with the result of eternal life-through Jesus Christ our Lord.<br/><em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>The Meaning of Baptism into Christ</i></em><br/>What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?


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Or are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?


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We were buried therefore with him through a baptism into his death, that like as Christ was raised up from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.


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For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall also be in the likeness of his resurrection.


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Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin.


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Even so count yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.<br/><em><i>A Change of Masters- From Sin to Christ</i></em>


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Neither present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God, as alive from the dead; and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.


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Do you not know, that to whom you present yourselves as slaves to obedience, his slaves you are whom you obey? Whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness?


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But thanks be to God, that whereas you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching which was delivered to you.


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I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your human nature; but as you presented your limbs as slaves of uncleanness and iniquity, now present your limbs as slaves of righteousness unto holiness.


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What fruit had you at that time in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the result of those things is death.


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But now being made free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit unto holiness- and the result is eternal life.


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For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.<br/><em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Freedom From the Law of Moses</i></em><br/>Or are you ignorant brothers (for I speak to men who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man for as long as he lives?


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For the woman that has a husband is bound by law to the husband while he lives; but if the husband dies, she is discharged from the law of the husband.


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So then if, while the husband lives, she be joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if the husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she is joined to another man.


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Therefore my brothers, you also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ; so that you should be joined to another, to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit to God.


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For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were through the law, worked in our limbs to bring forth fruit to death.


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But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that wherein we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.


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What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid! However, I had not known sin, except through the law. For I had not known coveting, except the law had said: You shall not covet.


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But sin, grabbing an opportunity through the commandment, worked in me all manner of coveting. For apart from the law, sin is dead and powerless.


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Did then that which is good become death to me? God forbid! But sin was shown to be sin, by the way it worked death in me through that which is good; and thus through the commandment, sin became shown as indeed exceedingly sinful.


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For why I do what I do, I do not understand. For I do not do what I intend, but instead I do what I hate.


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For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For the will to do good is present with me; but to actually do what is good is not present.


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For the good which I would like to do I do not do, but the evil which I would not do, that I practice.


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but I see a different law in my limbs, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my limbs.


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Thanks be to God- through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.<br/><em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Flesh and Spirit</i></em><br/>There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.


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For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for a sin offering, condemned sin, in the flesh.


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That the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.


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For they that are after the flesh mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.


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Because the mind of the flesh is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be.


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But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.


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And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is life because of righteousness.


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But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies- through His Spirit that dwells in you.


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For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you shall live.<br/><em><i>The Wonder of Being God’s Children</i></em>


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For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.


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And if children, then heirs- heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. If so be that we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.


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For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.


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For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of Him who subjected it in hope;


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that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.


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For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.


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And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as children and the redemption of our bodies.


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But if we hope for what we do not see, then we with patience wait for it.<br/><em><i>Amazing Encouragement</i></em>


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And in like manner the Spirit also helps our infirmity. For we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.


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And he that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.


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And we know that to them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose- all things work together for good.


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For whom He foreknew, He also foreordained to be conformed to the image of His Son, that he might be the firstborn among many other children.


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And whom He foreordained, those He also called, and whom He called, these He also justified, and who He justified, these He also glorified.


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He that spared not His own Son but delivered him up for us all, how shall He not also with him freely give us all things?


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Who is he that condemns? It is Christ Jesus that died, yes rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God; who also makes intercession for us.


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Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?


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Even as it is written: For your sake we are killed all the day long, we were deemed sheep for the slaughter.


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For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,


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nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.<br/><em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>God’s Love for Israel</i></em><br/>I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie, my conscience bearing witness with me in the Holy Spirit,


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For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh;


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who are Israelites, whose is the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God and the promises.


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Whose are the fathers and of whom is Christ, as concerning the flesh, who is over all. God be praised forever! Amen.


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But it is not as though the word of God has come to nothing. For they are not all Israel, that are of Israel.


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Neither, because they are Abraham's seed are they all children, but: In Isaac shall your seed be called.


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That is: it is not the children of the flesh that are children of God, but the children of the promise who are counted as the seed.


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For this is the word of promise: According to this season will I come and Sarah shall have a son.<br/><em><i>Predestination and Foreknowledge</i></em>


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(for the children being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him that calls),


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For He said to Moses: I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.


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For the scripture says of Pharaoh: For this very purpose did I raise you up, that I might show in you My power, and that My Name might be published abroad in all the earth.


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No, O man; who are you to answer back to God? Shall the thing formed say to Him that formed it: Why did you make me thus?


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Or has not the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel to honour, and another to dishonour?


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And so what if God is willing to show His anger and to make His power known, enduring with longsuffering vessels of anger prepared for destruction;


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and that He might make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He beforehand prepared for glory,


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As He said also in Hosea: I will call them My people, who were not My people; and she that was not beloved shall be called beloved.


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And it shall be, that in the place where it was said to them: You are not My people, there shall they be called children of the living God.


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And Isaiah cried out concerning Israel: Even if the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, it is only the remnant that shall be saved.


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And, as Isaiah has said before: Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had become as Sodom and had been made like Gomorrah.


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What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who followed not after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.


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Therefore because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by works, they stumbled at the stone of stumbling.


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Even as it is written: Look, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence; and he that believes in him shall not be put to shame.<br/><em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>The Role of the Gospel in Saving Israel</i></em><br/>Brothers, my heart's desire and my supplication to God is for Israel, that they may be saved.


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For being ignorant of God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.


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But the righteousness which is of faith says thus: Do not say in your heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down)


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But what did it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. That is, the word of faith, which we preach.


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Because if you shall confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and shall believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.


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For with the heart man believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation.


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For there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile, for the same one who is Lord of all is rich to all that call upon him.


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How then shall they call on him in whom they do not have belief? And how shall they believe in him about whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?


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And how shall they preach, unless they are sent? Even as it is written: How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things!


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But I say: Did they not hear? Yes, truly, their sound went out into all the earth and their words to the ends of the world.


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But I say: Did Israel not know? First Moses said: I will provoke you to jealousy with those who are no nation, with a nation void of understanding will I anger you.


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And Isaiah is very bold, and said: I was found by those that did not seek Me; I showed myself to those who were not asking for Me.


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But to Israel He said: All the day long did I spread out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.<br/><em><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>God’s Plan for Israel</i></em><br/>I say then, has God cast off His people? God forbid! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.


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God did not cast off His people, whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah? How he pleads with God against Israel:


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Lord, they have killed Your prophets, they have destroyed Your altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.


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But what was the answer of God to him? I have left for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed their knee to Baal.


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What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The chosen obtained it, but the rest were hardened.


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According as it is written: God gave them a spirit of stupour, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, to this very day.


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And David said: Let their table be made a snare and a trap and a stumblingblock and a recompense unto them.


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I say then, did they stumble that they might fall? God forbid! But by their fall, salvation came to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.


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Now if their fall is the riches of the world, and their loss the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their fulness?


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But I speak to you who are Gentiles- inasmuch as I am an apostle of the Gentiles, I glorify my ministry,


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For if the casting away of them is the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?


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But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and did become partaker with them of the root of the fatness of the olive tree-


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do not boast over the broken branches, for you are but branches too. For if you boast, remember that it is not you that support the root, but the root supports you.


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Well. Because of their unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by your faith. Be not highminded, but fear.


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Behold then the goodness and severity of God: Towards those that fell, severity; but toward you, God's goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also shall be cut off.


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And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, shall be grafted in. For God is able to graft them in again.


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For if you were cut out of that which is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree, how much more appropriately shall these, who are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?


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Brothers, I would not have you ignorant of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own conceits, that a hardening in part has befallen Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles is made up.


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And so all Israel shall be saved. Even as it is written: There shall come out of Zion the deliverer, and he shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.


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As touching the gospel, they are enemies for your sake, but as touching their calling, they are beloved for the fathers' sake.


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even so have these also now been disobedient, that by the mercy shown to you, they may also now obtain mercy.


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O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past tracing out!


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For of Him and through Him and to Him, are all things. To Him be the glory for ever. Amen.<br/><em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Life Together in the Body of Christ</i></em><br/>Therefore I urge you brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your logical service.


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And do not conform to the mould of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may experience what is the good and acceptable and the perfect will of God.


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For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, accordingly as God has dealt to each man a measure of faith.


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And having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophecy according to the proportion of our faith,


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or he that exhorts, to his exhorting; he that gives, let him do it with generosity. He that rules, with diligence. He that shows mercy, with cheerfulness.


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Be of the same mind one toward another. Do not be arrogant, but condescend to those who are lowly. Be not wise in your own conceits.


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Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written: Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.


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But if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you shall heap coals of fire upon his head.


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<em><i>Our Attitude to Governments and Rulers</i></em><br/>Let every one of you be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no power but by God, and the powers that be have been ordained by God.


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Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.


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For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. If you wish to live without fear of the authorities- then do that which is good! And you shall have praise from the same.


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For he is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil- be afraid! For he carries not the sword in vain. For he is a minister of God, an avenger of God’s anger to him that does evil.


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Therefore you must be in subjection, not only because of God’s anger against sin, but also for the sake of your conscience.


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For this cause you pay tribute also. For they are ministers of God's service, attending continually upon this very thing.


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Render to all their dues. Tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour.


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Owe no one anything, apart from to love one another. For he that loves his neighbour has fulfilled the law.


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For this, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not kill, you shall not steal, you shall not covet- and if there be any other commandment- it is summed up in this word, namely: You shall love your neighbour as yourself.


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And consider this too: Knowing the time, that already it is time for you to awake out of sleep. For now is our salvation nearer to us than when we first believed.


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The night is far spent, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armour of light.


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Let us behave decently, as in the day, not in revelling and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in strife and jealousy.


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But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.<br/><em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Do Not Judge Ohers for Their Conscience</i></em><br/>As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not so as to just quarrel with him over opinions.


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Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats; for God has accepted him.


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Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own lord he stands or falls. Yes, he shall be made to stand up. For the Lord has power to make him stand.


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One man esteems one day above another. Another esteems every day alike. Let each man be fully assured in his own mind.


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He that regards the day, regards it to the Lord, and he that eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he that eats not, to the Lord he eats not, and gives God thanks.


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For whether we live, we live to the Lord. Or whether we die, we die to the Lord. Whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.


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But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you set at nothing your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God.


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For it is written: As I live, says the Lord, to Me every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess to God.


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Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.


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I know, and I am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean of itself. Save that to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.


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For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you walk no longer in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died


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For the kingdom of God is not about what we eat and drink, but about righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.


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So then let us follow after things which make for peace, and things whereby we may edify one another.


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Do not overthrow the work of God for the mere sake of food. All things indeed are clean, however it is evil for that man who makes another stumble by what he eats.


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The faith which you have, keep between yourself and God. Happy is he that has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves.


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But he that doubts is condemned if he eats, because he eats not from faith. And whatever is not of faith is sin.<br/><em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>The Importance of Unity</i></em><br/>Now we that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.


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For Christ also did not please himself, but as it is written: The reproaches of them that reproached You fell upon me.


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For whatever things were written previously were written for our education, that through patience and through the comfort of the scriptures we might have hope.


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Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of the same mind one with another, according to Christ Jesus.


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For I say that Christ has been made a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given to the fathers,


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and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy. As it is written: Therefore will I give praise to You among the Gentiles, and sing to Your Name.


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And again Isaiah said: There shall be the root of Jesse and he that arises to rule over the Gentiles. On him shall the Gentiles hope.


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Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.


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And I myself also am persuaded about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to encourage one another.


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But I write the more boldly to you in some way, as if putting you again in remembrance, because of the grace that was given me by God,


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that I should be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be made acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit.<br/><em><i>Paul’s Plans for Rome</i></em>


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For I will not dare to speak of any things save those which Christ wrought through me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,


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in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Holy Spirit. So that from Jerusalem and round about even to Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.


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Yes, making it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, that I might not build upon another man's foundation.


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But, as it is written: They shall see, to whom no tidings of him came, and they who have not heard shall understand.


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But now, there is no need for me in these regions, and having these many years a longing to come to you,


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I hope to see you during my journey, and to be helped on my way by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while.


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For it has been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints that are at Jerusalem.


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They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, they owe it to them also to minister to them in material things.


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When therefore I have accomplished this, and have given to them this fruit, I will leave for Spain by way of Rome.


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Now I beseech you brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me,


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that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints.


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<em><i>Various Commendations and Greetings</i></em><br/>I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church that is at Cenchreae,


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that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and I ask that you assist her in whatever matter she may have need of you. For she herself also has been a helper of many and of my own self.


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who for my life laid down their own necks. To whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles,


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and greet the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus my beloved, who is the firstfruits of Asia to Christ.


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Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also have been in Christ before me.


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Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Greet Persis the beloved, who laboured much in the Lord.


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Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister and Olympas, and all the saints that are with them.


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Now I urge you brothers, mark those that are causing divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught. Turn away from these.


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For they that are such serve not our Lord Christ, but their own belly, and by their smooth and fair speech they deceive the hearts of the innocent.


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For your obedience is known to all. I rejoice therefore over you, but I would have you to be wise regarding that which is good and simple concerning evil.


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And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.


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Gaius my host (and of the whole church) greets you. Erastus the treasurer of the city greets you; and Quartus the brother.


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Now to him that is able to establish you according to the gospel I preach, which is the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept in silence through times eternal


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but now is manifested, and in accordance with the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known to all the nations to obedience of faith:


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to the church of God which is at Corinth, those that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints, with all that call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, their Lord and ours.


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so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.


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God is faithful, through whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.<br/> <em><i>An Appeal for Unity</i></em>


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Now I urge you brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you; but that you be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment.


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For it has been reported to me concerning you, my brothers, by those of the household of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.


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By this I mean, that each one of you is saying: I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.


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And I baptized also the household of Stephanas. Besides these, I do not know whether I baptized any other.


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For Christ sent me not so much as to baptize, but to preach the gospel; not in the wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no power.<br/> <em><i>God Uses the Weak Things</i></em>


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For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but to us who are saved it is the power of God.


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For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning will I bring to nothing.


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Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?


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For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know God, it was God's good pleasure through the apparent foolishness of the message preached to save them that believe-


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But to them that are called, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.


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Consider your calling, brothers; not many of you had worldly wisdom, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.


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But God chose the foolish things of the world, that He might put to shame those that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that He might put to shame the things that are strong.


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God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are.


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But of Him are you in Christ Jesus, who was made to us by God to be our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption.


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That, according to what is written: He that boasts, let him boast in the Lord.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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And I brothers, when I came to you, I came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.


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And my speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power;


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so that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.<br/> <em><i>True Wisdom</i></em>


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We speak wisdom, however, among them that are mature. Yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nothing.


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But we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, even that which was hidden, which God foreordained before the ages for our glory,


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which not one of the rulers of this world has known. For had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.


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But as it is written: Things which eye saw not and ear heard not and which did not enter into the heart of man, whatever things God prepared for them that love Him,


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God revealed them to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.


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For who among men knows the things of a man, save the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the things of God nobody knows, save the Spirit of God.


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But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, so that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God.


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Which things also we speak about, but not in words which man's wisdom teaches, but in words that the Spirit teaches, combining spiritual things with spiritual.


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Now the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually discerned.


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For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Spiritual Growth</i></em><br/> And I, brothers, can not speak to you as spiritual people, but as carnal people, as infants in Christ.


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I fed you with milk, not with solid food. For you were not yet able to bear it; no, not even now are you able.


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For you are still carnal. For whereas there is among you jealousy and strife, are you not carnal and do you not walk after the manner of men?


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Who then is Apollos? And who is Paul? Ministers through whom you believed, and each as the Lord gave to him.


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So then neither is he that plants anything, neither he that waters, but God that gives the increase.


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Now he that plants and he that waters are one, but each shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.


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According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds upon it. But let each man take care how he builds upon it!


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each man's work shall be revealed. For the day of judgment shall declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire itself shall test each man's work of what sort it is.


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If anyone's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet as having passed through fire.


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If anyone destroys the temple of God, him shall God destroy. For the temple of God is holy; and such are you.


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Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks that he is wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise.


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For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written: He takes the wise in their craftiness.


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Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come- all are yours.


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<em><i>Being Wise Stewards</i></em><br/> Let a man regard us as servants of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.


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But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or any man's judgment. I do not judge even myself.


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For I know nothing against myself in my own conscience. Yet hereby I am not justified; but he that judges me is the Lord.


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Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall each man have his praise from God.


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Now these things, brothers, I have applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes. That from us you might learn not to go beyond the things which are written, so that none of you get puffed up, one against the other.


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For who makes you to differ? And what have you that you did not receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?


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Already are you filled, already you have become rich, you have come to reign without us. Yes, and I hope that you will indeed reign, that we also might reign with you.


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For I think God has sent us the apostles last of all, as men doomed to death. For we are made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and men.


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We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You have glory, but we have dishonour.


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Even to this present hour we both hunger and thirst and are naked and are buffeted and have no certain dwelling-place;


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Being defamed, we entreat. We are made as the garbage of the world, the scum of the earth, even until now.


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For though you have ten thousand would be teachers in Christ, yet you have not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus it was me who begat you through the gospel.


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For this cause have I sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who shall put you in remembrance of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every church.


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But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and I will discover not the talk of those that are inflated with pride, but the power.


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What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?<em><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>A Case of Sexual Immorality</i></em><br/> It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such immorality as is not even among the Gentiles, that one of you has taken to himself his father's wife.


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Instead of grieving, you have become arrogant. Remove the one who has done this deed from among you.


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For I truly, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him that has done this thing,


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I command you that in the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are gathered together (and my spirit is present with you when you do), with the power of our Lord Jesus,


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deliver such a person to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.


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Purge out the old yeast so that you may be a new lump, even as you actually are. For our Passover lamb has been sacrificed, even Christ.


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Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old yeast, neither with the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the bread of sincerity and truth which has no yeast.


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I did not mean with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous and extortioners, or with idolaters. For you must go out of the world to do this.


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But as it is, I wrote to you not to keep association, if anyone that is named a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner. With such a one have no association, not even to eat.


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But them that are without God judges. Put away the wicked man from among yourselves.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Don’t Take Believers to Law</i></em><br/> Dare any of you, having a matter against his neighbour, go to law before the unrighteous and not rather take it before the saints?


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Or do you not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?


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If then you have to judge things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are of no account in the church.


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I say this to move you to shame. What! Is there not among you even one wise man who shall be able to decide between his brothers?


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No, already there is totally a defect in you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather take wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?


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Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men,


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nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.


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And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God.


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All things are lawful for me, but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.


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Food for the belly and the belly for food, but God shall bring to nothing both it and them. But the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.


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Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? God forbid.


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Or do you not know that he that is joined to a prostitute is one body with her? For the scripture says: The two shall become one flesh.


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Flee fornication. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he that commits fornication sins against his own body.


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Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have from God? And you are not your own;


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for you were bought with a price. Glorify God therefore in your body and spirit, for they are God’s.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Paul Answers Questions About Singleness</i></em><br/> Now concerning the things of which you wrote. It is good for a man not to touch a woman.


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But because there is so much immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.


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The wife has no power over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise also the husband has no power over his own body, but the wife does.


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Do not deprive one another, unless it is for an agreed time, so that you may give yourselves to prayer and then come together again, that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.


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Yet I would that all men were even as I myself. However each man has his own gift from God, one after this manner and another after that.


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But to the married I give this instruction; not I, but the Lord: That the wife should not leave her husband


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(but should she depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband) and the husband should not leave his wife.


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But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother has an unbelieving wife and she is content to dwell with him, let him not leave her.


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And the woman that has an unbelieving husband and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband.


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For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother. Else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.


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Yet if the unbelieving departs, let him depart. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases; but God has called us to peace.


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For how do you know, O wife, whether you shall save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you shall save your wife?


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Only as the Lord has distributed to each man, as God has called each, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all the churches.


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Was anyone called being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Has any been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.


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Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing- but the keeping of the commandments of God is all important.


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For he that was called in the Lord being a slave, is the Lord's freedman. Likewise he that was called being free, is Christ's slave.


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Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord; but I give my judgment, as one that has obtained mercy of the Lord to be trustworthy.


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I think therefore that it is good by reason of the present distress that is upon us, that a man should remain as he is.


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But should you marry, you have not sinned, and if a virgin marry, she has not sinned. Yet such shall have tribulation in the flesh, and I would spare you.<br/> <em><i>Serving the Lord Without Distraction</i></em>


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But this I say brothers, because the time is shortened, that from this time forward both those that have wives may be as though they had none;


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those that weep, as though they wept not, those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not, and those that buy, as though they possessed not.


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And those that use the world, as not using it to the full. For the fashion of this world passes away.


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But I would have you to be free of worries. He that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord.


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and is divided. Also the woman that is unmarried or betrothed is anxious about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit; but she that is married is anxious about the things of the world, how she may please her husband.


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And this I say for your own profit. Not that I may cast a snare upon you, but so you may do what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.


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But if anyone thinks that he behaves himself inappropriately toward his betrothed, if she be past the flower of her age, and if need so requires, let him do what he will. He sins not. Let them marry.


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But he that stands steadfast in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desires under control, and has determined this in his heart, to remain betrothed; he shall do well.


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So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.


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A wife is bound for as long as her husband lives; but if the husband dies she is free to be married to whoever she chooses. But only in the Lord.


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But in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I am certain that I also have the Spirit of God.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Food Offered to Idols</i></em><br/> Now concerning things sacrificed to idols. We know that we all have knowledge; yet knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.


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Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol has real existence and there is no God but one.


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For though there are those called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, as there are gods many and lords many,


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yet to us there is only one God, the Father, of whom are all things and we are everything to Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, for the sake of whom are all things, and we exist for His sake.


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However there is not in all men that knowledge, but some being used until now to the idol, eat things sacrificed to an idol, and their conscience being weak is defiled.


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But food will not commend us to God. Neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. Nor, if we eat, are we the better.


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For if a man sees you who have knowledge dining in an idol's temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be encouraged to eat things sacrificed to idols?


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And thus, sinning against the believers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.


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Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will eat no flesh again, so that I do not cause my brother to stumble.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Paul’s View of a Paid Ministry</i></em><br/> Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my works in the Lord?


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If to others I am not an apostle, yet at least I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.


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Have we no right to lead a wife that is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?


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What soldier ever serves at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit of it? Or who feeds a flock and does not drink the milk of the flock?


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For it is written in the law of Moses: You shall not muzzle the ox when he treads out the corn. Is it for the oxen that God cares,


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or did He say it entirely for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written. Because he that ploughs ought to plough in hope, and he that threshes, hopes to partake in the harvest.


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If others have this rightful claim over you, do we not have more? Nevertheless we did not use this right, but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ.


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Do you not know that they that labour in the temple get their food from the temple, and they that serve at the altar have their portion from that which is sacrificed on the altar?


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But I have used none of these things, and I do not write these things that it may be so done in my case. For it is better for me to die, than that anyone should make my boasting void.


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For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about. For necessity is laid upon me. For woe to me, if I do not preach the gospel.


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For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if against my own will, then I have clearly had a stewardship entrusted to me.


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What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel without charge, so as not to use to the full my right in the gospel.<br/> <em><i>All Things to All People</i></em>


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And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews. To them that are under the law, I became as one under the law (though I am not under the law), that I might gain those that are under the law.


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To them that are without law, as without law, not being without law to God, but under law to Christ, that I might gain them that are without law.


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To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.


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Do you not know that they that run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run like this, so that you may attain the prize.


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And every man that strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.


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But like an athlete I discipline my body and make it my slave; lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Israel in the Wilderness Are Our Warning</i></em><br/> Brothers, I would not have you ignorant that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea,


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and did all drink the same spiritual drink. For they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them; and the rock represented Christ.


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However with most of them God was not well pleased; for their dead bodies were scattered over the wilderness.


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Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they lusted.


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Neither be you idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.


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Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and so in one day twenty three thousand died.


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Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written about for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.


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No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.


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The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a communion of the body of Christ?


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But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I would not have you sharing communion with demons.


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You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and of the table of demons.


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All things are lawful, but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.


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Let no one seek his own, but his neighbour's good.<br/> <em><i>Don’t Cause Others to Stumble</i></em>


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If one of them that do not believe invites you to a feast and you are inclined to go, whatever is set before you eat, asking no question for conscience sake.


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But if anyone says to you: This has been offered in sacrifice to idols! Do not eat it for the sake of he that tells you, and for conscience sake.


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Conscience, I say, not your own, but the other's. One may ask: Why is my liberty judged by another’s conscience?


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The principle is that whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do or do not- do all to the glory of God.


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Even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but that of the many, that they may be saved.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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Now I praise you who remember me in all things, and hold fast the traditions, as I delivered them to you.


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But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ, the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God.


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But every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonours her head. For it is one and the same thing as if she were shaven.


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For if a woman is not veiled, let her also be shorn; but if it is a shame to a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be veiled.


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For a man indeed ought not to have his head veiled, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of the man.


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But if anyone seems to be contentious, let them know we have no such custom, neither do the churches of God.<br/> <em><i>The Breaking of Bread Service</i></em>


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But in giving you this instruction, I do not praise you- for you come together not for the better but for the worse.


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For first of all, when you come together in the church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and I partly believe it.


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What, have you not houses to eat and to drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who do not have? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I do not praise you!


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For I received of the Lord that which I in turn delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread,


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and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said: This is my body, which is for you. This do in remembrance of me.


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In the same manner also the cup, after supper, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.


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Therefore whoever shall eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.


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For he that eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself, if he does not discern the body of the Lord.


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If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, that your coming together be not to condemnation. About the other things I will give instruction when I come.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>Various Gifts Within the Body of Christ</i></em><br/> Brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant concerning spiritual gifts.


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You know that when you were Gentiles you were led away to those dumb idols, in whichever way you might have been led.


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Therefore I make known to you, that no one speaking in the Spirit of God says Jesus is accursed. And no one can say Jesus is Lord, but in the Holy Spirit.


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For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit.


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To another faith through the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healings through the same one Spirit.


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And to another workings of miracles, and to another prophecy and to another discerning of spirits; to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.


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All these gifts are energized by one and the same Spirit, apportioned to each man according as he is willing to receive it.


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For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though being many, are one body; so also is Christ.


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For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether slaves or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit.<br/> <em><i>The Body of Christ</i></em>


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If the foot shall say: Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body- that would not make it not a part of the body.


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And if the ear shall say: Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body- that would not make it not a part of the body.


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If the whole body were an eye, where is the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where is the smelling?


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Therefore the eye cannot say to the hand: I have no need of you; nor the head to the feet: I have no need of you.


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And those parts of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our unattractive parts have more abundant covering;


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whereas our more attractive parts have no need of this. But God tempered the body together, giving more abundant honour to that part which lacked it,


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so that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care one for another.


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And whether one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or one member is honoured, all the members rejoice with it.


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And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then those who do miracles, then the gifts of healing, helping, administration and various kinds of languages.


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But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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<em><i>The Supremacy of Love</i></em><br/> If I speak with all the languages of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become like sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.


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And if I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries, and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.


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And if I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and if I give my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.


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does not behave itself inappropriately, is not self seeking, is not easily provoked, keeps no record of evil done,


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Love never fails; but whether there be prophecies, they shall be done away. Whether there be speaking in foreign languages, this shall cease. Whether there be the gift of knowledge, it shall be done away.


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When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I am a man, I have put away childish things.


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For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then shall I know fully, even as also I have been fully known.


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But now abides faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love.<br/> <em><i><br/> <br/> <br/> <i>


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Pursue love, and in this pursuit therefore earnestly desire spiritual gifts, especially that of prophecy.


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For he that speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God. For no one understands, but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.


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Now I would wish that you all speak with tongues, but especially I wish that you should prophesy; for greater is he that prophesises than he that speaks with tongues, unless he interpret, that the church may receive edification.


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But now, brothers, if I came to you speaking with tongues, without speaking to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching- what shall I profit you?


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Even things without life which give a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they give not a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?


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For if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle, who shall prepare himself for war?


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So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech easily understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.


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If then I do not know the meaning of the voice, I shall be to him that speaks a barbarian and he that speaks will be a barbarian to me.


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So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to excel in edifying the church.<br/> <em><i>Commands Governing the Use of Tongues</i></em>


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What is it then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the understanding also. I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the understanding also.


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Else if you bless with the spirit, how shall he that is in the place of the unlearned say the Amen at your giving of thanks, seeing he does not understand what you say?


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However in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.


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In the law it is written: By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers will I speak to this people, and not even thus will they hear Me, says the Lord.


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Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe but to the unbelieving; but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving but to those that believe.


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If therefore the whole church be assembled together and all speak with tongues, and there come in unlearned or unbelieving people, will they not say that you are mad?


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But if all prophesy, and there come in one unbelieving or unlearned, he is reproved by all, he is judged by all.


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The secrets of his heart are revealed, and so he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.


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What is it then, brothers? As it is, when you come together, each one has a Psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. But let all things be done to edify.


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If anyone speaks in a tongue, let it be by two, or at the most three; and even then in turn, and let one interpret.


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But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church, and let him speak to himself and to God.


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Let the women keep silence in the churches, for it is not permitted for them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also said the law.


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And if they would learn anything, let them ask their men at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in the church.


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If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandment of the Lord.


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<em><i>A Summary of the Gospel</i></em><br/> Now I make known to you, brothers, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, wherein also you stand.


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By which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.


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For I delivered to you first of all that which also I received: That Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures,


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Then he appeared to above five hundred believers at once, of whom the greater part remain until now (but some have fallen asleep);


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For I am the least of the apostles, who is unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.


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But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than all of them. Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.


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Whether I or they, so we preach and so you believed.<br/> <em><i>The Crucial Importance of Christ’s Resurrection</i></em>


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Now if Christ is preached that he has been raised from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?


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Yes, we are found false witnesses of God. Because we witnessed of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised-


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Then comes the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father, when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power.


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For He put all things in subjection under his feet. But when He said all things are put in subjection, it is evident that He is excepted who did subject all things to him.


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And when all things have been subjected to him, then shall the Son also himself be subjected to Him that did subject all things to him, that God may be all in all.


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Else what shall they do that are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are people baptized for them?


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If after the manner of men I fought with beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.


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Awake to soberness righteously, and do not sin. For some among you have no knowledge of God. I speak this to move you to shame.<br/> <em><i>The Process of Resurrection</i></em>


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And what you sow is not the plant body that shall later be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or some other grain.


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All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fishes.


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There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies; but the glory of the heavenly is one and the glory of the earthly is another.


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There is one glory of the sun and another glory of the moon and another glory of the stars, for one star differs from another star in glory.


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It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.


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So also it is written: The first man Adam became a living soul. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.


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As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy, and as is the heavenly, such are they that are heavenly.


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Now this I say, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Neither does corruption inherit incorruption.


