Jesus

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.

It will pour into Judah, swirling and sweeping over it, reaching up to the neck; its spreading streams will cover your entire land, O Immanuel!

This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:

and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

In all, then, there were fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ.

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged in marriage to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.

She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”

“Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means, “God with us”).

But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a Son. And he gave Him the name Jesus.

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem,

And when he had assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.

At that time Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.

“Let it be so now,” Jesus replied. “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness in this way.” Then John permitted Him.

As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him.

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Jesus replied, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

“Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus told him. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”

When Jesus heard that John had been imprisoned, He withdrew to Galilee.

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at His teaching,

Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Then Jesus instructed him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift prescribed by Moses, as a testimony to them.”

When Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those following Him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.

Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! As you have believed, so will it be done for you.” And his servant was healed at that very hour.

When Jesus arrived at Peter’s house, He saw Peter’s mother-in-law sick in bed with a fever.

When Jesus saw a large crowd around Him, He gave orders to cross to the other side of the sea.

Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”

But Jesus told him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to leave their region.

Just then some men brought to Him a paralytic lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.”

But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Why do you harbor evil in your hearts?

As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him.

Later, as Jesus was dining at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples.

Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

So Jesus got up and went with him, along with His disciples.

Jesus turned and saw her. “Take courage, daughter,” He said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that very hour.

When Jesus entered the house of the synagogue leader, He saw the flute players and the noisy crowd.

As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”

After Jesus had entered the house, the blind men came to Him. “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” He asked. “Yes, Lord,” they answered.

And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one finds out about this!”

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness.

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go onto the road of the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.

After Jesus had finished instructing His twelve disciples, He went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

Meanwhile John heard in prison about the works of Christ, and he sent his disciples

Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see:

As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?

At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them.

Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Large crowds followed Him, and He healed them all,

Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea.

Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in parables. He did not tell them anything without using a parable.

When Jesus had finished these parables, He withdrew from that place.

And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own household is a prophet without honor.”

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus

Then John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. And they went and informed Jesus.

When Jesus heard about John, He withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. But the crowds found out about it and followed Him on foot from the towns.

“They do not need to go away,” Jesus replied. “You give them something to eat.”

But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”

“Come,” said Jesus. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus.

Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”

Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked,

“Do you still not understand?” Jesus asked.

Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon.

“O woman,” Jesus answered, “your faith is great! Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Moving on from there, Jesus went along the Sea of Galilee. Then He went up on a mountain and sat down.

Then Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may faint along the way.”

“How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”

“Watch out!” Jesus told them. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

Aware of their conversation, Jesus said, “You of little faith, why are you debating among yourselves about having no bread?

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He questioned His disciples: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven.

Then He admonished the disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ.

From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.

After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.

Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If You wish, I will put up three shelters—one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” He said. “Do not be afraid.”

And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Do not tell anyone about this vision until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

“O unbelieving and perverse generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to Me.”

Then Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.

Afterward the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

When they gathered together in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.

“Yes,” he answered. When Peter entered the house, Jesus preempted him. “What do you think, Simon?” He asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs and taxes: from their own sons, or from others?”

“From others,” Peter answered. “Then the sons are exempt,” Jesus said to him.

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!

When Jesus had finished saying these things, He left Galilee and went into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.

But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

“Which ones?” the man asked. Jesus answered, “‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness,

Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside and said,

“You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus replied. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” the brothers answered.

But Jesus called them aside and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them.

And there were two blind men sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want Me to do for you?” He asked.

Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, and at once they received their sight and followed Him.

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two disciples,

So the disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them.

The crowds replied, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Then Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves.

“Do You hear what these children are saying?” they asked. “Yes,” Jesus answered. “Have you never read: ‘From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise’?”

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.

“I will also ask you one question,” Jesus replied, “and if you answer Me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

So they answered, “We do not know.” And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

Which of the two did the will of his father?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

Once again, Jesus spoke to them in parables:

But Jesus knew their evil intent and said, “You hypocrites, why are you testing Me?

Jesus answered, “You are mistaken because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.

While the Pharisees were assembled, Jesus questioned them:

“What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is He?” “David’s,” they answered.

Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples:

Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Christ.

As Jesus left the temple and was walking away, His disciples came up to Him to point out its buildings.

“Do you see all these things?” He replied. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

Jesus answered, “See to it that no one deceives you.

For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.

At that time, if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it.

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come.

Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink?

And they too will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’

When Jesus had finished saying all these things, He told His disciples,

and they conspired to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him.

While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper,

Aware of this, Jesus asked, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful deed to Me.

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”

So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

They were deeply grieved and began to ask Him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?”

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.”

Then Jesus said to them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of Me. For it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus declared, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”

Then Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He told them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”

Going directly to Jesus, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.

“Friend,” Jesus replied, “do what you came for.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus, and arrested Him.

At this, one of Jesus’ companions drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword.

At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would an outlaw? Every day I sat teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest Me.

Those who had arrested Jesus led Him away to the house of Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and elders had gathered.

Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death.

But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to Him, “I charge You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.”

“You have said it yourself,” Jesus answered. “But I say to all of you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit You?”

Meanwhile, Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came up to him. “You also were with Jesus the Galilean,” she said.

When Peter had gone out to the gateway, another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people conspired against Jesus to put Him to death.

Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, who questioned Him: “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.

So when the crowd had assembled, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”

But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus put to death.

“What then should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify Him!”

So Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.

Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company around Him.

Above His head they posted the written charge against Him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

When Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He yielded up His spirit.

When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly this was the Son of God.”

And many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to minister to Him.

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who himself was a disciple of Jesus.

He went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him.

But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.

Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came to Him, grasped His feet, and worshiped Him.

“Do not be afraid,” said Jesus. “Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee. There they will see Me.”

Meanwhile, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain Jesus had designated.

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.

This is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

After the arrest of John, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God.

“Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”

“What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

But Jesus rebuked the spirit. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!”

When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

At once Jesus knew in His spirit that they were thinking this way within themselves. “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?” He asked.

While Jesus was dining at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Him and His disciples—for there were many who followed Him.

On hearing this, Jesus told them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while He is with them? As long as He is with them, they cannot fast.

So Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea, accompanied by a large crowd from Galilee, Judea,

When the man saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees before Him.

And he shouted in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You before God not to torture me!”

When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons sitting there, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

So the man went away and began to proclaim throughout the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And everyone was amazed.

When Jesus had again crossed by boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him beside the sea.

When the woman heard about Jesus, she came up through the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak.

At once Jesus was aware that power had gone out from Him. Turning to the crowd, He asked, “Who touched My garments?”

But Jesus overheard their conversation and said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid; just believe.”

Then Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own household is a prophet without honor.”

Meanwhile, the apostles gathered around Jesus and brought Him news of all they had done and taught.

When Jesus stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And He began to teach them many things.

“First let the children have their fill,” He said. “For it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

In those days the crowd once again became very large, and they had nothing to eat. Jesus called the disciples to Him and said,

Aware of their conversation, Jesus asked them, “Why are you debating about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Do you have such hard hearts?

Then Jesus and His disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way, He questioned His disciples: “Who do people say I am?”

“But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ.”

After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There He was transfigured before them.

And Elijah and Moses appeared before them, talking with Jesus.

Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

Suddenly, when they looked around, they saw no one with them except Jesus.

“If You can?” echoed Jesus. “All things are possible to him who believes!”

When Jesus saw that a crowd had come running, He rebuked the unclean spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” He said, “I command you to come out and never enter him again.”

But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up.

“Do not stop him,” Jesus replied. “For no one who performs a miracle in My name can turn around and speak evil of Me.

Indeed, if anyone gives you even a cup of water because you bear the name of Christ, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.

But Jesus told them, “Moses wrote this commandment for you because of your hardness of heart.

But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and told them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

“Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good except God alone.

Jesus looked at him, loved him, and said to him, “There is one thing you lack: Go, sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

And the disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for My sake and for the gospel

As they were going up the road to Jerusalem, Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were amazed, but those who followed were afraid. Again Jesus took the Twelve aside and began to tell them what was going to happen to Him:

“You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus replied. “Can you drink the cup I will drink, or be baptized with the baptism I will undergo?”

“We can,” the brothers answered. “You will drink the cup that I drink,” Jesus said, “and you will be baptized with the baptism that I undergo.

So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them.

When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man. “Take courage!” they said. “Get up! He is calling for you.”

Throwing off his cloak, Bartimaeus jumped up and came to Jesus.

“What do you want Me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “Rabboni,” said the blind man, “let me see again.”

“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

The disciples answered as Jesus had instructed them, and the people gave them permission.

Then they led the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, and He sat on it.

The ones who went ahead and those who followed were shouting: “Hosanna!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Have faith in God,” Jesus said to them.

“I will ask you one question,” Jesus replied, “and if you answer Me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

So they answered, “We do not know.” And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

Then Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” And they marveled at Him.

Jesus said to them, “Aren’t you mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?

Jesus replied, “This is the most important: ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.

When Jesus saw that the man had answered wisely, He said, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to question Him any further.

While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, He asked, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David?

“Do you see all these great buildings?” Jesus replied. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

Jesus began by telling them, “See to it that no one deceives you.

At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it.

But Jesus said, “Leave her alone; why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful deed to Me.

And while they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you who is eating with Me will betray Me.”

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it; this is My body.”

Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.”

Jesus asked the crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would an outlaw?

They led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders, and scribes assembled.

Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but they did not find any.

So the high priest stood up before them and questioned Jesus, “Have You no answer? What are these men testifying against You?”

But Jesus remained silent and made no reply. Again the high priest questioned Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”

“I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

and saw him warming himself there. She looked at Peter and said, “You also were with Jesus the Nazarene.”

And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

Early in the morning, the chief priests, elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin devised a plan. They bound Jesus, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate.

But to Pilate’s amazement, Jesus made no further reply.

And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.

Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” And even those who were crucified with Him berated Him.

At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

But Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed His last.

Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent Council member who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God, boldly went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus.

But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here! See the place where they put Him.

After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.

And they went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked through them, confirming His word by the signs that accompanied it.

Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.

And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!

When the eight days before His circumcision had passed, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He was conceived.

The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him what was customary under the Law,

When those days were over and they were returning home, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but His parents were unaware He had stayed.

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John could be the Christ.

When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as He was praying, heaven was opened,

Jesus Himself was about thirty years old when He began His ministry. He was regarded as the son of Joseph, the son of Heli,

Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”

But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”

But Jesus answered, “It also says, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and the news about Him spread throughout the surrounding region.

“Ha! What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

But Jesus rebuked the demon. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!” At this, the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without harming him.

Demons also came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But He rebuked the demons and would not allow them to speak, because they knew He was the Christ.

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees. “Go away from me, Lord,” he said, “for I am a sinful man.”

and so were his partners James and John, the sons of Zebedee. “Do not be afraid,” Jesus said to Simon. “From now on you will catch men.”

While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell facedown and begged Him, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”

but they could not find a way through the crowd. So they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

Knowing what they were thinking, Jesus replied, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?

Jesus answered, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?

Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”

But the scribes and Pharisees were filled with rage and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.

When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to ask Him to come and heal his servant.

They came to Jesus and pleaded with Him earnestly, “This man is worthy to have You grant this,

So Jesus went with them. But when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends with the message: “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy to have You come under my roof.

When Jesus heard this, He marveled at the centurion. Turning to the crowd following Him, He said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.”

When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, “Do not weep.”

So John called two of his disciples and sent them to ask the Lord, “Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?”

So He replied, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.

But Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, Teacher,” he said.

When the man saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before Him, shouting in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You not to torture me!”

“What is your name?” Jesus asked. “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him.

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

The man whom the demons had left begged to go with Jesus. But He sent him away, saying,

“Return home and describe how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and proclaimed all over the town how much Jesus had done for him.

When Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed Him, for they had all been waiting for Him.

Just then a synagogue leader named Jairus came and fell at Jesus’ feet. He begged Him to come to his house,

“Who touched Me?” Jesus asked. But they all denied it. “Master,” said Peter, “the people are crowding and pressing against You.”

But Jesus declared, “Someone touched Me, for I know that power has gone out from Me.”

But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”

“But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”

As Moses and Elijah were leaving, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)

After the voice had spoken, only Jesus was present with them. The disciples kept this to themselves, and in those days they did not tell anyone what they had seen.

“O unbelieving and perverse generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”

Even while the boy was approaching, the demon slammed him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.

And they were all astonished at the greatness of God. While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus was doing, He said to His disciples,

But Jesus, knowing the thoughts of their hearts, had a little child stand beside Him.

“Do not stop him,” Jesus replied, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”

Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”

But Jesus told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. You, however, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

Then Jesus declared, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place He was about to visit.

At that time Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight.

But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Jesus took up this question and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.

“The one who showed him mercy,” replied the expert in the law. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to His message.

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord replied, “you are worried and upset about many things.

Then the Lord said, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.

And the Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time?

When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your disability.”

But the synagogue leader was indignant that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. “There are six days for work,” he told the crowd. “So come and be healed on those days and not on the Sabbath.”

“You hypocrites!” the Lord replied. “Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it to water?

Look, your house is left to you desolate. And I tell you that you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

So Jesus asked the experts in the law and the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?”

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”

And the Lord answered, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

and raised their voices, shouting, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

“Were not all ten cleansed?” Jesus asked. “Where then are the other nine?

And the Lord said, “Listen to the words of the unjust judge.

But Jesus called the children to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

“Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good except God alone.

On hearing this, Jesus told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

Seeing the man’s sadness, Jesus said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!

“Jesus of Nazareth is passing by,” they told him.

So he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Jesus stopped and directed that the man be brought to Him. When he had come near, Jesus asked him,

“Receive your sight!” Jesus replied. “Your faith has healed you.”

He was trying to see who Jesus was, but could not see over the crowd because he was small in stature.

When Jesus came to that place, He looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry down, for I must stay at your house today.”

But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay it fourfold.”

Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham.

Then they led the colt to Jesus, threw their cloaks over it, and put Jesus on it.

“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

Jesus answered, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.

Then Jesus declared, “How can it be said that the Christ is the Son of David?

While He was still speaking, a crowd arrived, led by the man called Judas, one of the Twelve. He approached Jesus to kiss Him.

But Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And He touched the man’s ear and healed him.

Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple officers, and elders who had come for Him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against an outlaw?

And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word that the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.”

“If You are the Christ, tell us.” Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe.

And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding payment of taxes to Caesar, and proclaiming Himself to be Christ, a King.”

When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased. He had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had heard about Him and was hoping to see Him perform a miracle.

Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate addressed them again,

As they had requested, he released the one imprisoned for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over to their will.

As the soldiers led Him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene on his way in from the country, and they put the cross on him to carry behind Jesus.

But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.

The people stood watching, and the rulers sneered at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”

One of the criminals who hung there heaped abuse on Him. “Are You not the Christ?” he said. “Save Yourself and us!”

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!”

Then Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.” And when He had said this, He breathed His last.

He went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus.

but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

And as they talked and deliberated, Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them.

“What things?” He asked. “The events involving Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. “This man was a prophet, powerful in speech and action before God and all the people.

Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then to enter His glory?”

and saying, “The Lord has indeed risen and has appeared to Simon!”

While they were describing these events, Jesus Himself stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”

And He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

He did not refuse to confess, but openly declared, “I am not the Christ.”

asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

When he saw Jesus walking by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

And when the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.

Jesus turned and saw them following. “What do you want?” He asked. They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are You staying?”

He first found his brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated as Christ).

Andrew brought him to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated as Peter).

The next day Jesus decided to set out for Galilee. Finding Philip, He told him, “Follow Me.”

Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, the One the prophets foretold—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit.”

“How do You know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”

Jesus said to him, “Do you believe just because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.”

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there,

and Jesus and His disciples had also been invited to the wedding.

When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to Him, “They have no more wine.”

“Woman, what is that to you and to Me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim.

Jesus performed this, the first of His signs, at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.

When the Jewish Passover was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.”

After He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this. Then they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

But Jesus did not entrust Himself to them, for He knew them all.

He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with him.”

Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and you do not understand these things?

After this, Jesus and His disciples went into the Judean countryside, where He spent some time with them and baptized.

You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but am sent ahead of Him.’

When Jesus realized that the Pharisees were aware He was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John

(although it was not Jesus who baptized, but His disciples),

Since Jacob’s well was there, Jesus, weary from His journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.”

Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again.

Jesus told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”

“I have no husband,” the woman replied. Jesus said to her, “You are correct to say that you have no husband.

“Believe Me, woman,” Jesus replied, “a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.

The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When He comes, He will explain everything to us.”

Jesus answered, “I who speak to you am He.”

“Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”

Jesus explained, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.

Now He Himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.

When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Him to come down and heal his son, who was about to die.

Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe.”

“Go,” said Jesus. “Your son will live.” The man took Jesus at His word and departed.

Then the father realized that this was the very hour in which Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” And he and all his household believed.

This was now the second sign that Jesus performed after coming from Judea into Galilee.

Some time later there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

When Jesus saw him lying there and realized that he had spent a long time in this condition, He asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

Then Jesus told him, “Get up, pick up your mat, and walk.”

But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away while the crowd was there.

Afterward, Jesus found the man at the temple and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Stop sinning, or something worse may happen to you.”

And the man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.

Now because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews began to persecute Him.

But Jesus answered them, “To this very day My Father is at His work, and I too am working.”

So Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself, unless He sees the Father doing it. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does.

After this, Jesus crossed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias).

Then Jesus went up on the mountain and sat down with His disciples.

When Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?”

“Have the people sit down,” Jesus said. Now there was plenty of grass in that place, so the men sat down, about five thousand of them.

Then Jesus took the loaves and the fish, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted.

Then Jesus, realizing that they were about to come and make Him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by Himself.

got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was already dark, and Jesus had not yet gone out to them.

When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the sea—and they were terrified.

The next day, the crowd that had remained on the other side of the sea realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not boarded it with His disciples, but they had gone away alone.

However, some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.

So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum to look for Him.

Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it is not because you saw these signs that you are looking for Me, but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.

Jesus replied, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.”

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.

Jesus answered, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst.

They were asking, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then can He say, ‘I have come down from heaven?’”

“Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus replied.

So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of Man, you have no life in you.

Aware that His disciples were grumbling about this teaching, Jesus asked them, “Does this offend you?

However, there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray Him.)

So Jesus asked the Twelve, “Do you want to leave too?”

Jesus answered them, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”

After this, Jesus traveled throughout Galilee. He did not want to travel in Judea, because the Jews there were trying to kill Him.

Therefore Jesus told them, “Although your time is always at hand, My time has not yet come.

About halfway through the feast, Jesus went up to the temple courts and began to teach.

“My teaching is not My own,” Jesus replied. “It comes from Him who sent Me.

Jesus answered them, “I did one miracle, and you are all amazed.

Yet here He is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying anything to Him. Have the rulers truly recognized that this is the Christ?

But we know where this man is from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where He is from.”

Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, “You know Me, and you know where I am from. I have not come of My own accord, but He who sent Me is true. You do not know Him,

Many in the crowd, however, believed in Him and said, “When the Christ comes, will He perform more signs than this man?”

So Jesus said, “I am with you only a little while longer, and then I am going to the One who sent Me.

On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.

He was speaking about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. For the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Others declared, “This is the Christ.” But still others asked, “How can the Christ come from Galilee?

Doesn’t the Scripture say that the Christ will come from the line of David and from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?”

But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

They said this to test Him, in order to have a basis for accusing Him. But Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with His finger.

When they heard this, they began to go away one by one, beginning with the older ones, until only Jesus was left, with the woman standing there.

Then Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?”

“No one, Lord,” she answered. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.”

Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Jesus replied, “Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is valid, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you do not know where I came from or where I am going.

“Where is Your Father?” they asked Him. “You do not know Me or My Father,” Jesus answered. “If you knew Me, you would know My Father as well.”

“Who are You?” they asked. “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied.

So Jesus said, “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, but speak exactly what the Father has taught Me.

So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples.

Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.

“Abraham is our father,” they replied. “If you were children of Abraham,” said Jesus, “you would do the works of Abraham.

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on My own, but He sent Me.

“I do not have a demon,” Jesus replied, “but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.

Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory means nothing. The One who glorifies Me is My Father, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’

“Truly, truly, I tell you,” Jesus declared, “before Abraham was born, I am!”

At this, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple area.

Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God would be displayed in him.

He answered, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and anointed my eyes, and He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed and received my sight.”

Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened his eyes was a Sabbath.

His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews. For the Jews had already determined that anyone who confessed Jesus as the Christ would be put out of the synagogue.

When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, He found the man and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

“You have already seen Him,” Jesus answered. “He is the One speaking with you.”

Then Jesus declared, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind.”

“If you were blind,” Jesus replied, “you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”

Jesus spoke to them using this illustration, but they did not understand what He was telling them.

So He said to them again, “Truly, truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.

and Jesus was walking in the temple courts in Solomon’s Colonnade.

So the Jews gathered around Him and demanded, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

“I already told you,” Jesus replied, “but you did not believe. The works I do in My Father’s name testify on My behalf.

But Jesus responded, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone Me?”

Jesus replied, “Is it not written in your Law: ‘I have said you are gods’?

(Mary, whose brother Lazarus was sick, was to anoint the Lord with perfume and wipe His feet with her hair.)

When Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? If anyone walks in the daytime, he will not stumble, because he sees by the light of this world.

They thought that Jesus was talking about actual sleep, but He was speaking about the death of Lazarus.

So Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead,

When Jesus arrived, He found that Lazarus had already spent four days in the tomb.

So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet Him, but Mary stayed at home.

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.

“Your brother will rise again,” Jesus told her.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies.

“Yes, Lord,” she answered, “I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”

Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met Him.

When Mary came to Jesus and saw Him, she fell at His feet and said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.

Jesus wept.

Jesus, once again deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.

“Take away the stone,” Jesus said. “Lord, by now he stinks,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man. “It has already been four days.”

Jesus replied, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”

So they took away the stone. Then Jesus lifted His eyes upward and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.

The man who had been dead came out with his hands and feet bound in strips of linen, and his face wrapped in a cloth. “Unwrap him and let him go,” Jesus told them.

But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.

Caiaphas did not say this on his own. Instead, as high priest that year, he was prophesying that Jesus would die for the nation,

As a result, Jesus no longer went about publicly among the Jews, but He withdrew to a town called Ephraim in an area near the wilderness. And He stayed there with the disciples.

They kept looking for Jesus and asking one another as they stood in the temple courts, “What do you think? Will He come to the feast at all?”

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.

Then Mary took about a pint of expensive perfume, made of pure nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “She has kept this perfume in preparation for the day of My burial.

Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews learned that Jesus was there. And they came not only because of Him, but also to see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.

for on account of him many of the Jews were deserting them and believing in Jesus.

The next day the great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.

They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting: “Hosanna!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!”

Finding a young donkey, Jesus sat on it, as it is written:

At first His disciples did not understand these things, but after Jesus was glorified they remembered what had been done to Him, and they realized that these very things had also been written about Him.

They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”

Philip relayed this appeal to Andrew, and both of them went and told Jesus.

But Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

In response, Jesus said, “This voice was not for My benefit, but yours.

The crowd replied, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever. So how can You say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?”

Then Jesus told them, “For a little while longer, the Light will be among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.

While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of light.” After Jesus had spoken these things, He went away and was hidden from them.

Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in Me does not believe in Me alone, but in the One who sent Me.

It was now just before the Passover Feast, and Jesus knew that His hour had come to leave this world and return to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the very end.

Jesus knew that the Father had delivered all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was returning to God.

Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

“Never shall You wash my feet!” Peter told Him. Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.”

Jesus told him, “Whoever has already bathed needs only to wash his feet, and he will be completely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.”

After Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit and testified, “Truly, truly, I tell you, one of you will betray Me.”

One of His disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at His side.

Leaning back against Jesus, he asked, “Lord, who is it?”

Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this morsel after I have dipped it.” Then He dipped the morsel and gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot.

And when Judas had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to Judas, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”

Since Judas kept the money bag, some thought that Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the feast, or to give something to the poor.

When Judas had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him.

“Lord, where are You going?” Simon Peter asked. Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now, but you will follow later.”

“Will you lay down your life for Me?” Jesus replied. “Truly, truly, I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Jesus replied, “Philip, I have been with you all this time, and still you do not know Me? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Jesus replied, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

Aware that they wanted to question Him, Jesus said to them, “Are you asking one another why I said, ‘In a little while you will not see Me, and then after a little while you will see Me’?

“Do you finally believe?” Jesus replied.

When Jesus had spoken these things, He lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You.

Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.

After Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples across the Kidron Valley, where they entered a garden.

Now Judas His betrayer also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with His disciples.

Jesus, knowing all that was coming upon Him, stepped forward and asked them, “Whom are you seeking?”

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. Jesus said, “I am He.” And Judas His betrayer was standing there with them.

So He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered.

“I told you that I am He,” Jesus replied. “So if you are looking for Me, let these men go.”

“Put your sword back in its sheath!” Jesus said to Peter. “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given Me?”

Then the band of soldiers, with its commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him.

Now Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he also went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest.

Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching.

“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus answered. “I always taught in the synagogues and at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.

When Jesus had said this, one of the officers standing nearby slapped Him in the face and said, “Is this how You answer the high priest?”

Jesus replied, “If I said something wrong, testify as to what was wrong. But if I spoke correctly, why did you strike Me?”

Then they led Jesus away from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. By now it was early morning, and the Jews did not enter the Praetorium, to avoid being defiled and unable to eat the Passover.

This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to indicate the kind of death He was going to die.

Pilate went back into the Praetorium, summoned Jesus, and asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

“Are you saying this on your own,” Jesus asked, “or did others tell you about Me?”

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.”

“Then You are a king!” Pilate said. “You say that I am a king,” Jesus answered. “For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.”

Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged.

When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”

and he went back into the Praetorium. “Where are You from?” he asked. But Jesus gave no answer.

Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed Me over to you is guilty of greater sin.”

When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat on the judgment seat at a place called the Stone Pavement, which in Hebrew is Gabbatha.

Then Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified, and the soldiers took Him away.

There they crucified Him, and with Him two others, one on each side, with Jesus in the middle.

Pilate also had a notice posted on the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Many of the Jews read this sign, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek.

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided His garments into four parts, one for each soldier, with the tunic remaining. It was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother and her sister, as well as Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene.

When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, here is your son.”

After this, knowing that everything had now been accomplished, and to fulfill the Scripture, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”

When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished.” And bowing His head, He yielded up His spirit.

But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.

Afterward, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus (but secretly for fear of the Jews), asked Pilate to let him remove the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission, so he came and removed His body.

Nicodemus, who had previously come to Jesus at night, also brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.

So they took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in linen cloths with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom.

And because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and the tomb was nearby, they placed Jesus there.

So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb,” she said, “and we do not know where they have put Him!”

and she saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and the other at the feet.

When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she did not recognize that it was Jesus.

“Woman, why are you weeping?” Jesus asked. “Whom are you seeking?” Thinking He was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried Him off, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

“Do not cling to Me,” Jesus said, “for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go and tell My brothers, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’”

It was the first day of the week, and that very evening, while the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace be with you!” He said to them.

After He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

Again Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so also I am sending you.”

Now Thomas called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.

So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger where the nails have been, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe.”

Eight days later, His disciples were once again inside with the doors locked, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”

Thomas replied, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book.

But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.

Later, by the Sea of Tiberias, Jesus again revealed Himself to the disciples. He made Himself known in this way:

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not recognize that it was Jesus.

So He called out to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” “No,” they answered.

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it) and jumped into the sea.

Jesus told them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”

“Come, have breakfast,” Jesus said to them. None of the disciples dared to ask Him, “Who are You?” They knew it was the Lord.

Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and He did the same with the fish.

This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after He was raised from the dead.

When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.”

Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd My sheep.”

Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. He was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper to ask, “Lord, who is going to betray You?”

When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you? You follow Me!”

Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. However, Jesus did not say that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you?”

There are many more things that Jesus did. If all of them were written down, I suppose that not even the world itself would have space for the books that would be written.

In my first book, O Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach,

So when they came together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”

With one accord they all continued in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

“Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit foretold through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus.

Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

Men of Israel, listen to this message: Jesus of Nazareth was a man certified by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know.

Foreseeing this, David spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His body see decay.

God has raised this Jesus to life, to which we are all witnesses.

Therefore let all Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ!”

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

But Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!”

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus. You handed Him over and rejected Him before Pilate, even though he had decided to release Him.

But in this way God has fulfilled what He foretold through all the prophets, saying that His Christ would suffer.

that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus, the Christ, who has been appointed for you.

greatly disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.

then let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.

When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus.

Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

In fact, this is the very city where Herod and Pontius Pilate conspired with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed.

as You stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.”

With great power the apostles continued to give their testimony about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And abundant grace was upon them all.

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging Him on a tree.

At this, they yielded to Gamaliel. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them.

Every day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

For we have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”

But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them.

But when they believed Philip as he preached the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

For the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

Then Philip began with this very Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest

“Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied.

In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Here I am, Lord,” he answered.

“Get up!” the Lord told him. “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.

But Ananias answered, “Lord, many people have told me about this man and all the harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.

“Go!” said the Lord. “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel.

So Ananias went to the house, and when he arrived, he placed his hands on Saul. “Brother Saul,” he said, “the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Saul promptly began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, declaring, “He is the Son of God.”

But Saul was empowered all the more, and he confounded the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.

Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and described how Saul had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him on the road to Damascus, and how Saul had spoken boldly in that city in the name of Jesus.

So Saul stayed with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.

Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a time of peace. It grew in strength and numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.

“Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and put away your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up,

and all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.

He has sent this message to the people of Israel, proclaiming the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.

Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

So if God gave them the same gift He gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to hinder the work of God?”

But some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks as well, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus.

and when he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. So for a full year they met together with the church and taught large numbers of people. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.

From the descendants of this man, God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as He promised.

He has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.’

On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And when they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit them.

She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit left her at that very moment.

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.”

explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,” he declared.

and Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, named Jesus!”

Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others said, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was proclaiming the good news of Jesus and the resurrection.

And when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself fully to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.

Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his whole household believed in the Lord. And many of the Corinthians who heard the message believed and were baptized.

For he powerfully refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.

Paul explained: “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the One coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”

On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

Now there were some itinerant Jewish exorcists who tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those with evil spirits. They would say, “I command you by Jesus, whom Paul proclaims.”

But one day the evil spirit responded, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?”

This became known to all the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, and fear came over all of them. So the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.

testifying to Jews and Greeks alike about repentance to God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

But I consider my life of no value to me, if only I may finish my course and complete the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus—the ministry of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied.

Then I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ ‘Get up and go into Damascus,’ He told me. ‘There you will be told all that you have been appointed to do.’

‘Lord,’ I answered, ‘they know very well that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in You.

The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.”

After several days, Felix returned with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.

They only had some contentions with him regarding their own religion and a certain Jesus who had died, but whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

So then, I too was convinced that I ought to do all I could to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied.

that the Christ would suffer, and as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles.”

Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Can you persuade me in such a short time to become a Christian?”

So they set a day to meet with Paul, and many people came to the place he was staying. He expounded to them from morning to evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and persuading them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets.

Boldly and freely he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, and set apart for the gospel of God—

and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.

And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being proclaimed all over the world.

on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Christ Jesus, as proclaimed by my gospel.

And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction,

and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify the one who has faith in Jesus.

but also for us, to whom righteousness will be credited—for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

For at just the right time, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many!

For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Or aren’t you aware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him.

For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has dominion over Him.

So you too must count yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Therefore, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.

Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I serve the law of God, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death.

You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.

And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.

And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.

Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God—and He is interceding for us.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I speak the truth in Christ; I am not lying, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit.

For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my own flesh and blood,

Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen.

For Christ is the end of the law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes.

But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down)

or, ‘Who will descend into the Abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).”

that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another.

Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.

For this reason Christ died and returned to life, that He might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

I am convinced and fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean.

If your brother is distressed by what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother, for whom Christ died.

For whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.

For even Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written: “The insults of those who insult You have fallen on Me.”

Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you harmony with one another in Christ Jesus,

so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring glory to God.

For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs,

to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Therefore I exult in Christ Jesus in my service to God.

I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed,

by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.

In this way I have aspired to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.

I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

Now I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.

Welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her with anything she may need from you. For she has been a great help to many people, including me.

Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,

Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my beloved Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.

Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow countrymen and fellow prisoners. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.

Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.

Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys.

Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.

Greet Herodion, my fellow countryman. Greet those from the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.

Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, women who have worked hard in the Lord. Greet my beloved Persis, who has worked very hard in the Lord.

Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me as well.

Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send you greetings.

For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.

Now to Him who is able to strengthen you by my gospel and by the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery concealed for ages past

to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,

To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I always thank my God for you because of the grace He has given you in Christ Jesus.

because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.

Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He will sustain you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united in mind and conviction.

What I mean is this: Individuals among you are saying, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.”

Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with words of wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,

but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.

For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

None of the rulers of this age understood it. For if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

“For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly—as infants in Christ.

What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, as the Lord has assigned to each his role.

For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

My conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who judges me.

Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored.

Even if you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.

That is why I have sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which is exactly what I teach everywhere in every church.

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only what these arrogant people are saying, but what power they have.

When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, along with the power of the Lord Jesus,

hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the Day of the Lord.

Get rid of the old leaven, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

“Food for the stomach and the stomach for food,” but God will destroy them both. The body is not intended for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

By His power God raised the Lord from the dead, and He will raise us also.

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!

But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with Him in spirit.

To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.

To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.

Regardless, each one should lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is what I prescribe in all the churches.

For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave.

Now about virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.

I want you to be free from concern. The unmarried man is concerned about the work of the Lord, how he can please the Lord.

and his interests are divided. The unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the work of the Lord, how she can be holy in both body and spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world, how she can please her husband.

I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but in order to promote proper decorum and undivided devotion to the Lord.

A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord.

yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.

So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.

By sinning against your brothers in this way and wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you yourselves not my workmanship in the Lord?

Even if I am not an apostle to others, surely I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

Have we no right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?

If others have this right to your support, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

In the same way, the Lord has prescribed that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

To those without the law I became like one without the law (though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ), to win those without the law.

and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.

We should not test Christ, as some of them did, and were killed by snakes.

Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?

You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too.

Are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?

for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”

You are to imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread,

For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.

But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.

Therefore I inform you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

There are different ministries, but the same Lord.

The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ.

Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it.

If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command.

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.

And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is worthless, and so is your faith.

In that case, we are also exposed as false witnesses about God. For we have testified about God that He raised Christ from the dead, but He did not raise Him if in fact the dead are not raised.

For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised.

And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.

Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

If our hope in Christ is for this life alone, we are to be pitied more than all men.

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

But each in his own turn: Christ the firstfruits; then at His coming, those who belong to Him.

I face death every day, brothers, as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord.

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

For I do not want to see you now only in passing; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.

If Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, just as I am.

The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.

If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be under a curse. Come, O Lord!

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.

My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,

For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.

as you have already understood us in part, that you may boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of our Lord Jesus.

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed among you by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in Him it has always been “Yes.”

Now it is God who establishes both us and you in Christ. He anointed us,

If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And if I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven it in the presence of Christ for your sake,

Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and a door stood open for me in the Lord,

But thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.

For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

For we are not like so many others, who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God.

It is clear that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

Such confidence before God is ours through Christ.

But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

For we who are alive are always consigned to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal body.

knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence.

Therefore we are always confident, although we know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord.

We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died.

So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!

All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:

that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.

What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

And not only did they do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, through the will of God.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

More than that, this brother was chosen by the churches to accompany us with the gracious offering we administer to honor the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help.

For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men.

As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you. As for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.

Because of the proof this ministry provides, the saints will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for the generosity of your contribution to them and to all the others.

Now by the mildness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am humble when face to face with you, but bold when away.

We demolish arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should remind himself that we belong to Christ just as much as he does.

For even if I boast somewhat excessively about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed.

We are not overstepping our bounds, as if we had not come to you. Indeed, we were the first to reach you with the gospel of Christ.

I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.

For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it very easily.

As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia.

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.

In this confident boasting of mine, I am not speaking as the Lord would, but as a fool.

Are they servants of Christ? (I am speaking as if I were out of my mind.) I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of death.

The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is forever worthy of praise, knows that I am not lying.

I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to gain, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows.

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.

That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Have you been thinking all along that we were making a defense to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all of this, beloved, is to build you up.

since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you but is powerful among you.

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you fail the test?

This is why I write these things while absent, so that when I am present I will not need to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.

All the saints send you greetings.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead—

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,

I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—

which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ.

Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.

I was personally unknown, however, to the churches of Judea that are in Christ.

This issue arose because some false brothers had come in under false pretenses to spy on our freedom in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us.

know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

But if, while we seek to be justified in Christ, we ourselves are found to be sinners, does that make Christ a minister of sin? Certainly not!

I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”

He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.

But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.

So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.

And although my illness was a trial to you, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus Himself.

My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery.

Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.

You who are trying to be justified by the law have been severed from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. What matters is faith expressing itself through love.

I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is troubling you will bear the judgment, whoever he may be.

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. They only do this to avoid persecution for the cross of Christ.

But as for me, may I never boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms.

He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will,

in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory.

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him.

which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms,

made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.

remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.

In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles...

In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,

This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.

Though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

according to the eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love,

of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

As a prisoner in the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received:

one Lord, one faith, one baptism;

Now to each one of us grace has been given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ,

until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ.

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head.

So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.

But this is not the way you came to know Christ.

Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him—in keeping with the truth that is in Jesus—

Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.

For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,

Test and prove what pleases the Lord.

So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,

always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.

For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior.

Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her

This mystery is profound, but I am speaking about Christ and the church.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.

And do this not only to please them while they are watching, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.

Serve with good will, as to the Lord and not to men,

because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.

And masters, do the same for your slaves. Give up your use of threats, because you know that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.

Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know about me and what I am doing.

Peace to the brothers and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

God is my witness how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,

filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.

And most of the brothers, confident in the Lord by my chains, now dare more greatly to speak the word without fear.

It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.

The former, however, preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can add to the distress of my chains.

What then is the issue? Just this: that in every way, whether by false motives or true, Christ is preached. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,

because I know that through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, my distress will turn out for my deliverance.

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed.

so that through my coming to you again your exultation in Christ Jesus will resound on account of me.

Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending together as one for the faith of the gospel,

For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him,

Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.

Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I learn how you are doing.

For all the others look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

And I trust in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him,

because he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for your deficit of service to me.

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—

But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ.

More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ

and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.

For as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.

But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you must stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.

I urge Euodia and Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Let your gentleness be apparent to all. The Lord is near.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Now I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.

And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you greetings.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,

because we have heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all the saints—

You learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,

so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the church.

To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ,

For although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I delight to see your orderly condition and firm faith in Christ.

Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him,

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.

In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands.

These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.

If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations:

Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.

Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord.

Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, as for the Lord and not for men,

because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

as you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.

Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord.

Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in the full will of God.

Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.

and continually recalling before our God and Father your work of faith, your labor of love, and your enduring hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

And you became imitators of us and of the Lord when you welcomed the message with the joy of the Holy Spirit, in spite of your great suffering.

For not only did the message of the Lord ring out from you to Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone out to every place, so that we have no need to say anything more.

and to await His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus our deliverer from the coming wrath.

Nor did we seek praise from you or from anyone else, although as apostles of Christ we had authority to demand it.

For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Judea that are in Christ Jesus. You suffered from your own countrymen the very things they suffered from the Jews,

who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets and drove us out as well. They are displeasing to God and hostile to all men,

After all, who is our hope, our joy, our crown of boasting, if it is not you yourselves in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?

We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,

For now we can go on living, as long as you are standing firm in the Lord.

Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you.

And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows,

so that He may establish your hearts in blamelessness and holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen.

Finally, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to live in a way that is pleasing to God, just as you have received from us. This is how you already live, so you should do so all the more.

For you know the instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

and no one should ever violate or exploit his brother in this regard, because the Lord will avenge all such acts, as we have already told you and solemnly warned you.

For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.

By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep.

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise.

After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.

For you are fully aware that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

For God has not appointed us to suffer wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

But we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you.

Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

and to grant relief to you who are oppressed and to us as well. This will take place when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels

in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

They will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might,

so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to Him, we ask you, brothers,

not to be easily disconcerted or alarmed by any spirit or message or letter seeming to be from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord has already come.

And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and annihilate by the majesty of His arrival.

But we should always thank God for you, brothers who are loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved by the sanctification of the Spirit and by faith in the truth.

To this He called you through our gospel, so that you may share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who by grace has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope,

Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread quickly and be held in honor, just as it was with you.

But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.

And we have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.

May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received from us.

We command and urge such people by our Lord Jesus Christ to begin working quietly to earn their own living.

Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,

To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, that He considered me faithful and appointed me to service.

And the grace of our Lord overflowed to me, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.

But for this very reason I was shown mercy, so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His perfect patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life.

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

For those who have served well as deacons acquire for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

By pointing out these things to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of faith and sound instruction that you have followed.

But refuse to enroll younger widows. For when their passions draw them away from Christ, they will want to marry,

I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to maintain these principles without bias, and to do nothing out of partiality.

If anyone teaches another doctrine and disagrees with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with godly teaching,

I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who made the good confession in His testimony before Pontius Pilate:

Keep this commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus,

To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.

He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.

And now He has revealed this grace through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the gospel,

Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching you have heard from me, with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he has often refreshed me and was unashamed of my chains.

May the Lord grant Onesiphorus His mercy on that day. You know very well how much he ministered to me in Ephesus.

You therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

Join me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

Consider what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all things.

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David, as proclaimed by my gospel,

For this reason I endure all things for the sake of the elect, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.”

Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing.

my persecutions, and the sufferings that came upon me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.

Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom:

From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing.

Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds.

But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles would hear it. So I was delivered from the mouth of the lion.

And the Lord will rescue me from every evil action and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness,

To Titus, my true child in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

This is the Spirit He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker,

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.

I pray that your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every good thing that is ours in Christ.

So although in Christ I am bold enough to order you to do what is proper,

I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. For I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Christ Jesus as well.

no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, both in person and in the Lord.

Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings,

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.

Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, set your focus on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.

But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are His house, if we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope of which we boast.

We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly to the end the assurance we had at first.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess.

So also Christ did not take upon Himself the glory of becoming a high priest, but He was called by the One who said to Him: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.”

Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith in God,

where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.

For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, a tribe as to which Moses said nothing about priests.

Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made by hands and is not a part of this creation.

how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!

For Christ did not enter a man-made copy of the true sanctuary, but He entered heaven itself, now to appear on our behalf in the presence of God.

so also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him.

And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,

He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate, to sanctify the people by His own blood.

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,

equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes of the Dispersion: Greetings.

My brothers, as you hold out your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism.

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the elect who are exiles of the Dispersion throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen

according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

trying to determine the time and setting to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.

Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober-minded. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.

now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:

But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect,

keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.

For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit,

And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves with the same resolve, because anyone who has suffered in his body is done with sin.

If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory.

If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear that name.

As a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings, and a partaker of the glory to be revealed, I appeal to the elders among you:

And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish you.

Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

and you will receive a lavish reception into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

because I know that this tent will soon be laid aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.

For we did not follow cleverly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

If indeed they have escaped the corruption of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, only to be entangled and overcome by it again, their final condition is worse than it was at first.

by recalling what was foretold by the holy prophets and commanded by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And this fellowship of ours is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

Who is the liar, if it is not the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son.

And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we should love one another just as He commanded us.

By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and which is already in the world at this time.

If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves those born of Him.

Who then overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ—not by water alone, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies to this, because the Spirit is the truth.

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, will be with us in truth and love.

For many deceivers have gone out into the world, refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.

Anyone who runs ahead without remaining in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever remains in His teaching has both the Father and the Son.

Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who are called, loved by God the Father, and kept in Jesus Christ:

For certain men have crept in among you unnoticed—ungodly ones who were designated long ago for condemnation. They turn the grace of our God into a license for immorality, and they deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Although you are fully aware of this, I want to remind you that after Jesus had delivered His people out of the land of Egypt, He destroyed those who did not believe.

But you, beloved, remember what was foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ

keep yourselves in the love of God as you await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you eternal life.

to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen.

This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon come to pass. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John,

who testifies to everything he saw. This is the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood,

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and was and is to come—the Almighty.

I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance that are in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and my testimony about Jesus.

Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city—figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where their Lord was also crucified.

Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and loud voices called out in heaven: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.”

And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down—he who accuses them day and night before our God.

And the dragon was enraged at the woman and went to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea.

Here is a call for the perseverance of the saints, who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

I could see that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and witnesses for Jesus. And I was utterly amazed at the sight of her.

They will make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and He will be accompanied by His called and chosen and faithful ones.”

So I fell at his feet to worship him. But he told me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who rely on the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Then I saw the thrones, and those seated on them had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands. And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.”

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.