YRC God Relating to Religion

"'You shall keep my Sabbaths, and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am Yahweh.

"'If you walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them;

"'I will have respect for you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and will establish my covenant with you.

I will set my tent among you: and my soul won't abhor you.

I will walk among you, and will be your God, and you will be my people.

I am Yahweh your God, who brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves; and I have broken the bars of your yoke, and made you go upright.

"'As for those of you who are left, I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies: and the sound of a driven leaf will put them to flight; and they shall flee, as one flees from the sword; and they will fall when no one pursues.

Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them; for I am Yahweh their God;

but I will for their sake remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God. I am Yahweh.'"

that you may enter into the covenant of Yahweh your God, and into his oath, which Yahweh your God makes with you this day;

that he may establish you this day to himself for a people, and that he may be to you a God, as he spoke to you, and as he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

but with him who stands here with us this day before Yahweh our God, and also with him who is not here with us this day

Then men shall say, "Because they forsook the covenant of Yahweh, the God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt,

The secret things belong to Yahweh our God; but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

You established for yourself your people Israel to be a people to you forever; and you, Yahweh, became their God.

Many say, "Who will show us any good?" Yahweh, let the light of your face shine on us.

Yahweh is in his holy temple. Yahweh is on his throne in heaven. His eyes observe. His eyes examine the children of men.

Yahweh examines the righteous, but the wicked and him who loves violence his soul hates.

For Yahweh is righteous. He loves righteousness. The upright shall see his face.

You will keep them, Yahweh. You will preserve them from this generation forever.

Show your marvelous loving kindness, you who save those who take refuge by your right hand from their enemies.

from men by your hand, Yahweh, from men of the world, whose portion is in this life. You fill the belly of your cherished ones. Your sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children.

send you help from the sanctuary, grant you support from Zion,

We will triumph in your salvation. In the name of our God, we will set up our banners. May Yahweh grant all your requests.

Save, Yahweh! Let the King answer us when we call!

For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for Yahweh shall inherit the land.

For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but Yahweh upholds the righteous.

Yahweh knows the days of the perfect. Their inheritance shall be forever.

For Yahweh loves justice, and doesn't forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.

But the salvation of the righteous is from Yahweh. He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.

Yahweh helps them, and rescues them. He rescues them from the wicked, and saves them, Because they have taken refuge in him.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Your statutes stand firm. Holiness adorns your house, Yahweh, forevermore.

Oh come, let's worship and bow down. Let's kneel before Yahweh, our Maker,

Sing to Yahweh! Bless his name! Proclaim his salvation from day to day!

Israel, trust in Yahweh! He is their help and their shield.

House of Aaron, trust in Yahweh! He is their help and their shield.

You who fear Yahweh, trust in Yahweh! He is their help and their shield.

Yahweh remembers us. He will bless us. He will bless the house of Israel. He will bless the house of Aaron.

He will bless those who fear Yahweh, both small and great.

Blessed are you by Yahweh, who made heaven and earth.

Precious in the sight of Yahweh is the death of his saints.

For his loving kindness is great toward us. Yahweh's faithfulness endures forever. Praise Yah!

When Yahweh brought back those who returned to Zion, we were like those who dream.

Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, "Yahweh has done great things for them."

Yahweh has done great things for us, and we are glad.

Restore our fortunes again, Yahweh, like the streams in the Negev.

Surely the righteous will give thanks to your name. The upright will dwell in your presence.

Happy are the people who are in such a situation. Happy are the people whose God is Yahweh.

that he may guard the paths of justice, and preserve the way of his saints.

yes, he says, "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give you for a light to the nations, that you may be my salvation to the end of the earth."

Thus says Yahweh, the Redeemer of Israel, [and] his Holy One, to him whom man despises, to him whom the nation abhors, to a servant of rulers: "Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall worship; because of Yahweh who is faithful, [even] the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you."

Thus says Yahweh, "In an acceptable time have I answered you, and in a day of salvation have I helped you; and I will preserve you, and give you for a covenant of the people, to raise up the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritage:

They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun strike them: for he who has mercy on them will lead them, even by springs of water he will guide them.

Sing, heavens; and be joyful, earth; and break forth into singing, mountains: for Yahweh has comforted his people, and will have compassion on his afflicted.

"Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, these may forget, yet I will not forget you!

Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.

Lift up your eyes all around, and see: all these gather themselves together, and come to you. As I live," says Yahweh, "you shall surely clothe yourself with them all as with an ornament, and dress yourself with them, like a bride.

Thus says the Lord Yahweh, "Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and set up my banner to the peoples; and they shall bring your sons in their bosom, and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders.

But thus says Yahweh, "Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered; for I will contend with him who contends with you, and I will save your children.

I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I, Yahweh, am your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob."

that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his companions should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

I thank you, and praise you, you God of my fathers, who have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we desired of you; for you have made known to us the king's matter.

If it be [so], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.

until the ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High, and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

Yahweh will roar from Zion, and thunder from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth will shake; but Yahweh will be a refuge to his people, and a stronghold to the children of Israel.

I will cleanse their blood, that I have not cleansed: for Yahweh dwells in Zion."

Also I brought you up out of the land of Egypt, and led you forty years in the wilderness, to possess the land of the Amorite.

I raised up some of your sons for prophets, and some of your young men for Nazirites. Isn't this true, you children of Israel?" says Yahweh.

Surely the Lord Yahweh will do nothing, unless he reveals his secret to his servants the prophets.

Thus says Yahweh: "As the shepherd rescues out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the children of Israel be rescued who sit in Samaria on the corner of a couch, and on the silken cushions of a bed."

"Listen, and testify against the house of Jacob," says the Lord Yahweh, the God of Armies.

Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so Yahweh, the God of Armies, will be with you, as you say.

Yahweh has sworn by the pride of Jacob, "Surely I will never forget any of their works.

In that day I will raise up the tent of David who is fallen, and close up its breaches, and I will raise up its ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old;

"Behold, the days come," says Yahweh, "that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the one treading grapes him who sows seed; and sweet wine will drip from the mountains, and flow from the hills.

I will bring my people Israel back from captivity, and they will rebuild the ruined cities, and inhabit them; and they will plant vineyards, and drink wine from them. They shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.

I will plant them on their land, and they will no more be plucked up out of their land which I have given them," says Yahweh your God.

In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, the Word of Yahweh came by Haggai, the prophet, to Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying,

Go up to the mountain, bring wood, and build the house. I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified," says Yahweh.

Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of Yahweh of Armies, their God,

Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,' says Yahweh. 'Be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,' says Yahweh, 'and work, for I am with you,' says Yahweh of Armies.

This is the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, and my Spirit lived among you. 'Don't be afraid.'

The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,' says Yahweh of Armies; 'and in this place will I give peace,' says Yahweh of Armies."

Is the seed yet in the barn? Yes, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree haven't brought forth. From this day will I bless you.'"

He opened his mouth and taught them, saying,

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.

Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

"Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

"Don't think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn't come to destroy, but to fulfill.

For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished.

He entered again into the synagogue, and there was a man there who had his hand withered.

and to have authority to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:

Most certainly I tell you, all sins of the descendants of man will be forgiven, including their blasphemies with which they may blaspheme;

He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray, and not give up,

Won't God avenge his chosen ones, who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them?

Jesus summoned them, saying, "Allow the little children to come to me, and don't hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the world to come, eternal life."

He took the twelve aside, and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be completed.

He came to his own, and those who were his own didn't receive him.

But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God's children, to those who believe in his name:

who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.

From his fullness we all received grace upon grace.

For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he said this, and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

You worship that which you don't know. We worship that which we know; for salvation is from the Jews.

But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshippers.

The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah comes," (he who is called Christ). "When he has come, he will declare to us all things."

Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work.

Don't you say, 'There are yet four months until the harvest?' Behold, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and look at the fields, that they are white for harvest already.

Many more believed because of his word.

Jesus therefore answered them, "Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise.

"Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and doesn't come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

Most certainly, I tell you, the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the Son of God's voice; and those who hear will live.

But the testimony which I receive is not from man. However, I say these things that you may be saved.

Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." Now there was much grass in that place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

Jesus took the loaves; and having given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to those who were sitting down; likewise also of the fish as much as they desired.

When they were filled, he said to his disciples, "Gather up the broken pieces which are left over, that nothing be lost."

But he said to them, "It is I. Don't be afraid."

But Jesus knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at this, said to them, "Does this cause you to stumble?

It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.

But there are some of you who don't believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who didn't believe, and who it was who would betray him.

Jesus answered them, "Didn't I choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?"

Don't judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment."

Jesus therefore cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, "You both know me, and know where I am from. I have not come of myself, but he who sent me is true, whom you don't know.

Then Jesus said, "I will be with you a little while longer, then I go to him who sent me.

Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink!

But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus wasn't yet glorified.

Jesus spoke these words in the treasury, as he taught in the temple. Yet no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

Jesus said therefore again to them, "I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sins. Where I go, you can't come."

He said to them, "You are from beneath. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world.

As he spoke these things, many believed in him.

Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, "If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples.

"Most certainly, I tell you, one who doesn't enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out.

Whenever he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

Jesus spoke this parable to them, but they didn't understand what he was telling them.

Jesus therefore said to them again, "Most certainly, I tell you, I am the sheep's door.

The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.

I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and I'm known by my own;

even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep.

I have other sheep, which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father's hand.

Jesus answered them, "Isn't it written in your law, 'I said, you are gods?'

If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture can't be broken),

But when Jesus heard it, he said, "This sickness is not to death, but for the glory of God, that God's Son may be glorified by it."

Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let's go into Judea again."

Jesus answered, "Aren't there twelve hours of daylight? If a man walks in the day, he doesn't stumble, because he sees the light of this world.

He said these things, and after that, he said to them, "Our friend, Lazarus, has fallen asleep, but I am going so that I may awake him out of sleep."

So Jesus said to them plainly then, "Lazarus is dead.

I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe. Nevertheless, let's go to him."

For you always have the poor with you, but you don't always have me."

Jesus answered them, "The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

Most certainly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.

While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become children of light." Jesus said these things, and he departed and hid himself from them.

Now before the feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his time had come that he would depart from this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

Jesus said to him, "Someone who has bathed only needs to have his feet washed, but is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you."

If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.

For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.

Most certainly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his lord, neither one who is sent greater than he who sent him.

If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

I don't speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen. But that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me.'

From now on, I tell you before it happens, that when it happens, you may believe that I am he.

Most certainly I tell you, he who receives whomever I send, receives me; and he who receives me, receives him who sent me."

Little children, I will be with you a little while longer. You will seek me, and as I said to the Jews, 'Where I am going, you can't come,' so now I tell you.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just like I have loved you; that you also love one another.

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

In my Father's house are many homes. If it weren't so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you.

If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also.

Where I go, you know, and you know the way."

Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I tell you, I speak not from myself; but the Father who lives in me does his works.

Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me; or else believe me for the very works' sake.

Most certainly I tell you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also; and he will do greater works than these, because I am going to my Father.

Whatever you will ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

If you will ask anything in my name, I will do it.

I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, that he may be with you forever,--

the Spirit of truth, whom the world can't receive; for it doesn't see him, neither knows him. You know him, for he lives with you, and will be in you.

I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you.

Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, what has happened that you are about to reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?"

I have said these things to you, while still living with you.

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you.

Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, give I to you. Don't let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.

You heard how I told you, 'I go away, and I come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I said 'I am going to my Father;' for the Father is greater than I.

Now I have told you before it happens so that, when it happens, you may believe.

You are already pruned clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can't bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me.

If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you.

Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love.

I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full.

"This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you.

No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn't know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you.

You didn't choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you will ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you.

If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, since I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his lord.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will keep yours also.

"When the Counselor has come, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will testify about me.

"These things have I spoken to you, so that you wouldn't be caused to stumble.

But I have told you these things, so that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you about them. I didn't tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.

But because I have told you these things, sorrow has filled your heart.

Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I don't go away, the Counselor won't come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

"I have yet many things to tell you, but you can't bear them now.

However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming.

He will glorify me, for he will take from what is mine, and will declare it to you.

All things whatever the Father has are mine; therefore I said that he takes of mine, and will declare it to you.

Therefore Jesus perceived that they wanted to ask him, and he said to them, "Do you inquire among yourselves concerning this, that I said, 'A little while, and you won't see me, and again a little while, and you will see me?'

Most certainly I tell you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.

Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.

"In that day you will ask me no questions. Most certainly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.

I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. But the time is coming when I will no more speak to you in figures of speech, but will tell you plainly about the Father.

In that day you will ask in my name; and I don't say to you, that I will pray to the Father for you,

I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have oppression; but cheer up! I have overcome the world."

even as you gave him authority over all flesh, he will give eternal life to all whom you have given him.

I revealed your name to the people whom you have given me out of the world. They were yours, and you have given them to me. They have kept your word.

for the words which you have given me I have given to them, and they received them, and knew for sure that I came forth from you, and they have believed that you sent me.

I pray for them. I don't pray for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.

All things that are mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.

While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name. Those whom you have given me I have kept. None of them is lost, except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

But now I come to you, and I say these things in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves.

I have given them your word. The world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one.

Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth.

As you sent me into the world, even so I have sent them into the world.

For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who believe in me through their word,

The glory which you have given me, I have given to them; that they may be one, even as we are one;

I in them, and you in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that you sent me, and loved them, even as you loved me.

I made known to them your name, and will make it known; that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them."

When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples over the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered.

Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples.

Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he. If therefore you seek me, let these go their way,"

that the word might be fulfilled which he spoke, "Of those whom you have given me, I have lost none."

Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" From that hour, the disciple took her to his own home.

When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be to you."

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord.

Jesus therefore said to them again, "Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you."

When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit!

But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, wasn't with them when Jesus came.

After eight days again his disciples were inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace be to you."

Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed."

Therefore Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book;

After these things, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself this way.

Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have just caught."

Jesus said to them, "Come and eat breakfast." None of the disciples dared inquire of him, "Who are you?" knowing that it was the Lord.

Then Jesus came and took the bread, gave it to them, and the fish likewise.

This is now the third time that Jesus was revealed to his disciples, after he had risen from the dead.

praising God, and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.

not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that this is he who is appointed by God as the Judge of the living and the dead.

They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles.

As they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them."

So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus.

From this man's seed, God has brought salvation to Israel according to his promise,

Brothers, children of the stock of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, the word of this salvation is sent out to you.

We bring you good news of the promise made to the fathers,

Be it known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man is proclaimed to you remission of sins,

For so has the Lord commanded us, saying, 'I have set you as a light for the Gentiles, that you should bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.'"

Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

When they had arrived, and had gathered the assembly together, they reported all the things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith to the nations.

When there had been much discussion, Peter rose up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the nations should hear the word of the Good News, and believe.

God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us.

He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

Simeon has reported how God first visited the nations, to take out of them a people for his name.

When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go out to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the Good News to them.

for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many people in this city."

but taking his leave of them, and saying, "I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem, but I will return again to you if God wills," he set sail from Ephesus.

He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They said to him, "No, we haven't even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."

When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with other languages and prophesied.

So the word of the Lord was growing and becoming mighty.

Coming to us, and taking Paul's belt, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit: 'So will the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'"

When he had greeted them, he reported one by one the things which God had worked among the Gentiles through his ministry.

to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'

how the Christ must suffer, and how, by the resurrection of the dead, he would be first to proclaim light both to these people and to the Gentiles."

saying, 'Don't be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar. Behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.'

When they didn't agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had spoken one word, "The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah, the prophet, to our fathers,

For this people's heart has grown callous. Their ears are dull of hearing. Their eyes they have closed. Lest they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and would turn again, and I would heal them.'

"Be it known therefore to you, that the salvation of God is sent to the nations. They will also listen."

For being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they didn't subject themselves to the righteousness of God.

For Christ is the fulfillment of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him.

For, "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved."

yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we live through him.

And through your knowledge, he who is weak perishes, the brother for whose sake Christ died.

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

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort;

who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

For as the sufferings of Christ abound to us, even so our comfort also abounds through Christ.

who delivered us out of so great a death, and does deliver; on whom we have set our hope that he will also still deliver us;

For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.

In this confidence, I was determined to come first to you, that you might have a second benefit;

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, by me, Silvanus, and Timothy, was not "Yes and no," but in him is "Yes."

For however many are the promises of God, in him is the "Yes." Therefore also through him is the "Amen," to the glory of God through us.

Now he who establishes us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God;

who also sealed us, and gave us the down payment of the Spirit in our hearts.

not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God;

who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

won't service of the Spirit be with much more glory?

For if the service of condemnation has glory, the service of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.

But whenever one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit.

Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we don't faint.

But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them.

seeing it is God who said, "Light will shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

pursued, yet not forsaken; struck down, yet not destroyed;

always carrying in the body the putting to death of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus may be revealed in our mortal flesh.

knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will present us with you.

Therefore we don't faint, but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day.

For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory;

For we know that if the earthly house of our tent is dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens.

Now he who made us for this very thing is God, who also gave to us the down payment of the Spirit.

Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are revealed to God; and I hope that we are revealed also in your consciences.

For the love of Christ constrains us; because we judge thus, that one died for all, therefore all died.

He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and rose again.

But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation;

namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.

For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia;

This was not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and 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 sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.

But thanks be to God, who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.

Having regard for honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, why do you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental principles, to which you desire to be in bondage all over again?

being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

and in nothing frightened by the adversaries, which is for them a proof of destruction, but to you of salvation, and that from God.

Because it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer on his behalf,

We know, brothers loved by God, that you are chosen,

and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead--Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.

how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation--which at the first having been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard;

saying, "I will declare your name to my brothers. In the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise."

and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Therefore he was obligated in all things to be made like his brothers, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.

For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

(and the life was revealed, and we have seen, and testify, and declare to you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was revealed to us);

Mercy to you and peace and love be multiplied.

Beloved, while I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I was constrained to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

Now to him who is able to keep them from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory in great joy,

to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.

This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things which must happen soon, which he sent and made known by his angel to his servant, John,

who testified to God's word, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, about everything that he saw.

John, to the seven assemblies that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from God, who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before his throne;

"To the angel of the assembly in Ephesus write: "He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, he who walks among the seven golden lampstands says these things:

"I know your works, and your toil and perseverance, and that you can't tolerate evil men, and have tested those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and found them false.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of my God.

"To the angel of the assembly in Smyrna write: "The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life says these things:

"I know your works, oppression, and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. He who overcomes won't be harmed by the second death.

"To the angel of the assembly in Pergamum write: "He who has the sharp two-edged sword says these things:

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows but he who receives it.

"To the angel of the assembly in Thyatira write: "The Son of God, who has his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like burnished brass, says these things:

"I know your works, your love, faith, service, patient endurance, and that your last works are more than the first.

I will kill her children with Death, and all the assemblies will know that I am he who searches the minds and hearts. I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.

But to you I say, to the rest who are in Thyatira, as many as don't have this teaching, who don't know what some call 'the deep things of Satan,' to you I say, I am not putting any other burden on you.

Nevertheless, hold that which you have firmly until I come.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.