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Acts 12:1-19
/RSS FeedActs 12:1-19
1 About that time, King Herod reached out to harm some who belonged to the church.
2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.
3 And seeing that this pleased the Jews, Herod proceeded to seize Peter during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
4 He arrested him and put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out to the people after the Passover.
The Rescue of Peter 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him.
6 On the night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, with sentries standing guard at the entrance to the prison.
7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists.
8 “Get dressed and put on your sandals,” said the angel. Peter did so, and the angel told him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.”
9 So Peter followed him out, but he was unaware that what the angel was doing was real. He thought he was only seeing a vision.
10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city, which opened for them by itself. When they had gone outside and walked the length of one block, the angel suddenly left him.
11 Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod’s grasp and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating.”
12 And when he had realized this, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered together and were praying.
13 He knocked at the outer gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer it.
14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that she forgot to open the gate, but ran inside and announced, “Peter is standing at the gate!”
15 “You are out of your mind,” they told her. But when she kept insisting it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”
16 But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astounded.
17 Peter motioned with his hand for silence, and he described how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. “Send word to James and to the brothers,” he said, and he left for another place.
18 At daybreak there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter.
19 After Herod had searched for him unsuccessfully, he examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent some time there. -
Acts 10:24-33
/RSS FeedActs 10:24-33
24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea, where Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
25 As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him.
26 But Peter helped him up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”
27 As Peter talked with him, he went inside and found many people gathered together.
28 He said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.
29 So when I was invited, I came without objection. I ask, then, why have you sent for me?”
30 Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this, the ninth hour. Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me
31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been remembered before God.
32 Therefore send to Joppa for Simon, who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’
33 So I sent for you immediately, and you were kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has instructed you to tell us.” -
Acts 10:1-16
/RSS FeedActs 10:1-16
1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was called the Italian Regiment.
2 He and all his household were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly.
3 One day at about the ninth hour, he had a clear vision of an angel of God who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
4 Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, “What is it, Lord?” The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God.
5 Now send men to Joppa to call for a man named Simon who is called Peter.
6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among his attendants.
8 He explained what had happened and sent them to Joppa.
9 The next day at about the sixth hour, as the men were approaching the city on their journey, Peter went up on the roof to pray.
10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.
11 He saw heaven open and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.
12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, as well as birds of the air.
13 Then a voice said to him: “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!”
14 “No, Lord!” Peter answered. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
15 The voice spoke to him a second time: “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
16 This happened three times, and all at once the sheet was taken back up into heaven. -
Acts 4:23-31
/RSS FeedActs 4:23-31
23 On their release, Peter and John returned to their own people and reported everything that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
24 When the believers heard this, they lifted up their voices to God with one accord. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “You made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them.
25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of Your servant, our father David: ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One.’
27 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.
28 They carried out what Your hand and will had decided beforehand would happen.
29 And now, Lord, consider their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness,
30 as You stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.”
31 After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. -
2 Timothy 1:1-12
/RSS Feed2 Timothy 1:1-12
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus,
2 To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as did my forefathers, as I constantly remember you night and day in my prayers.
4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy.
5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced is in you as well.
6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.
8 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.
9 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.
10 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,
11 to which I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher.
12 For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day. -
1 Timothy 5:1-16
/RSS Feed1 Timothy 5:1-16
1 Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as to a father. Treat younger men as brothers,
2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
3 Honor the widows who are truly widows.
4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show godliness to their own family and repay their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.
5 The widow who is truly in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers.
6 But she who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still alive.
7 Give these instructions to the believers, so that they will be above reproach.
8 If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9 A widow should be enrolled if she is at least sixty years old, the wife of one man,
10 and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work.
11 But refuse to enroll younger widows. For when their passions draw them away from Christ, they will want to marry,
12 and thus will incur judgment because they are setting aside their first faith.
13 At the same time they will also learn to be idle, going from house to house and being not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, discussing things they should not mention.
14 So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander.
15 For some have already turned aside to follow Satan.
16 If any believing woman has dependent widows, she must assist them and not allow the church to be burdened, so that it can help the widows who are truly in need. -
1 Timothy 2:1-8
/RSS Feed1 Timothy 2:1-8
1 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone—
2 for kings and all those in authority—so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity.
3 This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,
4 who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all—the testimony that was given at just the right time.
7 For this reason I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a faithful and true teacher of the Gentiles. I am telling the truth; I am not lying about anything.
8 Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or dissension. -
Revelation 5:1-10
/RSS FeedRevelation 5:1-10
1 Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One seated on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals.
2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?”
3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look inside it.
4 And I began to weep bitterly, because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look inside it.
5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
7 And He came and took the scroll from the right hand of the One seated on the throne.
8 When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
9 And they sang a new song: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon the earth.” -
John 17:20-26
/RSS FeedJohn 17:20-26
20 I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message,
21 that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.
22 I have given them the glory You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one—
23 I in them and You in Me—that they may be perfectly united, so that the world may know that You sent Me and have loved them just as You have loved Me.
24 Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, that they may see the glory You gave Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
25 Righteous Father, although the world has not known You, I know You, and they know that You sent Me.
26 And I have made Your name known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love You have for Me may be in them, and I in them.” -
John 17:1-19
/RSS FeedJohn 17:1-19
1 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.
2 For You granted Him authority over all people, so that He may give eternal life to all those You have given Him.
3 Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.
4 I have glorified You on earth by accomplishing the work You gave Me to do.
5 And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world existed.
6 I have revealed Your name to those You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours; You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.
7 Now they know that everything You have given Me comes from You.
8 For I have given them the words You gave Me, and they have received them. They knew with certainty that I came from You, and they believed that You sent Me.
9 I ask on their behalf. I do not ask on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those You have given Me; for they are Yours.
10 All I have is Yours, and all You have is Mine; and in them I have been glorified.
11 I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, protect them by Your name, the name You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one.
12 While I was with them, I protected and preserved them by Your name, the name You gave Me. Not one of them has been lost, except the son of destruction, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.
13 But now I am coming to You; and I am saying these things while I am in the world, so that they may have My joy fulfilled within them.
14 I have given them Your word and the world has hated them; for they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
15 I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one.
16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.
18 As You sent Me into the world, I have also sent them into the world.
19 For them I sanctify Myself, so that they too may be sanctified by the truth.
