God's Kingdom Expands Beyond Jewish Borders

1. Let me sing for my well beloved a song of my beloved about his vineyard. My beloved had a vineyard on a very fruitful hill. 2. He dug it up, gathered out its stones, planted it with the choicest vine, built a tower in the middle of it, and also cut out a wine press therein. He looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes. 3. “Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, please judge between me and my vineyard. 4. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? Why, when I looked for it to yield grapes, did it yield wild grapes? 5. Now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will take away its hedge, and it will be eaten up. I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled down. 6. I will lay it a wasteland. It won’t be pruned nor hoed, but it will grow briers and thorns. I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain on it.” 7. For the vineyard of Yahweh of Armies is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for justice, but, behold, oppression; for righteousness, but, behold, a cry of distress. 8. Woe to those who join house to house, who lay field to field, until there is no room, and you are made to dwell alone in the middle of the land! 9. In my ears, Yahweh of Armies says: “Surely many houses will be desolate, even great and beautiful, unoccupied. 10. For ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and a homer of seed shall yield an ephah.” 11. Woe to those who rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; who stay late into the night, until wine inflames them! 12. The harp, lyre, tambourine, and flute, with wine, are at their feasts; but they don’t respect the work of Yahweh, neither have they considered the operation of his hands. 13. Therefore my people go into captivity for lack of knowledge. Their honorable men are famished, and their multitudes are parched with thirst. 14. Therefore Sheol has enlarged its desire, and opened its mouth without measure; and their glory, their multitude, their pomp, and he who rejoices among them, descend into it. 15. So man is brought low, mankind is humbled, and the eyes of the arrogant ones are humbled; 16. but Yahweh of Armies is exalted in justice, and God the Holy One is sanctified in righteousness. 17. Then the lambs will graze as in their pasture, and strangers will eat the ruins of the rich. 18. Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of falsehood, and wickedness as with cart rope; 19. Who say, “Let him make speed, let him hasten his work, that we may see it; and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come, that we may know it!” 20. Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! 22. Woe to those who are mighty to drink wine, and champions at mixing strong drink; 23. who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice for the innocent! 24. Therefore as the tongue of fire devours the stubble, and as the dry grass sinks down in the flame, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust; because they have rejected the law of Yahweh of Armies, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. 25. Therefore Yahweh’s anger burns against his people, and he has stretched out his hand against them, and has struck them. The mountains tremble, and their dead bodies are as refuse in the middle of the streets. For all this, his anger is not turned away, but his hand is still stretched out. 26. He will lift up a banner to the nations from far, and he will whistle for them from the end of the earth. Behold, they will come speedily and swiftly. 27. No one shall be weary nor stumble among them; no one shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the belt of their waist be untied, nor the strap of their sandals be broken: 28. whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent. Their horses’ hoofs will be like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind. 29. Their roaring will be like a lioness. They will roar like young lions. Yes, they shall roar, and seize their prey and carry it off, and there will be no one to deliver. 30. They will roar against them in that day like the roaring of the sea. If one looks to the land behold, darkness and distress. The light is darkened in its clouds. 1. In the year that king Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple. 2. Above him stood the seraphim. Each one had six wings. With two he covered his face. With two he covered his feet. With two he flew. 3. One called to another, and said, “Holy, holy, holy, is Yahweh of Armies! The whole earth is full of his glory!” 4. The foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5. Then I said, “Woe is me! For I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips: for my eyes have seen the King, Yahweh of Armies!” 6. Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar. 7. He touched my mouth with it, and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away, and your sin forgiven.” 8. I heard the Lord’s voice, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am. Send me!” 9. He said, “Go, and tell this people, ‘You hear indeed, but don’t understand; and you see indeed, but don’t perceive.’ 10. Make the heart of this people fat. Make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn again, and be healed.” 11. Then I said, “Lord, how long?” He answered, “Until cities are waste without inhabitant, and houses without man, and the land becomes utterly waste, 12. And Yahweh has removed men far away, and the forsaken places are many within the land. 13. If there is a tenth left in it, that also will in turn be consumed: as a terebinth, and as an oak, whose stock remains when they are felled; so the holy seed is its stock.” 1. In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it. 2. David’s house was told, “Syria is allied with Ephraim.” His heart trembled, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the forest tremble with the wind. 3. Then Yahweh said to Isaiah, “Go out now to meet Ahaz, you, and Shearjashub your son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, on the highway of the fuller’s field. 4. Tell him, ‘Be careful, and keep calm. Don’t be afraid, neither let your heart be faint because of these two tails of smoking torches, for the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria, and of the son of Remaliah. 5. Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have plotted evil against you, saying, 6. “Let’s go up against Judah, and tear it apart, and let’s divide it among ourselves, and set up a king within it, even the son of Tabeel.” 7. This is what the Lord Yahweh says: “It shall not stand, neither shall it happen.” 8. For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within sixty-five years Ephraim shall be broken in pieces, so that it shall not be a people; 9. and the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son. If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established.’” 10. Yahweh spoke again to Ahaz, saying, 11. “Ask a sign of Yahweh your God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.” 12. But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, neither will I tempt Yahweh.” 13. He said, “Listen now, house of David. Is it not enough for you to try the patience of men, that you will try the patience of my God also? 14. Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15. He shall eat butter and honey when he knows to refuse the evil, and choose the good. 16. For before the child knows to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land whose two kings you abhor shall be forsaken. 17. Yahweh will bring on you, on your people, and on your father’s house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah; even the king of Assyria. 18. It will happen in that day that Yahweh will whistle for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. 19. They shall come, and shall all rest in the desolate valleys, in the clefts of the rocks, on all thorn hedges, and on all pastures. 20. In that day the Lord will shave with a razor that is hired in the parts beyond the River, even with the king of Assyria, the head and the hair of the feet; and it shall also consume the beard. 21. It shall happen in that day that a man shall keep alive a young cow, and two sheep; 22. and it shall happen, that because of the abundance of milk which they shall give he shall eat butter: for everyone will eat butter and honey that is left within the land. 23. It will happen in that day that every place where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silver shekels, shall be for briers and thorns. 24. People will go there with arrows and with bow, because all the land will be briers and thorns. 25. All the hills that were cultivated with the hoe, you shall not come there for fear of briers and thorns; but it shall be for the sending out of oxen, and for the treading of sheep.” 1. Yahweh said to me, “Take a large tablet, and write on it with a man’s pen, ‘For Maher Shalal Hash Baz’; 2. and I will take for myself faithful witnesses to testify: Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.” 3. I went to the prophetess, and she conceived, and bore a son. Then Yahweh said to me, “Call his name ‘Maher Shalal Hash Baz.’ 4. For before the child knows how to say, ‘My father,’ and, ‘My mother,’ the riches of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried away by the king of Assyria.” 5. Yahweh spoke to me yet again, saying, 6. “Because this people have refused the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah’s son; 7. now therefore, behold, the Lord brings upon them the mighty flood waters of the River: the king of Assyria and all his glory. It will come up over all its channels, and go over all its banks. 8. It will sweep onward into Judah. It will overflow and pass through; it will reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of its wings will fill the width of your land, Immanuel. 9. Make an uproar, you peoples, and be broken in pieces! Listen, all you from far countries: dress for battle, and be shattered! Dress for battle, and be shattered! 10. Take counsel together, and it will be brought to nothing; speak the word, and it will not stand: for God is with us.” 11. For Yahweh spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying, 12. “Don’t say, ‘A conspiracy!’ concerning all about which this people say, ‘A conspiracy!’ neither fear their threats, nor be terrorized. 13. Yahweh of Armies is who you must respect as holy. He is the one you must fear. He is the one you must dread. 14. He will be a sanctuary, but for both houses of Israel, he will be a trap and a snare for the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15. Many will stumble over it, fall, be broken, be snared, and be captured.” 16. Wrap up the testimony. Seal the law among my disciples. 17. I will wait for Yahweh, who hides his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. 18. Behold, I and the children whom Yahweh has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from Yahweh of Armies, who dwells in Mount Zion. 19. When they tell you, “Consult with those who have familiar spirits and with the wizards, who chirp and who mutter:” shouldn’t a people consult with their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living? 20. Turn to the law and to the testimony! If they don’t speak according to this word, surely there is no morning for them. 21. They will pass through it, very distressed and hungry; and it will happen that when they are hungry, they will worry, and curse by their king and by their God. They will turn their faces upward, 22. and look to the earth, and see distress, darkness, and the gloom of anguish. They will be driven into thick darkness.

1. Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. 2. When Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended with him, 3. saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men, and ate with them!” 4. But Peter began, and explained to them in order, saying, 5. “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision: a certain container descending, like it was a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners. It came as far as me. 6. When I had looked intently at it, I considered, and saw the four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky. 7. I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter, kill and eat!’ 8. But I said, ‘Not so, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered into my mouth.’ 9. But a voice answered me the second time out of heaven, ‘What God has cleansed, don’t you call unclean.’ 10. This was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven. 11. Behold, immediately three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent from Caesarea to me. 12. The Spirit told me to go with them, without discriminating. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house. 13. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying to him, ‘Send to Joppa, and get Simon, who is called Peter, 14. who will speak to you words by which you will be saved, you and all your house.’ 15. As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning. 16. I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.’ 17. If then God gave to them the same gift as us, when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?” 18. When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life!” 19. They therefore who were scattered abroad by the oppression that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews only. 20. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21. The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. 22. The report concerning them came to the ears of the assembly which was in Jerusalem. They sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch, 23. who, when he had come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad. He exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should remain near to the Lord. 24. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people were added to the Lord. 25. Barnabas went out to Tarsus to look for Saul. 26. When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they were gathered together with the assembly, and taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. 27. Now in these days, prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28. One of them named Agabus stood up, and indicated by the Spirit that there should be a great famine all over the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius. 29. As any of the disciples had plenty, each determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea; 30. which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. 1. Now about that time, King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly. 2. He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. 3. When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This was during the days of unleavened bread. 4. When he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. 5. Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him. 6. The same night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept the prison. 7. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side, and woke him up, saying, “Stand up quickly!” His chains fell off from his hands. 8. The angel said to him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” He did so. He said to him, “Put on your cloak, and follow me.” 9. And he went out and followed him. He didn’t know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision. 10. When they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went out, and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. 11. When Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting.” 12. Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. 13. When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer. 14. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she didn’t open the gate for joy, but ran in, and reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate. 15. They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.” 16. But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed. 17. But he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, “Tell these things to James, and to the brothers.” Then he departed, and went to another place. 18. Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. 19. When Herod had sought for him, and didn’t find him, he examined the guards, and commanded that they should be put to death. He went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there. 20. Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus, the king’s personal aide, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. 21. On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them. 22. The people shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 23. Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn’t give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died. 24. But the word of God grew and multiplied. 25. Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John who was called Mark. 1. Now in the assembly that was at Antioch there were some prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2. 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.” 3. Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 4. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus. 5. When they were at Salamis, they proclaimed God’s word in the Jewish synagogues. They had also John as their attendant. 6. When they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar Jesus, 7. who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul, and sought to hear the word of God. 8. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9. But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him, 10. and said, “Full of all deceit and all cunning, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11. Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is on you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sun for a season!” Immediately a mist and darkness fell on him. He went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12. Then the proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord. 13. Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga in Pamphylia. John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem. 14. But they, passing on from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia. They went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and sat down. 15. After the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, speak.” 16. Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen. 17. The God of this people chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they stayed as aliens in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm, he led them out of it. 18. For a period of about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. 19. When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land for an inheritance, for about four hundred fifty years. 20. After these things he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 21. Afterward they asked for a king, and God gave to them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22. When he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, to whom he also testified, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ 23. From this man’s offspring, God has brought salvation to Israel according to his promise, 24. before his coming, when John had first preached the baptism of repentance to Israel. 25. As John was fulfilling his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. But behold, one comes after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’ 26. Brothers, children of the stock of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, the word of this salvation is sent out to you. 27. For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they didn’t know him, nor the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. 28. Though they found no cause for death, they still asked Pilate to have him killed. 29. When they had fulfilled all things that were written about him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a tomb. 30. But God raised him from the dead, 31. and he was seen for many days by those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses to the people. 32. We bring you good news of the promise made to the fathers, 33. that God has fulfilled the same to us, their children, in that he raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second psalm, ‘You are my Son. Today I have become your father.’ 34. “Concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he has spoken thus: ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’ 35. Therefore he says also in another psalm, ‘You will not allow your Holy One to see decay.’ 36. For David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell asleep, and was laid with his fathers, and saw decay. 37. But he whom God raised up saw no decay. 38. Be it known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man is proclaimed to you remission of sins, 39. and by him everyone who believes is justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. 40. Beware therefore, lest that come on you which is spoken in the prophets: 41. ‘Behold, you scoffers, and wonder, and perish; for I work a work in your days, a work which you will in no way believe, if one declares it to you.’” 42. So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 43. Now when the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God. 44. The next Sabbath, almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of God. 45. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed. 46. Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said, “It was necessary that God’s word should be spoken to you first. Since indeed you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 47. 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.’” 48. As the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of God. As many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49. The Lord’s word was spread abroad throughout all the region. 50. But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out of their borders. 51. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came to Iconium. 52. The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. 1. In Iconium, they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed. 2. But the disbelieving Jews stirred up and embittered the souls of the Gentiles against the brothers. 3. 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. 4. But the multitude of the city was divided. Part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 5. When some of both the Gentiles and the Jews, with their rulers, made a violent attempt to mistreat and stone them, 6. they became aware of it, and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra, Derbe, and the surrounding region. 7. There they preached the Good News. 8. At Lystra a certain man sat, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked. 9. He was listening to Paul speaking, who, fastening eyes on him, and seeing that he had faith to be made whole, 10. said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet!” He leaped up and walked. 11. When the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the language of Lycaonia, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12. They called Barnabas “Jupiter”, and Paul “Mercury”, because he was the chief speaker. 13. The priest of Jupiter, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and would have made a sacrifice along with the multitudes. 14. But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they tore their clothes, and sprang into the multitude, crying out, 15. “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them; 16. who in the generations gone by allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. 17. Yet he didn’t leave himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you rains from the sky and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” 18. Even saying these things, they hardly stopped the multitudes from making a sacrifice to them. 19. But some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there, and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. 20. But as the disciples stood around him, he rose up, and entered into the city. On the next day he went out with Barnabas to Derbe. 21. When they had preached the Good News to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22. confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many afflictions we must enter into God’s Kingdom. 23. When they had appointed elders for them in every assembly, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed. 24. They passed through Pisidia, and came to Pamphylia. 25. When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26. From there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled. 27. 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. 28. They stayed there with the disciples for a long time. 1. Some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you can’t be saved.” 2. Therefore when Paul and Barnabas had no small discord and discussion with them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas, and some others of them, to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question. 3. They, being sent on their way by the assembly, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles. They caused great joy to all the brothers. 4. When they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all things that God had done with them. 5. But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” 6. The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter. 7. 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. 8. God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us. 9. He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. 10. Now therefore why do you tempt God, that you should put a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11. But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.” 12. All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the nations through them. 13. After they were silent, James answered, “Brothers, listen to me. 14. Simeon has reported how God first visited the nations, to take out of them a people for his name. 15. This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written, 16. ‘After these things I will return. I will again build the tabernacle of David, which has fallen. I will again build its ruins. I will set it up, 17. That the rest of men may seek after the Lord; all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who does all these things. 18. All of God’s works are known to him from eternity.’ 19. “Therefore my judgment is that we don’t trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God, 20. but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood. 21. For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” 22. Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brothers. 23. They wrote these things by their hand: “The apostles, the elders, and the brothers, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings. 24. Because we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, ‘You must be circumcised and keep the law,’ to whom we gave no commandment; 25. it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26. men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves will also tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things: 29. that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell.” 30. So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. 31. When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement. 32. Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words, and strengthened them. 33. After they had spent some time there, they were sent back with greetings from the brothers to the apostles. 34. 35. But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. 36. After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return now and visit our brothers in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.” 37. Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also. 38. But Paul didn’t think that it was a good idea to take with them someone who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and didn’t go with them to do the work. 39. Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away to Cyprus, 40. but Paul chose Silas, and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God. 41. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.

1. My son, if you have become collateral for your neighbor, if you have struck your hands in pledge for a stranger; 2. You are trapped by the words of your mouth. You are ensnared with the words of your mouth. 3. Do this now, my son, and deliver yourself, since you have come into the hand of your neighbor. Go, humble yourself. Press your plea with your neighbor. 4. Give no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids. 5. Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler. 6. Go to the ant, you sluggard. Consider her ways, and be wise; 7. which having no chief, overseer, or ruler, 8. provides her bread in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest. 9. How long will you sleep, sluggard? When will you arise out of your sleep? 10. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 11. so your poverty will come as a robber, and your scarcity as an armed man. 12. A worthless person, a man of iniquity, is he who walks with a perverse mouth; 13. who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, who motions with his fingers; 14. in whose heart is perverseness, who devises evil continually, who always sows discord. 15. Therefore his calamity will come suddenly. He will be broken suddenly, and that without remedy. 16. There are six things which Yahweh hates; yes, seven which are an abomination to him: 17. haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood; 18. a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are swift in running to mischief, 19. a false witness who utters lies, and he who sows discord among brothers. 20. My son, keep your father’s commandment, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching. 21. Bind them continually on your heart. Tie them around your neck. 22. When you walk, it will lead you. When you sleep, it will watch over you. When you awake, it will talk with you. 23. For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light. Reproofs of instruction are the way of life, 24. to keep you from the immoral woman, from the flattery of the wayward wife’s tongue. 25. Don’t lust after her beauty in your heart, neither let her captivate you with her eyelids. 26. For a prostitute reduces you to a piece of bread. The adulteress hunts for your precious life. 27. Can a man scoop fire into his lap, and his clothes not be burned? 28. Or can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be scorched? 29. So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife. Whoever touches her will not be unpunished. 30. Men don’t despise a thief, if he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry: 31. but if he is found, he shall restore seven times. He shall give all the wealth of his house. 32. He who commits adultery with a woman is void of understanding. He who does it destroys his own soul. 33. He will get wounds and dishonor. His reproach will not be wiped away. 34. For jealousy arouses the fury of the husband. He won’t spare in the day of vengeance. 35. He won’t regard any ransom, neither will he rest content, though you give many gifts.