Acts 20:19

But even as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News, so we speak: not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts.

Blessed is a person who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love him.

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.

You adulterers and adulteresses, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John.

But by the grace of God I am what I am. His grace which was given to me was not futile, but I worked more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

not in the way of service only when eyes are on you, as men pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot.

They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus’ name.

but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God.

that I should be a servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest of the Good News of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be made acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

For it is God who works in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor plan, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, where you are going.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

But the Lord said to him, “Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children of Israel.

Now, brothers, I entrust you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build up, and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

through whom we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

We are pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not to despair;

Give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth.

looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”

to provide for those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, that he may be glorified.

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Mammon.

They sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and teach the way of God in truth, no matter whom you teach, for you aren’t partial to anyone.

But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

how I didn’t shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, teaching you publicly and from house to house,

rejoicing in hope; enduring in troubles; continuing steadfastly in prayer;

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

So although I wrote to you, I wrote not for his cause that did the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered the wrong, but that your earnest care for us might be revealed in you in the sight of God.

He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.

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

I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the assembly,

But may the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

Don’t love the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t in him.

Outside the sword will bereave, and in the rooms, terror on both young man and virgin, the nursing infant with the gray-haired man.

Yahweh said to him, “Go through the middle of the city, through the middle of Jerusalem, and set a mark on the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry over all the abominations that are done within it.”

yet I will rejoice in Yahweh. I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

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

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

I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and brought them out and said,

This continued for two years, so that all those who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

When he had spent three months there, and a plot was made against him by Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia.

The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, “Cheer up, Paul, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must testify also at Rome.”

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus Christ, our Lord? Aren’t you my work in the Lord?

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the assembly of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:

I had no relief for my spirit, because I didn’t find Titus, my brother, but taking my leave of them, I went out into Macedonia.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus:

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.

For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we have set our trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

Be diligent to come to me soon,

Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s chosen ones, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow.

Don’t be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested; and you will have oppression for ten days. Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life.

There will be no curse any more. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will serve him.

She rises also while it is yet night, gives food to her household, and portions for her servant girls.

He entered into the synagogue and spoke boldly for a period of three months, reasoning and persuading about the things concerning God’s Kingdom.

For he who was called in the Lord being a bondservant is the Lord’s free man. Likewise he who was called being free is Christ’s bondservant.

You know that when you were heathen, you were led away to those mute idols, however you might be led.

I have been in travels often, perils of rivers, perils of robbers, perils from my countrymen, perils from the Gentiles, perils in the city, perils in the wilderness, perils in the sea, perils among false brothers;

knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive the same good again from the Lord, whether he is bound or free.

Be diligent to come before winter. Eubulus salutes you, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers.

For you both had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and an enduring one in the heavens.

And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.

but their plot became known to Saul. They watched the gates both day and night that they might kill him,

Therefore watch, remembering that for a period of three years I didn’t cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears.

not lagging in diligence; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that you should be made to grieve, but that you might know the love that I have so abundantly for you.

For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, as the enemies of the cross of Christ,

knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

Joseph hurried, for his heart yearned over his brother; and he sought a place to weep. He entered into his room, and wept there.

He settled his gaze steadfastly on him, until he was ashamed. Then the man of God wept.

Streams of tears run down my eyes, because they don’t observe your law.

Yahweh, my heart isn’t arrogant, nor my eyes lofty; nor do I concern myself with great matters, or things too wonderful for me.

Oh that my head were waters, and my eyes a spring of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!

But if you will not hear it, my soul will weep in secret for your pride. My eye will weep bitterly, and run down with tears, because Yahweh’s flock has been taken captive.

When he came near, he saw the city and wept over it,

If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there my servant will also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

But the unpersuaded Jews took along some wicked men from the marketplace, and gathering a crowd, set the city in an uproar. Assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them out to the people.

But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Beroea also, they came there likewise, agitating the multitudes.

Therefore don’t yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse to neither eat nor drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you.”

For there stood by me this night an angel, belonging to the God whose I am and whom I serve,

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Good News of God,

For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the Good News of his Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you always in my prayers,

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

For even when we had come into Macedonia, our flesh had no relief, but we were afflicted on every side. Fightings were outside. Fear was inside.

For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ.

with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

with good will doing service as to the Lord, and not to men,

For they themselves report concerning us what kind of a reception we had from you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God,

longing to see you, remembering your tears, that I may be filled with joy;

persecutions, and sufferings: those things that happened to me at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. I endured those persecutions. The Lord delivered me out of them all.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations,

Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved in various trials,

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:

Therefore they are before the throne of God, they serve him day and night in his temple. He who sits on the throne will spread his tabernacle over them.