Acts 20:2

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

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

Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

that you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God,

that no one would be moved by these afflictions. For you know that we are appointed to this task.

Withstand him steadfast in your faith, knowing that your brothers who are in the world are undergoing the same sufferings.

Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Yahweh in ceasing to pray for you: but I will instruct you in the good and the right way.

Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.

For we are not as so many, peddling the word of God. But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.

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.

that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without defect.

if it is so that you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the Good News which you heard, which is being proclaimed in all creation under heaven, of which I, Paul, was made a servant.

As therefore you received Christ Jesus, the Lord, walk in him,

But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children.

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.

I John, your brother and partner with you in the oppression, Kingdom, and perseverance in Christ Jesus, was on the isle that is called Patmos because of God’s Word and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but Yahweh delivers him out of them all.

Jesus answered, “Faithless and perverse generation! How long will I be with you? How long will I bear with you? Bring him here to me.”

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.

For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

Then the brothers immediately sent out Paul to go as far as to the sea, and Silas and Timothy still stayed there.

Having spent some time there, he departed, and went through the region of Galatia, and Phrygia, in order, establishing all the disciples.

On the first day of the week, when the disciples were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and continued his speech until midnight.

and if children, then heirs: heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.

I don’t write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.

Only, as the Lord has distributed to each man, as God has called each, so let him walk. So I command in all the assemblies.

But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest your coming together be for judgment. The rest I will set in order whenever I come.

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

Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ; To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and servants:

For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again to my need.

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

but having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as you know, at Philippi, we grew bold in our God to tell you the Good News of God in much conflict.

For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification.

We are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers, even as it is appropriate, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of each and every one of you toward one another abounds,

For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps,

They have dealt corruptly with him. They are not his children, because of their defect. They are a perverse and crooked generation.

I will give you shepherds according to my heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.

I will strengthen them in Yahweh; and they will walk up and down in his name,” says Yahweh.

Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

How narrow is the gate, and restricted is the way that leads to life! Few are those who find it.

The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn’t fall, for it was founded on the rock.

But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next, for most certainly I tell you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man has come.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, came; and seeing him, he fell at his feet,

If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love.

But some of those who were of the synagogue called “The Libertines”, and of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia arose, disputing with Stephen.

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.

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.

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.

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

Now after these things had ended, Paul determined in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”

These accompanied him as far as Asia: Sopater of Beroea; Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians; Gaius of Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.

We sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas in five days, where we stayed seven days.

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

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

We speak wisdom, however, among those who are full grown, yet a wisdom not of this world nor of the rulers of this world who are coming to nothing.

God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages.

For I do not wish to see you now in passing, but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits.

Therefore “ ‘Come out from among them, and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.

This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment,

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

yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without defect and blameless before him,

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching.

that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to share;

for Demas left me, having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia; and Titus to Dalmatia.

But I exhort you, brothers, endure the word of exhortation; for I have written to you in few words.

For thus you will be richly supplied with the entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

He has made my mouth like a sharp sword. He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand. He has made me a polished shaft. He has kept me close in his quiver.

but his disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.

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.

Paul, as was his custom, went in to them, and for three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

Embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to places on the coast of Asia, we put to sea, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.

not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

For indeed I bend Judah as a bow for me. I have filled the bow with Ephraim; and I will stir up your sons, Zion, against your sons, Greece, and will make you like the sword of a mighty man.

With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

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.”

strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many afflictions we must enter into God’s Kingdom.

Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them.

He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.

and from there to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the foremost of the district, a Roman colony. We were staying some days in this city.

Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea. When they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue.

When he had gone up, and had broken bread and eaten, and had talked with them a long while, even until break of day, he departed.

or he who exhorts, to his exhorting; he who gives, let him do it with generosity; he who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing. And I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.

Besides those things that are outside, there is that which presses on me daily: anxiety for all the assemblies.

We proclaim him, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus;

For our exhortation is not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deception.

As you know, we exhorted, comforted, and implored every one of you, as a father does his own children,

Finally then, brothers, we beg and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, that you abound more and more.