Acts 8:4

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the laborers are few.

Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia,

The wicked flee when no one pursues; but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled. They recognized that they had been with Jesus.

Those of you that escape will remember me among the nations where they are carried captive, how I have been broken with their lewd heart, which has departed from me, and with their eyes, which play the prostitute after their idols. Then they will loathe themselves in their own sight for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.

They threw him out of the city and stoned him. The witnesses placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.

When they had gone through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.

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.

The multitude rose up together against them and the magistrates tore their clothes from them, then commanded them to be beaten with rods.

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.

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.

having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.

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.

When Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men and all the princes heard his words, the king sought to put him to death; but when Uriah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and as a pretense you make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.

After these things, Jesus was walking in Galilee, for he wouldn’t walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him.

The Jews therefore said among themselves, “Where will this man go that we won’t find him? Will he go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?

But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and were determined to kill them.

They agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

they became aware of it and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra, Derbe, and the surrounding region.

When they had preached the Good News to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,

From there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled.

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

When the blood of Stephen, your witness, was shed, I also was standing by, consenting to his death, and guarding the cloaks of those who killed him.’

For most certainly, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction, even as it happened, and you know.

Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, even as also with you,

For this cause I also suffer these things. Yet I am not ashamed, for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed to him against that day.

in which I suffer hardship to the point of chains as a criminal. But God’s word isn’t chained.

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are in the Dispersion: Greetings.

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:

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

“ ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “For this, moreover, I will be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them: I will increase them with men like a flock.

I will sow her to me in the earth; and I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy; and I will tell those who were not my people, ‘You are my people;’ and they will say, ‘My God!’ ”

The remnant of Jacob will be among many peoples, like dew from Yahweh, like showers on the grass, that don’t wait for man, nor wait for the sons of men.

From beyond the rivers of Cush, my worshipers, even the daughter of my dispersed people, will bring my offering.

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

Jesus sent these twelve out, and commanded them, saying, “Don’t go among the Gentiles, and don’t enter into any city of the Samaritans.

Jesus, perceiving that, withdrew from there. Great multitudes followed him; and he healed them all,

He answered them, “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man,

Most certainly I tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste of death, until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”

Therefore behold, I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city;

Most certainly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation.

Immediately many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even around the door; and he spoke the word to them.

He said to them, “Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”

Joses, who by the apostles was also called Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of Encouragement), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race,

Saul was consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the assembly which was in Jerusalem in that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.

Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,

So the assemblies throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace, and were built up. They were multiplied, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

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.

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.

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.

When they had come opposite Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit didn’t allow them.

Having found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard, and set sail.

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

who, knowing the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them.

No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech,

But we beg you, brothers, to know those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you,

Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

but if you return to me, and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts were in the uttermost part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and will bring them to the place that I have chosen, to cause my name to dwell there.’

Blessed are you who sow beside all waters, who send out the feet of the ox and the donkey.

I will bring offspring out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains. My chosen will inherit it, and my servants will dwell there.

“Behold, the days come,” says Yahweh, “that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and with the seed of animal.

“For, behold, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all the nations, as grain is sifted in a sieve, yet not the least kernel will fall on the earth.

I will sow them among the peoples; and they will remember me in far countries; and they will live with their children, and will return.

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”

Now when Jesus heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew into Galilee.

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.

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.

Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat, to a deserted place apart. When the multitudes heard it, they followed him on foot from the cities.

“For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who was the master of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.

and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.

Watch therefore, for you don’t know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

Jesus withdrew to the sea with his disciples, and a great multitude followed him from Galilee, from Judea,

The farmer sows the word.

“It is like a man, traveling to another country, having left his house, and given authority to his servants, and to each one his work, and also commanded the doorkeeper to keep watch.

even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us,

Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

Then he said to them, “The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send out laborers into his harvest.

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.

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.”

There they preached the Good News.

But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

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

So as much as is in me, I am eager to preach the Good News to you also who are in Rome.

For if you were cut out of that which is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree, how much more will these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Greet Persis, the beloved, who labored much in the Lord.

Now I desire to have you know, brothers, that the things which happened to me have turned out rather to the progress of the Good News,

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.

The farmer who labors must be the first to get a share of the crops.

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen ones who are living as foreigners in the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

because for the sake of the Name they went out, taking nothing from the Gentiles.

Pray therefore that the Lord of the harvest will send out laborers into his harvest.”