He proclaimed, ¹  “One more powerful than I am is coming after me; I am not worthy ²  to bend down and untie the strap ³  of his sandals.

He instructed them to take nothing for the journey except a staff ¹  – no bread, no bag, ²  no money in their belts –

(For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they perform a ritual washing, ¹  holding fast to the tradition of the elders.

Jesus looked at them and replied, “This is impossible for mere humans, ¹  but not for God; all things are possible for God.”

But if we say, ‘From people – ’” (they feared the crowd, for they all considered John to be truly a prophet).

For nation will rise up in arms ¹  against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines. ²  These are but the beginning of birth pains.

“Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and puts them into practice ¹  – I will show you what he is like:

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, ¹  but that the world should be saved through him.

If anyone wants to do God’s will, ¹  he will know about my teaching, whether it is from God or whether I speak from my own authority. ² 

Now Simon, when he saw that the Spirit ¹  was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, offered them money,

and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings ¹  or birds or four-footed animals ²  or reptiles.

And do you think, ¹  whoever you are, when you judge ²  those who practice such things and yet do them yourself, ³  that you will escape God’s judgment?

For no one is declared righteous before him ¹  by the works of the law, ²  for through the law comes ³  the knowledge of sin.

Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the Gentiles too? Yes, of the Gentiles too!

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel – and not with clever speech, so that the cross of Christ would not become useless. ¹ 

Or do you not know that anyone who is united with ¹  a prostitute is one body with her? ²  For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” ³ 

With regard to food sacrificed to idols, we know that “we all have knowledge.” ¹  Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

If we sowed spiritual blessings among you, is it too much to reap material things from you?

For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason for boasting, because I am compelled to do this. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare seed ¹  – perhaps of wheat or something else.