Both Judas and Silas, who were prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with a long speech. ¹ 

eternal life to those who by perseverance in good works seek glory and honor and immortality,

Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

let their eyes be darkened so that they may not see, and make their backs bend continually.” ¹ 

we are persecuted, but not abandoned; ¹  we are knocked down, ²  but not destroyed,

Thus we are full of courage and would prefer to be away ¹  from the body and at home with the Lord.

I am not saying this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love by comparison with the eagerness of others. ¹ 

From Paul, ¹  an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to further the promise ²  of life in Christ Jesus,

So do not throw away your confidence, because it ¹  has great reward.

I especially ask you to pray ¹  that I may be restored to you very soon.

At that time they will say, ¹  “Look, here ²  is our God! We waited for him and he delivered us. Here ³  is the Lord! We waited for him. Let’s rejoice and celebrate his deliverance!”

Why must I continually suffer such painful anguish? Why must I endure the sting of their insults like an incurable wound? Will you let me down when I need you like a brook one goes to for water, but that cannot be relied on?” ¹ 

The prophet Jeremiah said, “Amen! May the Lord do all this! May the Lord make your prophecy come true! May he bring back to this place from Babylon all the valuable articles taken from the Lord’s temple and the people who were carried into exile.

Then ¹  they watched him carefully and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. ²  They wanted to take advantage of what he might say ³  so that they could deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction ⁴  of the governor.

When ¹  Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued ²  me from the hand ³  of Herod ⁴  and from everything the Jewish people ⁵  were expecting to happen.”

But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing these things so that something will be done for me. ¹  In fact, it would be better for me to die than – no one will deprive me of my reason for boasting! ² 

If from a human point of view I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, ¹  what did it benefit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. ² 

Esau ¹  then asked, “What did you intend ²  by sending all these herds to meet me?” ³  Jacob ⁴  replied, “To find favor in your sight, my lord.”

Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected ¹  to see you ²  again, but now God has allowed me to see your children ³  too.”

So now, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your little children.” Then he consoled them and spoke kindly ¹  to them.