For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom ¹  for many.”

The soldiers ¹  forced ²  a passerby to carry his cross, ³  Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country ⁴  (he was the father of Alexander and Rufus).

Jesus ¹  said to him, “No one who puts his ²  hand to the plow and looks back ³  is fit for the kingdom of God.” ⁴ 

The Lord replied, ¹  “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, ²  whom the master puts in charge of his household servants, ³  to give them their allowance of food at the proper time?

Jesus replied, ¹  “This is the deed ²  God requires ³  – to believe in the one whom he ⁴  sent.”

to assume the task ¹  of this service ²  and apostleship from which Judas turned aside ³  to go to his own place.” ⁴ 

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time ¹  for prayer, ²  at three o’clock in the afternoon. ³ 

So Barnabas and Saul returned to ¹  Jerusalem ²  when they had completed ³  their mission, ⁴  bringing along with them John Mark. ⁵ 

After the reading from the law and the prophets, ¹  the leaders of the synagogue ²  sent them a message, ³  saying, “Brothers, ⁴  if you have any message ⁵  of exhortation ⁶  for the people, speak it.” ⁷ 

As Paul and Barnabas ¹  were going out, ²  the people ³  were urging ⁴  them to speak about these things ⁵  on the next Sabbath.

Paul went to the Jews in the synagogue, ¹  as he customarily did, and on three Sabbath days he addressed ²  them from the scriptures,

For God, whom I serve in my spirit by preaching the gospel ¹  of his Son, is my witness that ²  I continually remember you

For this reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities ¹  are God’s servants devoted to governing. ² 

I am saying this for your benefit, not to place a limitation on you, but so that without distraction you may give notable and constant service to the Lord.

Who ever serves in the army at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Who tends a flock and does not consume its milk?

But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or uninformed person enters, he will be convicted by all, he will be called to account by all.

So then, dear brothers and sisters, ¹  be firm. Do not be moved! Always be outstanding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

And we are sending ¹  along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in spreading the gospel. ² 

Formerly when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods at all. ¹ 

From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body. ¹