If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it ¹  and will send it back here soon.’”

Some time ¹  afterward ²  he went on through towns ³  and villages, preaching and proclaiming the good news ⁴  of the kingdom of God. ⁵  The ⁶  twelve were with him,

And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the person who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit ¹  will not be forgiven. ² 

Then ¹  a little later someone else ²  saw him and said, “You are one of them too.” But Peter said, “Man, ³  I am not!”

Then ¹  he said to them, “What are these matters ²  you are discussing so intently ³  as you walk along?” And they stood still, looking sad.

The disciples replied, ¹  “Rabbi, the Jewish leaders ²  were just now trying ³  to stone you to death! Are ⁴  you going there again?”

In a little while you ¹  will see me no longer; again after a little while, you ²  will see me.” ³ 

We continued the voyage from Tyre ¹  and arrived at Ptolemais, ²  and when we had greeted the brothers, we stayed with them for one day.

But so that I may not delay ¹  you any further, I beg ²  you to hear us briefly ³  with your customary graciousness. ⁴ 

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires,

For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation ¹  of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now food will not bring us close to God. We are no worse if we do not eat and no better if we do.

For I do not want to see you now in passing, since I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord allows.

For our momentary, light suffering ¹  is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison

For the overseer ¹  must be blameless as one entrusted with God’s work, ²  not arrogant, not prone to anger, not a drunkard, not violent, not greedy for gain.

And see to it that no one becomes ¹  an immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. ² 

Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, ¹  bear with my message of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you briefly.

You ¹  do not know about tomorrow. What is your life like? ²  For you are a puff of smoke ³  that appears for a short time and then vanishes.

This brings you great joy, ¹  although you may have to suffer ²  for a short time in various trials.