who was with the proconsul ¹  Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. The proconsul ²  summoned ³  Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear ⁴  the word of God.

The discerning person ¹  acquires knowledge, and the wise person ²  seeks ³  knowledge.

and I have filled him with the Spirit of God ¹  in skill, ²  in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds ³  of craftsmanship,

He has filled him with the Spirit of God – with skill, with understanding, with knowledge, and in all kinds of work,

For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will thwart the cleverness of the intelligent.” ¹ 

It is the same for you. If you do not speak clearly with your tongue, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air.

But it is a spirit in people, the breath ¹  of the Almighty, that makes them understand.

The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly. ¹ 

Even a fool who remains silent is considered ¹  wise, and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning. ² 

The man’s name was Nabal, ¹  and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was both wise ²  and beautiful, but the man was harsh and his deeds were evil. He was a Calebite.

At that time Jesus said, ¹  “I praise ²  you, Father, Lord ³  of heaven and earth, because ⁴  you have hidden these things from the wise ⁵  and intelligent, and revealed them to little children.

Five ¹  of the virgins ²  were foolish, and five were wise.

there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God.

I am speaking to thoughtful people. Consider what I say.

Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise,

Therefore I will again do an amazing thing for these people – an absolutely extraordinary deed. ¹  Wise men will have nothing to say, the sages will have no explanations.” ² 

What should I do? ¹  I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing praises with my spirit, but I will also sing praises with my mind.

but in the church I want to speak five words with my mind to instruct others, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Again, ¹  I observed this on the earth: ²  the race is not always ³  won by the swiftest, the battle is not always won by the strongest; prosperity ⁴  does not always belong to those who are the wisest, wealth does not always belong to those who are the most discerning, nor does success ⁵  always come to those with the most knowledge – for time and chance may overcome ⁶  them all.

On that same occasion ¹  Jesus ²  rejoiced ³  in the Holy Spirit and said, “I praise ⁴  you, Father, Lord ⁵  of heaven and earth, because ⁶  you have hidden these things from the wise ⁷  and intelligent, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your gracious will. ⁸