Here is a message about the Desert by the Sea: ¹  Like strong winds blowing in the south, ²  one invades from the desert, from a land that is feared.

After ¹  entering into an alliance with him, he will behave treacherously; he will ascend to power with only a small force. ² 

Because the storm was growing worse and worse, ¹  they said to him, “What should we do to you to make ²  the sea calm down ³  for us?”

I will remove your idols and sacred pillars from your midst; you will no longer worship what your own hands made.

Instead, a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit ¹  immediately heard about him and came and fell at his feet.

The woman was a Greek, of Syrophoenician origin. She ¹  asked him to cast the demon out of her daughter.

Thus the Pharisees ¹  said to one another, “You see that you can do nothing. Look, the world has run off after him!”

He told them, “You are not permitted to know ¹  the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.

But carefully select from among you, brothers, ¹  seven ²  men who are well-attested, ³  full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge ⁴  of this necessary task. ⁵ 

While they were trying ¹  to kill him, a report ²  was sent up ³  to the commanding officer ⁴  of the cohort ⁵  that all Jerusalem was in confusion. ⁶ 

He ordered the centurion ¹  to guard Paul, ²  but to let him have some freedom, ³  and not to prevent any of his friends ⁴  from meeting his needs. ⁵ 

When the ship was caught in it ¹  and could not head into ²  the wind, we gave way to it and were driven ³  along.

What then? Are we better off? Certainly not, for we have already charged that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin,

For we know that the law is spiritual – but I am unspiritual, sold into slavery to sin. ¹ 

I wish that everyone was as I am. But each has his own gift from God, one this way, another that.

For since I am free from all I can make myself a slave to all, in order to gain even more people. ¹ 

the women ¹  should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak. ²  Rather, let them be in submission, as in fact the law says.

He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹ 

Let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart (for you were in fact called as one body ¹  to this peace), and be thankful.

And we urge you, brothers and sisters, ¹  admonish the undisciplined, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient toward all.