and are advocating ¹  customs that are not lawful for us to accept ²  or practice, ³  since we are ⁴  Romans.”

Even now my witness ¹  is in heaven; my advocate ²  is on high.

(My little children, ¹  I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. ² ) But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate ³  with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous One, ⁴ 

Then ¹  I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate ²  to be with you forever –

When the Advocate ¹  comes, whom I will send you from the Father – the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father – he ²  will testify about me,

But the Advocate, ¹  the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you ²  everything, ³  and will cause you to remember everything ⁴  I said to you.

But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I am going away. For if I do not go away, the Advocate ¹  will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you.

He is a father to the fatherless and an advocate for widows. ¹  God rules from his holy palace. ² 

for their Protector ¹  is strong; he will plead their case against you. ² 

When David ¹  had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan and David became bound together in close friendship. ²  Jonathan loved David as much as he did his own life. ³ 

May the Lord be our judge and arbiter. May he see and arbitrate my case and deliver me from your hands!”

He sees there is no advocate; ¹  he is shocked ²  that no one intervenes. So he takes matters into his own hands; ³  his desire for justice drives him on. ⁴ 

After five days the high priest Ananias ¹  came down with some elders and an attorney ²  named ³  Tertullus, and they ⁴  brought formal charges ⁵  against Paul to the governor.

For those who are circumcised do not obey the law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised so that they can boast about your flesh. ¹ 

They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

If someone spreads false teachings ¹  and does not agree with sound words (that is, those of our Lord Jesus Christ) and with the teaching that accords with godliness,

At my first defense no one appeared in my support; instead they all deserted me – may they not be held accountable for it.

Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Ahasuerus. He was the highest-ranking ¹  Jew, and he was admired by his numerous relatives. ²  He worked enthusiastically ³  for the good of his people and was an advocate for the welfare of ⁴  all his descendants. ⁵ 

For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands – the representation ¹  of the true sanctuary ²  – but into heaven itself, and he appears now in God’s presence for us.

I for my part will stay at Mizpah to represent you before the Babylonians ¹  whenever they come to us. You for your part go ahead and harvest the wine, the dates, the figs, ²  and the olive oil, and store them in jars. Go ahead and settle down in the towns that you have taken over.” ³