Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me pick out twelve thousand men. Then I will go and pursue David this very night.

Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem. ¹  He went out among the people from Beer Sheba to the hill country of Ephraim and encouraged them to follow ²  the Lord God of their ancestors. ³ 

For the Lord has poured out on you a strong urge to sleep deeply. ¹  He has shut your eyes (the prophets), and covered your heads (the seers).

You ¹  will hear a word spoken behind you, saying, “This is the correct ²  way, walk in it,” whether you are heading to the right or the left.

Instructed by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.”

Jesus ordered them not to tell anything. But as much as he ordered them not to do this, they proclaimed it all the more. ¹ 

For this reason I tell you, whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

When he went out from there, the experts in the law ¹  and the Pharisees began to oppose him bitterly, ²  and to ask him hostile questions ³  about many things,

“The law and the prophets were in force ¹  until John; ²  since then, ³  the good news of the kingdom of God ⁴  has been proclaimed, and everyone is urged to enter it. ⁵ 

So Jesus’ brothers ¹  advised him, “Leave here and go to Judea so your disciples may see your miracles that you are performing. ² 

But the magician Elymas ¹  (for that is the way his name is translated) ²  opposed them, trying to turn the proconsul ³  away from the faith.

When they came out of the prison, they entered Lydia’s house, and when they saw the brothers, they encouraged them and then ¹  departed.

Some of the crowd concluded ¹  it was about ²  Alexander because the Jews had pushed him to the front. ³  Alexander, gesturing ⁴  with his hand, was wanting to make a defense ⁵  before the public assembly. ⁶ 

After the disturbance had ended, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging ¹  them and saying farewell, ²  he left to go to Macedonia. ³ 

After he had gone through those regions ¹  and spoken many words of encouragement ²  to the believers there, ³  he came to Greece, ⁴ 

After we located ¹  the disciples, we stayed there ²  seven days. They repeatedly told ³  Paul through the Spirit ⁴  not to set foot ⁵  in Jerusalem. ⁶ 

Requesting him to do them a favor against Paul, ¹  they urged Festus ²  to summon him to Jerusalem, planning an ambush ³  to kill him along the way.

For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For I want to do the good, but I cannot do it. ¹ 

I beg you, brothers and sisters, ¹  become like me, because I have become like you. You have done me no wrong!

But the aim of our instruction ¹  is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. ²