Jesus said to him, "Salvation has come to this house today, for this man, also, is a descendant of Abraham.

Jesus said to him, "I promise you that today you will be in Paradise with me."

You will be called "God's Holy People," "The People the LORD Has Saved." Jerusalem will be called "The City That God Loves," "The City That God Did Not Forsake."

"My food," Jesus said to them, "is to obey the will of the one who sent me and to finish the work he gave me to do.

You have a saying, 'Four more months and then the harvest.' But I tell you, take a good look at the fields; the crops are now ripe and ready to be harvested!

In the meantime Saul kept up his violent threats of murder against the followers of the Lord. He went to the High Priest

As Saul was coming near the city of Damascus, suddenly a light from the sky flashed around him.

"Who are you, Lord?" he asked. "I am Jesus, whom you persecute," the voice said.

The men who were traveling with Saul had stopped, not saying a word; they heard the voice but could not see anyone.

For three days he was not able to see, and during that time he did not eat or drink anything.

The Lord said to him, "Get ready and go to Straight Street, and at the house of Judas ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying,

Ananias answered, "Lord, many people have told me about this man and about all the terrible things he has done to your people in Jerusalem.

The Lord said to him, "Go, because I have chosen him to serve me, to make my name known to Gentiles and kings and to the people of Israel.

And Isaiah is even bolder when he says, "I was found by those who were not looking for me; I appeared to those who were not asking for me."

But concerning Israel he says, "All day long I held out my hands to welcome a disobedient and rebellious people."

Actually all of us were like them and lived according to our natural desires, doing whatever suited the wishes of our own bodies and minds. In our natural condition we, like everyone else, were destined to suffer God's anger.

that while we were spiritually dead in our disobedience he brought us to life with Christ. It is by God's grace that you have been saved.

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, and wrong. We were slaves to passions and pleasures of all kinds. We spent our lives in malice and envy; others hated us and we hated them.

he saved us. It was not because of any good deeds that we ourselves had done, but because of his own mercy that he saved us, through the Holy Spirit, who gives us new birth and new life by washing us.

so that by his grace we might be put right with God and come into possession of the eternal life we hope for.

The Sovereign LORD is coming to rule with power, bringing with him the people he has rescued.

He will take care of his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs together and carry them in his arms; he will gently lead their mothers.

"Listen to me, descendants of Jacob, all who are left of my people. I have cared for you from the time you were born.

I am your God and will take care of you until you are old and your hair is gray. I made you and will care for you; I will give you help and rescue you.

from all their suffering. It was not an angel, but the LORD himself who saved them. In his love and compassion he rescued them. He had always taken care of them in the past,

When he comes, he will rule his people with the strength that comes from the LORD and with the majesty of the LORD God himself. His people will live in safety because people all over the earth will acknowledge his greatness,

and how very great is his power at work in us who believe. This power working in us is the same as the mighty strength

which he used when he raised Christ from death and seated him at his right side in the heavenly world.

God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do.

I was made a servant of the gospel by God's special gift, which he gave me through the working of his power.

For we brought the Good News to you, not with words only, but also with power and the Holy Spirit, and with complete conviction of its truth. You know how we lived when we were with you; it was for your own good.

And then they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the Devil, who had caught them and made them obey his will.

They are for you, who through faith are kept safe by God's power for the salvation which is ready to be revealed at the end of time.

Then go and get the prize calf and kill it, and let us celebrate with a feast!

For this son of mine was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost, but now he has been found.' And so the feasting began.

But we had to celebrate and be happy, because your brother was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost, but now he has been found.' "

The LORD says, "It was my will that he should suffer; his death was a sacrifice to bring forgiveness. And so he will see his descendants; he will live a long life, and through him my purpose will succeed.

After a life of suffering, he will again have joy; he will know that he did not suffer in vain. My devoted servant, with whom I am pleased, will bear the punishment of many and for his sake I will forgive them.

Like a young man taking a virgin as his bride, He who formed you will marry you. As a groom is delighted with his bride, So your God will delight in you.

I will take pleasure in doing good things for them, and I will establish them permanently in this land.

"Just as I have brought this disaster on these people, so I am going to give them all the good things that I have promised.

Do you think I enjoy seeing evil people die?" asks the Sovereign LORD. "No, I would rather see them repent and live.

Tell them that as surely as I, the Sovereign LORD, am the living God, I do not enjoy seeing sinners die. I would rather see them stop sinning and live. Israel, stop the evil you are doing. Why do you want to die?

There is no other god like you, O LORD; you forgive the sins of your people who have survived. You do not stay angry forever, but you take pleasure in showing us your constant love.

The LORD your God is with you; his power gives you victory. The LORD will take delight in you, and in his love he will give you new life. He will sing and be joyful over you,

"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. He did not give up because of the cross! On the contrary, because of the joy that was waiting for him, he thought nothing of the disgrace of dying on the cross, and he is now seated at the right side of God's throne.