All of them lie to one another; they deceive each other with flattery.

His words were smoother than cream, but there was hatred in his heart; his words were as soothing as oil, but they cut like sharp swords.

and said to me, "Please do what we ask you! Pray to the LORD our God for us. Pray for all of us who have survived. Once there were many of us; but now only a few of us are left, as you can see.

Pray that the LORD our God will show us the way we should go and what we should do."

Then they sent to him some of their disciples and some members of Herod's party. "Teacher," they said, "we know that you tell the truth. You teach the truth about God's will for people, without worrying about what others think, because you pay no attention to anyone's status.

Judas went straight to Jesus and said, "Peace be with you, Teacher," and kissed him.

Jesus answered, "Be quick about it, friend!" Then they came up, arrested Jesus, and held him tight.

They came to him and said, "Teacher, we know that you tell the truth, without worrying about what people think. You pay no attention to anyone's status, but teach the truth about God's will for people. Tell us, is it against our Law to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor? Should we pay them or not?"

One night he went to Jesus and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher sent by God. No one could perform the miracles you are doing unless God were with him."

We are not like so many others, who handle God's message as if it were cheap merchandise; but because God has sent us, we speak with sincerity in his presence, as servants of Christ.

Does this sound as if I am trying to win human approval? No indeed! What I want is God's approval! Am I trying to be popular with people? If I were still trying to do so, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Instead, we always speak as God wants us to, because he has judged us worthy to be entrusted with the Good News. We do not try to please people, but to please God, who tests our motives.

You know very well that we did not come to you with flattering talk, nor did we use words to cover up greed---God is our witness!

Honor the LORD and act carefully, because the LORD our God does not tolerate fraud or partiality or the taking of bribes."

He does not take the side of rulers nor favor the rich over the poor, for he created everyone.

Peter began to speak: "I now realize that it is true that God treats everyone on the same basis.

Those who fear him and do what is right are acceptable to him, no matter what race they belong to.

But those who seemed to be the leaders---I say this because it makes no difference to me what they were; God does not judge by outward appearances---those leaders, I say, made no new suggestions to me.