If you belonged to the world, then the world would love you as its own. But I chose you from this world, and you do not belong to it; that is why the world hates you.

Jesus replied, "I chose the twelve of you, didn't I? Yet one of you is a devil!"

"I am not talking about all of you; I know those I have chosen. But the scripture must come true that says, 'The man who shared my food turned against me.'

When day came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he named apostles:

Then they prayed, "Lord, you know the thoughts of everyone, so show us which of these two you have chosen

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.

not to everyone, but only to the witnesses that God had already chosen, that is, to us who ate and drank with him after he rose from death.

He said, 'The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see his righteous Servant, and to hear him speaking with his own voice.

But in order that the choice of one son might be completely the result of God's own purpose, God said to her, "The older will serve the younger." He said this before they were born, before they had done anything either good or bad; so God's choice was based on his call, and not on anything they had done.

As the scripture says, "I loved Jacob, but I hated Esau."

For he said to Moses, "I will have mercy on anyone I wish; I will take pity on anyone I wish."

This is what love is: it is not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the means by which our sins are forgiven.

We love because God first loved us.

Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I send you."

If you forgive people's sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

After they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?" "Yes, Lord," he answered, "you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Take care of my lambs."

A third time Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter became sad because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" and so he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you!" Jesus said to him, "Take care of my sheep.

Listen to me, distant nations, you people who live far away! Before I was born, the LORD chose me and appointed me to be his servant.

He said to me, "Israel, you are my servant; because of you, people will praise me."

"I chose you before I gave you life, and before you were born I selected you to be a prophet to the nations."

But the LORD said to me, "Do not say that you are too young, but go to the people I send you to, and tell them everything I command you to say.

Jesus drew near and said to them, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.

Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

He said to them, "Go throughout the whole world and preach the gospel to all people.

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.

and in his name the message about repentance and the forgiveness of sins must be preached to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.

And I myself will send upon you what my Father has promised. But you must wait in the city until the power from above comes down upon you."

But when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Through him God gave me the privilege of being an apostle for the sake of Christ, in order to lead people of all nations to believe and obey.

But in this letter I have been quite bold about certain subjects of which I have reminded you. I have been bold because of the privilege God has given me

of being a servant of Christ Jesus to work for the Gentiles. I serve like a priest in preaching the Good News from God, in order that the Gentiles may be an offering acceptable to God, dedicated to him by the Holy Spirit.

I have no right to boast just because I preach the gospel. After all, I am under orders to do so. And how terrible it would be for me if I did not preach the gospel!

What pay do I get, then? It is the privilege of preaching the Good News without charging for it, without claiming my rights in my work for the gospel.

But God in his grace chose me even before I was born, and called me to serve him. And when he decided

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.

You must, of course, continue faithful on a firm and sure foundation, and must not allow yourselves to be shaken from the hope you gained when you heard the gospel. It is of this gospel that I, Paul, became a servant---this gospel which has been preached to everybody in the world.

and that is why I was sent as an apostle and teacher of the Gentiles, to proclaim the message of faith and truth. I am not lying; I am telling the truth!

God has appointed me as an apostle and teacher to proclaim the Good News,

Take the teachings that you heard me proclaim in the presence of many witnesses, and entrust them to reliable people, who will be able to teach others also.

I left you in Crete, so that you could put in order the things that still needed doing and appoint church elders in every town. Remember my instructions:

My Father's glory is shown by your bearing much fruit; and in this way you become my disciples.

Righteousness gives life, but violence takes it away.

In the days to come the people of Israel, the descendants of Jacob, will take root like a tree, and they will blossom and bud. The earth will be covered with the fruit they produce.

"My word is like the snow and the rain that come down from the sky to water the earth. They make the crops grow and provide seed for planting and food to eat.

"You will leave Babylon with joy; you will be led out of the city in peace. The mountains and hills will burst into singing, and the trees will shout for joy.

The people of Israel who survive will be like refreshing dew sent by the LORD for many nations, like showers on growing plants. They will depend on God, not people.

You must remember, my friends, that many times I have planned to visit you, but something has always kept me from doing so. I want to win converts among you also, as I have among other Gentiles.

of being a servant of Christ Jesus to work for the Gentiles. I serve like a priest in preaching the Good News from God, in order that the Gentiles may be an offering acceptable to God, dedicated to him by the Holy Spirit.

I will be bold and speak only about what Christ has done through me to lead the Gentiles to obey God. He has done this by means of words and deeds,

I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plant, but it was God who made the plant grow.

The one who plants and the one who waters really do not matter. It is God who matters, because he makes the plant grow.

The gospel keeps bringing blessings and is spreading throughout the world, just as it has among you ever since the day you first heard about the grace of God and came to know it as it really is.

And goodness is the harvest that is produced from the seeds the peacemakers plant in peace.

His descendants will become a great and mighty nation, and through him I will bless all the nations.

Now that I am old and my hair is gray, do not abandon me, O God! Be with me while I proclaim your power and might to all generations to come.

We will not keep them from our children; we will tell the next generation about the LORD's power and his great deeds and the wonderful things he has done.

so that the next generation might learn them and in turn should tell their children.

What you have done will be praised from one generation to the next; they will proclaim your mighty acts.

Do not be like your ancestors. Long ago the prophets gave them my message, telling them not to live evil, sinful lives any longer. But they would not listen to me or obey me.

Through my servants the prophets I gave your ancestors commands and warnings, but they disregarded them and suffered the consequences. Then they repented and acknowledged that I, the LORD Almighty, had punished them as they deserved and as I had determined to do.' "

"I have gone about among all of you, preaching the Kingdom of God. And now I know that none of you will ever see me again.

For I have not held back from announcing to you the whole purpose of God.

Everything written in the Scriptures was written to teach us, in order that we might have hope through the patience and encouragement which the Scriptures give us.

All these things happened to them as examples for others, and they were written down as a warning for us. For we live at a time when the end is about to come.

and you remember that ever since you were a child, you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed.

It was faith that made Abel offer to God a better sacrifice than Cain's. Through his faith he won God's approval as a righteous man, because God himself approved of his gifts. By means of his faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.

Be obedient to God, and do not allow your lives to be shaped by those desires you had when you were still ignorant.

The scripture says, "Be holy because I am holy."

For you know what was paid to set you free from the worthless manner of life handed down by your ancestors. It was not something that can be destroyed, such as silver or gold;

He had been chosen by God before the creation of the world and was revealed in these last days for your sake.

because they will see how pure and reverent your conduct is.

But have reverence for Christ in your hearts, and honor him as Lord. Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you,

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, then you will ask for anything you wish, and you shall have it.

And I will do whatever you ask for in my name, so that the Father's glory will be shown through the Son.

If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it.

"When that day comes, you will not ask me for anything. I am telling you the truth: the Father will give you whatever you ask of him in my name.

Until now you have not asked for anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your happiness may be complete.

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."