They did this, then, and sent the money to the church elders by Barnabas and Saul.

In each church they appointed elders, and with prayers and fasting they commended them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, to whom they told all that God had done through them.

The apostles and the elders met together to consider this question.

Then the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, decided to choose some men from the group and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose two men who were highly respected by the believers, Judas, called Barsabbas, and Silas,

and they sent the following letter by them:

From Miletus Paul sent a message to Ephesus, asking the elders of the church to meet him.

So keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock which the Holy Spirit has placed in your care. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he made his own through the blood of his Son.

The next day Paul went with us to see James; and all the church elders were present.

Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as if he were your father. Treat the younger men as your brothers,

Do not listen to an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or more witnesses.

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:

But because I love you, I make a request instead. I do this even though I am Paul, the ambassador of Christ Jesus, and at present also a prisoner for his sake.

From the Elder--- To the dear Lady and to her children, whom I truly love. And I am not the only one, but all who know the truth love you,

From the Elder--- To my dear Gaius, whom I truly love.

God revealed to these prophets that their work was not for their own benefit, but for yours, as they spoke about those things which you have now heard from the messengers who announced the Good News by the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. These are things which even the angels would like to understand.

You are witnesses of these things.

"The Helper will come---the Spirit, who reveals the truth about God and who comes from the Father. I will send him to you from the Father, and he will speak about me.

And you, too, will speak about me, because you have been with me from the very beginning.

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."

(SEE 1:21)

God has raised this very Jesus from death, and we are all witnesses to this fact.

You killed the one who leads to life, but God raised him from death---and we are witnesses to this.

The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from death, after you had killed him by nailing him to a cross.

We are witnesses to these things---we and the Holy Spirit, who is God's gift to those who obey him."

We are witnesses of everything that he did in the land of Israel and in Jerusalem. Then they put him to death by nailing him to a cross.

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.

And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the glorious crown which will never lose its brightness.

Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Because of his great mercy he gave us new life by raising Jesus Christ from death. This fills us with a living hope,

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.

You guide me with your instruction and at the end you will receive me with honor.

What else do I have in heaven but you? Since I have you, what else could I want on earth?

Since we are his children, we will possess the blessings he keeps for his people, and we will also possess with Christ what God has kept for him; for if we share Christ's suffering, we will also share his glory.

I consider that what we suffer at this present time cannot be compared at all with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.

For we know that when this tent we live in---our body here on earth---is torn down, God will have a house in heaven for us to live in, a home he himself has made, which will last forever.

We are full of courage and would much prefer to leave our home in the body and be at home with the Lord.

because I know that by means of your prayers and the help which comes from the Spirit of Jesus Christ I shall be set free.

For what is life? To me, it is Christ. Death, then, will bring more.

I am pulled in two directions. I want very much to leave this life and be with Christ, which is a far better thing;

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Your real life is Christ and when he appears, then you too will appear with him and share his glory!

And now there is waiting for me the victory prize of being put right with God, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that Day---and not only to me, but to all those who wait with love for him to appear.

My dear friends, we are now God's children, but it is not yet clear what we shall become. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he really is.

I am John, your brother, and as a follower of Jesus I am your partner in patiently enduring the suffering that comes to those who belong to his Kingdom. I was put on the island of Patmos because I had proclaimed God's word and the truth that Jesus revealed.