beginning from the baptism of John until the day in which He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection."

And He appointed twelve so that they might be with Him and so that He might send them to preach,

Lay hands on no one hastily, nor share in [the] sins of others; keep yourself pure.

And the things which you have heard from me through many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be competent to teach others also.

For this reason I left you behind in Crete, so that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and you should appoint elders in every city as I commanded you:

which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

And having come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they declared all that God had done with them.

And the apostles and elders gathered together to see about this matter.

Writing by their hand these things: The apostles, the elders, and the brothers, to the brothers in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia who are of the Gentiles: Greetings.

Now from Miletus, having sent to Ephesus, he summoned the elders of the church.

Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but [rather] exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers,

Let the elders having ruled well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

Do not receive an accusation against an elder unless on [the basis of] two or three witnesses.

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call on the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

The elders who are among you I exhort, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed;

THE ELDER, To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have come to know the truth,

THE ELDER, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth:

Now there were some in the church being in Antioch [who were] prophets and teachers: Both Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Then, fasting and praying, and laying their hands on them, they sent them away.

From there they sailed to Antioch, from where they were commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed.

So for the present, I entrust you, brothers, to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who have been sanctified.

And Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, 'into Your hands I will commit My spirit.' " And after He said these things, He expired.

And may the Lord make you to increase and abound in love toward one another and toward all [men], as indeed we also do toward you,

so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and a good hope by grace,

comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.

For which cause I also suffer these things; but I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I have been persuaded that He is able to guard that which I have committed to Him until that Day.

But may the God of all grace, the [One] having called you into His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little [while], may He Himself make you complete--He will establish, strengthen, [and] firmly ground [you].