Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily service.

Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this need;

And the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.

And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that through my mouth the Gentiles should hear the Word of the gospel and believe.

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,

deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to court before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?

Do you not know that we shall judge angels? To say nothing of things that pertain to this life?

This punishment from the majority is sufficient for such a man,

so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and encourage him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow.

I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us.

Therefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he does, ranting against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and prevents those who want to, putting them out of the church.

Now I exhort you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and snares, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and turn away from them.

For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

For indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, I have already judged him who has so done this deed, as though I were present.

deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people.

But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; not even to eat with such a person.

But those who are outside God judges. Therefore put away from among yourselves the evil person.

But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the teaching which you received from us.

And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed.

Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor speak a blessing to him;

for he who blesses him shares in his evil deeds.

And when you pray, do not babble vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

Then the children of Israel who had returned from the captivity ate together with all who had separated themselves from the uncleanness of the nations of the land in order to seek Jehovah the God of Israel.

And you shall know that I am Jehovah; for you have not walked in My statutes nor executed My judgments, but have done according to the customs of the nations which are all around you.

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the emptiness of their mind,

who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to licentiousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.

For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors the same?

The Son of Man comes eating and drinking, and they say, Behold, a glutton and a wino, a friend of tax collectors and sinners! But wisdom is justified by her children.

Which of the two did the will of his father? They said to Him, The first. Jesus said to them, Truly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.

For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward repent and believe him.

Then all the tax collectors and the sinners came near to Him to hear Him.

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus to himself, God, I thank You that I am not like other men; extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.

Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.

And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature.