And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation to the people, speak.

And Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words.

Now when he had passed through that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece

But he who prophesies speaks to men for building up and exhortation and comfort.

For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.

Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting; and so much the more as you see the Day drawing near.

And I appeal to you, brethren, endure the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words.

distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

but you shall open your hand, to open unto him and lend, to lend to him sufficient for his need in whatever he is lacking.

You shall lend to give to him, and your heart shall not tremble to give to him; because for this thing Jehovah your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand.

If I have withheld from the poor their desire, or caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

(when from my youth, as a father I have raised him, and from my mother's womb I guided her);

if his heart has not blessed me, and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

He has dispersed abroad, he has given to the poor; his righteousness stands forever; his horn shall be exalted with honor.

He who has a beneficent eye shall be blessed; for he gives of his bread to the poor.

Cast your bread upon the waters; for you shall find it after many days.

Give a share to seven, and also to eight; for you do not know what evil shall be on the earth.

In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening do not withhold your hand; for you do not know which shall be blessed, either this or that, or whether they both alike shall be good.

The fool shall no more be called noble, nor the miser said to be bountiful.

But the noble devises noble things; and by noble things he shall stand.

Is it not to break your bread to the hungry, and that you should bring home the wandering poor? When you see the naked to cover him; and not hide yourself from your own flesh?

Then you shall call, and Jehovah will answer; you shall cry out, and He shall say, Here I am. If you take the yoke away from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness;

And Jehovah shall guide you continually and satisfy your soul in dry places, and make your bones fat; and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

Therefore, when you do a deed of mercy, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have praise from men. Truly I say to you, They have their reward.

that your deed of mercy may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

And the King will answer and say to them, Truly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.

And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury,

And He said, Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than everyone;

Now all the believers were together, and had all things in common,

So continuing day by day with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,

And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.

and placed them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and gave a sign through the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.

This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia:

For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing,

And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and also to us through the will of God.

But as you abound in everything (in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us), see that you abound in this grace also.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own souls, because you had become beloved to us.

Be hospitable to one another without murmuring.

If anyone speaks, let him speak as the words of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the strength which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom is the glory and might forever and ever. Amen.

For our rejoicing is this: the testimony of our conscience, that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.

that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.

But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ;

Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.

For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing.

For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his house after him, that they may keep the way of Jehovah, to do righteousness and justice, that Jehovah may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken to him.

i1 [A Psalm of David.] i0 par I will sing of mercy and justice; unto You, O Jehovah, will I make music.

I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.

Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, I will annihilate; the one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, I will not endure.

He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house; he who tells lies shall not be established in my sight.

Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

And God has placed some in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that works of power, then gifts of healing, helps, governings, tongues of nationalities.

And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the faint-hearted, uphold the weak, be longsuffering towards all.

one who rules his own house well, having his children in subjection with all respect

(for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?);

Let the elders who lead well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the Word and doctrine.

Remember those in authority over you, who have spoken the Word of God to you. Observing the outworkings of their behavior, imitate their faith.

Obey those in authority over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

Greet all those in authority over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you.

Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not eager for dishonest gain but with a ready mind;

not exercising dominion over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no work nor reasoning nor knowledge nor wisdom in Sheol where you go.

You shall rejoice before Jehovah your God, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite who is within your gates, the sojourner and the fatherless and the widow who are among you, at the place where Jehovah your God chooses to establish His name.

And you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant and the Levite, the sojourner and the fatherless and the widow, who are within your gates.

Seven days you shall keep a feast unto Jehovah your God in the place which Jehovah chooses, because Jehovah your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you shall be joyful.

The wicked borrows and does not repay, but the righteous shows mercy and gives.

You meet him who rejoices and works righteousness, those who remember You in Your ways (Behold, You were angry, for we sinned continually), and we shall be saved.

So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not from sorrow or out of duty; for God loves a cheerful giver.