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 for the people, say on."

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

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

But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

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 [one another,] and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with 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 wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.

"You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand.

"If I have kept the poor from [their] desire, Or caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

(But from my youth I reared him as a father, And from my mother's womb I guided [the widow);]

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 endures forever; His horn will be exalted with honor.

He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor.

Cast your bread upon the waters, For you will find it after many days.

Give a serving to seven, and also to eight, For you do not know what evil will 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 will prosper, Either this or that, Or whether both alike [will be] good.

The foolish person will no longer be called generous, Nor the miser said [to be] bountiful;

But a generous man devises generous things, And by generosity he shall stand.

[Is it] not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh?

Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I [am.'] "If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

"Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

"that your charitable deed 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, 'Assuredly, 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,

So He said, "Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all;

Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,

So continuing daily 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 laid [them] at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by 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 [then] to us by 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 lives, because you had become dear to us.

[Be] hospitable to one another without grumbling.

If anyone speaks, [let him speak] as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, [let him do it] as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by 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 household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him."

A Psalm of David. I will sing of mercy and justice; To You, O LORD, I will sing praises.

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, Him I will destroy; The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, Him I will not endure.

He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house; He who tells lies shall not continue in my presence.

Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching 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 appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.

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 fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.

one who rules his own house well, having [his] children in submission with all reverence

(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 rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of [their] conduct.

Obey those who rule 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 who rule 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 for dishonest gain but eagerly;

nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;

Whatever your hand finds to do, do [it] with your might; for [there is] no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.

"You shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite who [is] within your gates, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who [are] among you, at the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide.

"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 stranger and the fatherless and the widow, who [are] within your gates.

"Seven days you shall keep a sacred feast to the LORD your God in the place which the LORD chooses, because the LORD your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you surely rejoice.

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

You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, [Who] remembers You in Your ways. You are indeed angry, for we have sinned -- In these ways we continue; And we need to be saved.

[So let] each one [give] as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.