Tuesday, June 1, 2027

^12:25Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John who was called Mark. ^13:1Now in the assembly that was at Antioch there were some prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. ²As they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them.” ³Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. ⁴So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus. ⁵When they were at Salamis, they proclaimed God’s word in the Jewish synagogues. They also had John as their attendant. ⁶When they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar Jesus, ⁷who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul, and sought to hear the word of God. ⁸But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. ⁹But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him ¹⁰and said, “You son of the devil, full of all deceit and all cunning, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? ¹¹Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is on you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sun for a season!” Immediately a mist and darkness fell on him. He went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. ¹²Then the proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

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^8:51Most certainly, I tell you, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death.” ⁵²Then the Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, as did the prophets; and you say, ‘If a man keeps my word, he will never taste of death.’ ⁵³Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died. Who do you make yourself out to be?” ⁵⁴Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is our God. ⁵⁵You have not known him, but I know him. If I said, ‘I don’t know him,’ I would be like you, a liar. But I know him and keep his word. ⁵⁶Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it and was glad.” ⁵⁷The Jews therefore said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old! Have you seen Abraham?” ⁵⁸Jesus said to them, “Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM.” ⁵⁹Therefore they took up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple, having gone through the middle of them, and so passed by.

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