Paona 9, 1743

130The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.

18Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things.

19And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?"

20When the men had come to Him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?"'

21And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.

22Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.

23And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."

6The words of the LORD are pure words, Like silver tried in a furnace of earth, Purified seven times.

24When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

25But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings' courts.

26But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.

27This is he of whom it is written: "Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.'

28For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."

28And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

29For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

30Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

32He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

33Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.

34Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."

37Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

38For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,

39nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1The Elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth:

2Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

3For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth.

4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

5Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers,

6who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well,

7because they went forth for His name's sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles.

8We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.

4And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them.

5But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses."

6Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.

7And 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 by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.

8So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us,

9and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.