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Rejoice: Celebrating the Season of Advent

Acts 6:1-7 | the Desperate Need for You

Biblically-Based Communication Tips for Couples

The Listener’s Bible®: NIV Edition

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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkLUK">
 <div class="chapter ch23" data-usfm="LUK.23">
 <div class="label">23</div><div class="p"> 1Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. 2And they began to accuse him, saying, &#8220;We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 3So Pilate asked Jesus, &#8220;Are you the king of the Jews?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> &#8220;You have said so,&#8221; Jesus replied.</div><div class="p"> 4Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, &#8220;I find no basis for a charge against this man.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 5But they insisted, &#8220;He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 6On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. 7When he learned that Jesus was under Herod&#8217;s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.</div><div class="p"> 8When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. 9He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. 12That day Herod and Pilate became friends&#8212;before this they had been enemies.</div><div class="p"> 13Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14and said to them, &#8220;You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 15Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.&#8221; [17]#23:17 Some manuscripts include here words similar to Matt. 27:15 and Mark 15:6.</div><div class="p"> 18But the whole crowd shouted, &#8220;Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!&#8221; 19(Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)</div><div class="p"> 20Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21But they kept shouting, &#8220;Crucify him! Crucify him!&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 22For the third time he spoke to them: &#8220;Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 23But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.</div><div class="s1">The Crucifixion of Jesus</div><div class="p"> 26As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28Jesus turned and said to them, &#8220;Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29For the time will come when you will say, &#8216;Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!&#8217; 30Then</div><div class="q1"> &#8220;&#8198;&#8216;they will say to the mountains, &#8220;Fall on us!&#8221;</div><div class="q2"> and to the hills, &#8220;Cover us!&#8221;&#8198;&#8217; # 23:30 
 Hosea 10:8
 </div><div class="m"> 31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 32Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals&#8212;one on his right, the other on his left. 34Jesus said, &#8220;Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.&#8221;#23:34 Some early manuscripts do not have this sentence. And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.</div><div class="p"> 35The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, &#8220;He saved others; let him save himself if he is God&#8217;s Messiah, the Chosen One.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 36The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37and said, &#8220;If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 38There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.</div><div class="p"> 39One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: &#8220;Aren&#8217;t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 40But the other criminal rebuked him. &#8220;Don&#8217;t you fear God,&#8221; he said, &#8220;since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 42Then he said, &#8220;Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.#23:42 Some manuscripts come with your kingly power&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 43Jesus answered him, &#8220;Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">The Death of Jesus</div><div class="p"> 44It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46Jesus called out with a loud voice, &#8220;Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.&#8221;#23:46 Psalm 31:5 When he had said this, he breathed his last.</div><div class="p"> 47The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, &#8220;Surely this was a righteous man.&#8221; 48When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.</div><div class="s1">The Burial of Jesus</div><div class="p"> 50Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus&#8217; body. 53Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.</div><div class="p"> 55The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkLUK">
 <div class="chapter ch24" data-usfm="LUK.24">
 <div class="label">24</div><div class="s1">Jesus Has Risen</div><div class="p"> 1On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, &#8220;Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7&#8216;The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.&#8217; &#8221; 8Then they remembered his words.</div><div class="p"> 9When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.</div><div class="s1">On the Road to Emmaus</div><div class="p"> 13Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles#24:13 Or about 11 kilometers from Jerusalem. 14They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16but they were kept from recognizing him.</div><div class="p"> 17He asked them, &#8220;What are you discussing together as you walk along?&#8221;</div><div class="p">They stood still, their faces downcast. 18One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, &#8220;Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 19 &#8220;What things?&#8221; he asked.</div><div class="p">&#8220;About Jesus of Nazareth,&#8221; they replied. &#8220;He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23but didn&#8217;t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 25He said to them, &#8220;How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?&#8221; 27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.</div><div class="p"> 28As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29But they urged him strongly, &#8220;Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.&#8221; So he went in to stay with them.</div><div class="p"> 30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32They asked each other, &#8220;Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 33They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34and saying, &#8220;It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.&#8221; 35Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.</div><div class="s1">Jesus Appears to the Disciples</div><div class="p"> 36While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, &#8220;Peace be with you.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 37They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38He said to them, &#8220;Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 40When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, &#8220;Do you have anything here to eat?&#8221; 42They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43and he took it and ate it in their presence.</div><div class="p"> 44He said to them, &#8220;This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 45Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46He told them, &#8220;This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things. 49I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">The Ascension of Jesus</div><div class="p"> 50When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkROM">
 <div class="chapter ch7" data-usfm="ROM.7">
 <div class="label">7</div><div class="s1">Released From the Law, Bound to Christ</div><div class="p"> 1Do you not know, brothers and sisters&#8212;for I am speaking to those who know the law&#8212;that the law has authority over someone only as long as that person lives? 2For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law that binds her to him. 3So then, if she has sexual relations with another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.</div><div class="p"> 4So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. 5For when we were in the realm of the flesh,#7:5 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit. the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death. 6But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.</div><div class="s1">The Law and Sin</div><div class="p"> 7What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, &#8220;You shall not covet.&#8221;#7:7 Exodus 20:17; Deut. 5:21 8But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead. 9Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. 10I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. 11For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. 12So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.</div><div class="p"> 13Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.</div><div class="p"> 14We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.#7:18 Or my flesh For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do&#8212;this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.</div><div class="p"> 21So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God&#8217;s law; 23but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!</div><div class="p">So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God&#8217;s law, but in my sinful nature#7:25 Or in the flesh a slave to the law of sin.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkROM">
 <div class="chapter ch8" data-usfm="ROM.8">
 <div class="label">8</div><div class="s1">Life Through the Spirit</div><div class="p"> 1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you#8:2 The Greek is singular; some manuscripts me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,#8:3 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verses 4-13. God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.#8:3 Or flesh, for sin And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.</div><div class="p"> 5Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God&#8217;s law, nor can it do so. 8Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.</div><div class="p"> 9You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life#8:10 Or you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of#8:11 Some manuscripts bodies through his Spirit who lives in you.</div><div class="p"> 12Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation&#8212;but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.</div><div class="p"> 14For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.#8:15 The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture; also in verse 23. And by him we cry, &#8220;Abba,#8:15 Aramaic for father Father.&#8221; 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God&#8217;s children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs&#8212;heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.</div><div class="s1">Present Suffering and Future Glory</div><div class="p"> 18I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that#8:20,21 Or subjected it in hope. 21 For the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.</div><div class="p"> 22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.</div><div class="p"> 26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God&#8217;s people in accordance with the will of God.</div><div class="p"> 28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who#8:28 Or that all things work together for good to those who love God, who; or that in all things God works together with those who love him to bring about what is good&#8212;with those who have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.</div><div class="s1">More Than Conquerors</div><div class="p"> 31What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all&#8212;how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died&#8212;more than that, who was raised to life&#8212;is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:</div><div class="q1">&#8220;For your sake we face death all day long;</div><div class="q2">we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.&#8221;#8:36 Psalm 44:22</div><div class="m"> 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,#8:38 Or nor heavenly rulers neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.</div>
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