If we say we do not bear the guilt of sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith, by praying in the Holy Spirit,

maintain yourselves in the love of God, while anticipating the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that brings eternal life.

But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and the inheritance will be ours!’

“You must watch out for yourselves. You will be handed over to councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them.

When he saw them he said, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went along, they were cleansed.

So they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’

So they began to question one another as to which of them it could possibly be who would do this.

Now the Jewish feast of Passover was near, and many people went up to Jerusalem from the rural areas before the Passover to cleanse themselves ritually.

Thus the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you can do nothing. Look, the world has run off after him!”

When morning came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink anything until they had killed Paul.

They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to partake of anything until we have killed Paul.

Do you not know that if you present yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or obedience resulting in righteousness?

Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

Now, brothers and sisters, you know about the household of Stephanus, that as the first converts of Achaia, they devoted themselves to ministry for the saints. I urge you

We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may be able to answer those who take pride in outward appearance and not in what is in the heart.

Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that could defile the body and the spirit, and thus accomplish holiness out of reverence for God.

For we were not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach as far as you, because we were the first to reach as far as you with the gospel about Christ.

For the love of money is the root of all evils. Some people in reaching for it have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains.

But exhort one another each day, as long as it is called “Today,” that none of you may become hardened by sin’s deception.