I replied, ‘Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat those in the various synagogues who believed in you.

For if by my lie the truth of God enhances his glory, why am I still actually being judged as a sinner?

“Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars; I alone am left and they are seeking my life!”

When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come with superior eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed the testimony of God.

But in my opinion, she will be happier if she remains as she is – and I think that I too have the Spirit of God!

just as I also try to please everyone in all things. I do not seek my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved.

If you forgive anyone for anything, I also forgive him – for indeed what I have forgiven (if I have forgiven anything) I did so for you in the presence of Christ,

Therefore “come out from their midst, and be separate,” says the Lord, “and touch no unclean thing, and I will welcome you,

I say again, let no one think that I am a fool. But if you do, then at least accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.

(To my disgrace I must say that we were too weak for that!) But whatever anyone else dares to boast about (I am speaking foolishly), I also dare to boast about the same thing.

But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,

he will rule them with an iron rod and like clay jars he will break them to pieces,

He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and look carefully for the child. When you find him, inform me so that I can go and worship him as well.”

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

I have many things to say and to judge about you, but the Father who sent me is truthful, and the things I have heard from him I speak to the world.”

But if I do them, even if you do not believe me, believe the deeds, so that you may come to know and understand that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.”

The person who has my commandments and obeys them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will reveal myself to him.”

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me – and I in him – bears much fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing.