<t /><p class="bodytext">First of all, then, I urge that requests,<n id="1" /> prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people,<n id="2" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">Do not address an older man harshly<n id="1" /> but appeal to him as a father. Speak to younger men as brothers,<n id="2" />

I am appealing<n id="1" /> to you concerning my child, whose spiritual father I have become<n id="2" /> during my imprisonment,<n id="3" /> that is, Onesimus,

I especially ask you to pray<n id="1" /> that I may be restored to you very soon.p>

They begged him if<n id="1" /> they could only touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.p>

Then his fellow slave threw himself down and begged him,<n id="1" /> &#8216;Be patient with me, and I will repay you.&#8217;

And the demonic spirits<n id="1" /> begged him, &#8220;Send us into the pigs. Let us enter them.&#8221;

As he was getting into the boat the man who had been demon-possessed asked if he could go<n id="1" /> with him.

They brought to him a deaf man who had difficulty speaking, and they asked him to place his hands on him.

<t /><p class="bodytext">Then<n id="1" /> they came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to Jesus<n id="2" /> and asked him to touch him.

But the older son<n id="1" /> became angry<n id="2" /> and refused<n id="3" /> to go in. His father came out and appealed to him,

<p class="bodytext">As Paul and Barnabas<n id="1" /> were going out,<n id="2" /> the people<n id="3" /> were urging<n id="4" /> them to speak about these things<n id="5" /> on the next Sabbath.

Both Judas and Silas, who were prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with a long speech.<n id="1" />

After he had gone through those regions<n id="1" /> and spoken many words of encouragement<n id="2" /> to the believers there,<n id="3" /> he came to Greece,<n id="4" />

When we heard this, both we and the local people<n id="1" /> begged him not to go up to Jerusalem.

But so that I may not delay<n id="1" /> you any further, I beg<n id="2" /> you to hear us briefly<n id="3" /> with your customary graciousness.<n id="4" />

So the chief priests and the most prominent men<n id="1" /> of the Jews brought formal charges<n id="2" /> against Paul to him.

There<n id="1" /> we found<n id="2" /> some brothers<n id="3" /> and were invited to stay with them seven days. And in this way we came to Rome.<n id="4" />

so that now instead<n id="1" /> you should rather forgive and comfort him.<n id="2" /> This will keep him from being overwhelmed by excessive grief to the point of despair.<n id="3" />

Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His plea<n id="1" /> through us. We plead with you<n id="2" /> on Christ&#8217;s behalf, &#8220;Be reconciled to God!&#8221;