²⁰ For you are our glory and joy.

Concern for Their Faith

3 Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, ² and sent ^(A)Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, ^3 (B)that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that ^(C)we are appointed to this. ^4 (D)For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. ⁵ For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, ^(E)lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and ^(F)our labor might be in vain.

Encouraged by Timothy

^6 (G)But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, ^(H)as we also to see you— ⁷ therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress ^(I)we were comforted concerning you by your faith. ⁸ For now we live, if you ^(J)stand fast in the Lord.

Seeking a Sign^(A)

^29 (B)And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, “This is an evil generation. It seeks a ^(C)sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah ^[a]the prophet. ³⁰ For as ^(D)Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation. ^31 (E)The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a ^(F)greater than Solomon is here. ³² The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for ^(G)they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.

The Lamp of the Body^(H)

^33 (I)“No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a ^(J)basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light.