13 And it performed great signs,(A) even causing fire to come down from heaven(B) to the earth in full view of the people. 14 Because of the signs(C) it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived(D) the inhabitants of the earth.(E) It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.(F) 15 The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship(G) the image to be killed.(H) 16 It also forced all people, great and small,(I) rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads,(J) 17 so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark,(K) which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.(L)

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13 It worked mighty miracles, and while people watched, it even made fire come down from the sky.

14 This second beast fooled people on earth by working miracles for the first one. Then it talked them into making an idol in the form of the beast that did not die after being wounded by a sword. 15 It was allowed to put breath into the idol, so it could speak. Everyone who refused to worship the idol of the beast was put to death. 16 (A) All people were forced to put a mark on their right hand or forehead. Whether they were powerful or weak, rich or poor, free people or slaves, 17 they all had to have this mark, or else they could not buy or sell anything. This mark stood for the name of the beast and for the number of its name.

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13-17 This second Beast worked magical signs, dazzling people by making fire come down from Heaven. It used the magic it got from the Beast to dupe earth dwellers, getting them to make an image of the Beast that received the deathblow and lived. It was able to animate the image of the Beast so that it talked, and then arrange that anyone not worshiping the Beast would be killed. It forced all people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to have a mark on the right hand or forehead. Without the mark of the name of the Beast or the number of its name, it was impossible to buy or sell anything.

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13 He performs great signs (awe-inspiring acts), even making fire fall from the sky to the earth, right before peoples’ eyes. 14 And he deceives those [unconverted ones] who inhabit the earth [into believing him] because of the signs which he is given [by Satan] to perform in the presence of the [first] beast, telling those who inhabit the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded [fatally] by the sword and has come back to life.(A) 15 And he is given power to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast will even [appear to] speak, and cause those who do not bow down and worship the image of the beast to be put to death.(B) 16 Also he compels all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead [signifying allegiance to the beast], 17 and that no one will be able to buy or sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.

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13 (A)It performs great signs, even (B)making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, 14 and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of[a] the beast (C)it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast (D)that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not (E)worship the image of the beast (F)to be slain. 16 Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave,[b] (G)to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, 17 so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, (H)the name of the beast or (I)the number of its name.

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 13:14 Or on behalf of
  2. Revelation 13:16 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface