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13 I know where you live. It is the place where Satan sits as king.[a] But you still continue to trust me. You remember Antipas who spoke a clear message about me. Because of that, some people in your city killed him. You saw what happened to him, but you continued to believe in me. You still serve me, even there where Satan lives.[b]

14 But I have a few things to say against you. Some people among you agree with what Balaam taught long ago. He taught Balak to do a bad thing against God's people.[c] Balak caused the Israelite people to do wrong things. As a result, they ate food that people had given to idols. They also had sex with people who were not their husbands or wives. 15 Also, some people among you do the bad things that the Nicolaitans teach.

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Footnotes

  1. 2:13 Pergamum was a city where Satan was powerful.
  2. 2:13 There was a special building in Pergamum for people to worship the king of Rome. This king was against Christians because they would not worship him. Also, there was a very big stone table on a hill. People offered gifts to the false god Zeus on this big table. Also, many people worshipped a snake god. The Devil appears as a snake in the Bible. See Genesis 3.
  3. 2:14 Balak was the king of Moab. See Numbers 22:1—25:3.

13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me,(A) not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness,(B) who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.(C)

14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you:(D) There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam,(E) who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols(F) and committed sexual immorality.(G) 15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.(H)

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