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)

¹⁸ This calls for wisdom.^(M) Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man.^[a](N) That number is 666.