⁸ Some Gadites ^[a]joined David at the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for battle, who could handle shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were ^(A)as swift as gazelles on the mountains: ⁹ Ezer the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third, ¹⁰ Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth, ¹¹ Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh, ¹² Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth, ¹³ Jeremiah the tenth, and Machbanai the eleventh. ¹⁴ These were from the sons of Gad, captains of the army; the least was over a hundred, and the greatest was over a ^(B)thousand. ¹⁵ These are the ones who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it had overflowed all its ^(C)banks; and they put to flight all those in the valleys, to the east and to the west.

¹⁶ Then some of the sons of Benjamin and Judah came to David at the stronghold. ¹⁷ And David went out ^[b]to meet them, and answered and said to them, “If you have come peaceably to me to help me, my heart will be united with you; but if to betray me to my enemies, since there is no ^[c]wrong in my hands, may the God of our fathers look and bring judgment.” ¹⁸ Then the Spirit ^[d]came upon ^(D)Amasai, chief of the captains, and he said:

So David received them, and made them captains of the troop.

Preach the Word

4 I ^(A)charge you ^[a]therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, ^(B)who will judge the living and the dead ^[b]at His appearing and His kingdom: ² Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. ^(C)Convince, ^(D)rebuke, ^(E)exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. ^3 (F)For the time will come when they will not endure ^(G)sound doctrine, ^(H)but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; ⁴ and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and ^(I)be turned aside to fables. ⁵ But you be watchful in all things, ^(J)endure afflictions, do the work of ^(K)an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Paul’s Valedictory

⁶ For ^(L)I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of ^(M)my departure is at hand. ^7 (N)I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Finally, there is laid up for me ^(O)the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous ^(P)Judge, will give to me ^(Q)on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

The Abandoned Apostle

⁹ Be diligent to come to me quickly; ¹⁰ for ^(R)Demas has forsaken me, ^(S)having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. ¹¹ Only Luke is with me. Get ^(T)Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. ¹² And ^(U)Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. ¹³ Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments.

^14 (V)Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. ¹⁵ You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.

¹⁶ At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. ^(W)May it not be charged against them.

The Lord Is Faithful

^17 (X)But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, ^(Y)so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered ^(Z)out of the mouth of the lion. ^18 (AA)And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. ^(AB)To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

Jesus Celebrates the Passover with His Disciples^(A)

^12 (B)Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they ^[a]killed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?”

¹³ And He sent out two of His disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him. ¹⁴ Wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ’ ¹⁵ Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared; there make ready for us.”

¹⁶ So His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found it just as He had said to them; and they prepared the Passover.

^17 (C)In the evening He came with the twelve. ¹⁸ Now as they sat and ate, Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, ^(D)one of you who eats with Me will betray Me.”

¹⁹ And they began to be sorrowful, and to say to Him one by one, “Is it I?” ^[b]And another said, “Is it I?”

²⁰ He answered and said to them, “It is one of the twelve, who dips with Me in the dish. ^21 (E)The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had never been born.”