¹⁹ saying, “Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

Humility and Hospitality

⁷ When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable.^{(A) 8} “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host,^{(B) 9} and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give this person your place,’ and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. ¹⁰ But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you.^{(C) 11} For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”^(D)

Diotrephes and Demetrius

⁹ I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not welcome us.

⁴⁴ How can you believe when you accept glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the one who alone is God?^[a](A)

True Greatness

18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” ² He called a child, whom he put among them, ³ and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.^(A)

⁸ Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.^{(A) 9} For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.^(B)

¹⁷ Then Peter and John^[a] laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.^(A)

⁹ Now a certain man named Simon had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he was someone great.^{(A) 10} All of them, from the least to the greatest, listened to him eagerly, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.”^{(B) 11} And they listened eagerly to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.