The Babylonian Envoys^(A)

39 At ^(B)that time ^[a]Merodach-Baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that he had been sick and had recovered. ^2 (C)And Hezekiah was pleased with them, and showed them the house of his treasures—the silver and gold, the spices and precious ointment, and all his armory—all that was found among his treasures. There was nothing in his house or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.

³ Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah, and said to him, “What did these men say, and from where did they come to you?”

So Hezekiah said, “They came to me from a ^(D)far country, from Babylon.”

⁴ And he said, “What have they seen in your house?”

So Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them.”

⁵ Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord of hosts: ⁶ ‘Behold, the days are coming ^(E)when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have accumulated until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,’ says the Lord. ⁷ ‘And they shall take away some of your ^(F)sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’ ”

⁸ So Hezekiah said to Isaiah, ^(G)“The word of the Lord which you have spoken is good!” For he said, “At least there will be peace and truth in my days.”

^21 (A)When Jesus had said these things, ^(B)He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, ^(C)one of you will betray Me.” ²² Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke.

²³ Now ^(D)there was ^[a]leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. ²⁴ Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke.

²⁵ Then, leaning ^[b]back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”

²⁶ Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to ^(E)Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. ^27 (F)Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” ²⁸ But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. ²⁹ For some thought, because ^(G)Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, “Buy those things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.

³⁰ Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.

The New Commandment

³¹ So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, ^(H)“Now the Son of Man is glorified, and ^(I)God is glorified in Him. ³² If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and ^(J)glorify Him immediately. ³³ Little children, I shall be with you a ^(K)little while longer. You will seek Me; ^(L)and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. ^34 (M)A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ^35 (N)By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

⁵⁹ And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, ^(A)receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰ Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, ^(B)“Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Saul Persecutes the Church

8 Now Saul was consenting to his death.

At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and ^(C)they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. ² And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and ^(D)made great lamentation over him.

³ As for Saul, ^(E)he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

Christ Is Preached in Samaria

⁴ Therefore ^(F)those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. ⁵ Then ^(G)Philip went down to ^[a]the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. ⁶ And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. ⁷ For ^(H)unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. ⁸ And there was great joy in that city.