Paul’s Use of His Freedom

¹⁹ Though I am free^(A) and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone,^(B) to win as many as possible.^{(C) 20} To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews.^(D) To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law),^(E) so as to win those under the law. ²¹ To those not having the law I became like one not having the law^(F) (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law),^(G) so as to win those not having the law. ²² To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.^(H) I have become all things to all people^(I) so that by all possible means I might save some.^{(J) 23} I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight^(A)

³⁵ As Jesus approached Jericho,^(B) a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. ³⁶ When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. ³⁷ They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”^(C)

³⁸ He called out, “Jesus, Son of David,^(D) have mercy^(E) on me!”

³⁹ Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”^(F)

⁴⁰ Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, ⁴¹ “What do you want me to do for you?”

“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.

⁴² Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”^{(G) 43} Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.^(H)

Zacchaeus the Tax Collector

19 Jesus entered Jericho^(I) and was passing through. ² A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. ³ He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. ⁴ So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig^(J) tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.^(K)

⁵ When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” ⁶ So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

⁷ All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”^(L)

⁸ But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord,^(M) “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything,^(N) I will pay back four times the amount.”^(O)

⁹ Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.^{(P) 10} For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”^(Q)