²⁰ When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house.

¹⁷ Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.

Jesus Visits Martha and Mary

³⁸ As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. ³⁹ Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

⁴¹ But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! ⁴² There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

¹⁵ The brothers and sisters^[a] in Rome had heard we were coming, and they came to meet us at the Forum^[b] on the Appian Way. Others joined us at The Three Taverns.^[c] When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and thanked God.

²⁵ As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him.

³⁰ Jesus had stayed outside the village, at the place where Martha met him.

Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids

25 “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids^[a] who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.

⁶ “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’