²⁰ When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home.

¹⁷ Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will be with the Lord forever.^(A)

Jesus Visits Martha and Mary

³⁸ Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him.^{[a](A) 39} She had a sister named Mary, who sat at Jesus’s^[b] feet and listened to what he was saying.^{(B) 40} But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her, then, to help me.” ⁴¹ But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things, ⁴² but few things are needed—indeed only one.^[c] Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”^(C)

¹⁵ The brothers and sisters from there, when they heard of us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage.

²⁵ On Peter’s arrival, Cornelius met him and, falling at his feet, worshiped him.

³⁰ Now Jesus had not yet come to the village but was still at the place where Martha had met him.

The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids

25 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten young women^[a] took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.^[b](A)

⁶ But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’