The Purpose of This Book

^30 (A)Now Jesus did many other signs ^(B)in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; ^31 (C)but these are written so that you may ^(D)believe that Jesus is the Christ, ^(E)the Son of God, and that by believing ^(F)you may have life ^(G)in his name.

¹² He said therefore, ^(A)“A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. ¹³ Calling ^(B)ten of his servants,^[a] he gave them ten minas,^[b] and said to them, ‘Engage in business ^(C)until I come.’

¹⁵ When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business. ¹⁶ The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’ ¹⁷ And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant!^[a] Because you have been ^(A)faithful in a very little, ^(B)you shall have authority over ten cities.’