²⁷ So Gideon took ten men of his servants and did as the Lord had told him. But because he was too afraid of his family and the men of the town to do it by day, he did it by night.

⁴ but just as we have been approved by God ^(A)to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not ^(B)to please man, but to please God ^(C)who tests our hearts.

⁵ His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Moses Commands Obedience

4 “And now, O Israel, listen to ^(A)the statutes and the rules^[a] that I am teaching you, and do them, ^(B)that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you.

¹⁶ was pleased to reveal his Son to^[a] me, in order ^(A)that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;^[b]

¹⁴ You are ^(A)my friends ^(B)if you do what I command you.

² This man came to Jesus^{[a] (A)}by night and said to him, ^(B)“Rabbi, ^(C)we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do ^(D)unless God is with him.”

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

²⁴ Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him ^(A)deny himself and ^(B)take up his cross and follow me.