²⁷ So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the Lord told him. But because he was afraid of his family and the townspeople, he did it at night rather than in the daytime.

⁴ On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.^(A) We are not trying to please people^(B) but God, who tests our hearts.^(C)

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

¹⁶ to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles,^(A) my immediate response was not to consult any human being.^(B)

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

² He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi,^(A) we know^(B) that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs^(C) you are doing if God were not with him.”^(D)

²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.^(A)

Obedience Commanded

4 Now, Israel, hear the decrees^(A) and laws I am about to teach^(B) you. Follow them so that you may live^(C) and may go in and take possession of the land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you.