Jephthah Rejects Ammonite Claims

¹² Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites, asking, “What do you have against me that you have come to fight me in my land?”

¹³ The king of the Ammonites said to Jephthah’s messengers, “When Israel came from Egypt, they seized my land from the Arnon to the Jabbok^(A) and the Jordan. Now restore it peaceably.”

¹⁴ Jephthah again sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites ¹⁵ to tell him, “This is what Jephthah says: Israel did not take away the land of Moab or the land of the Ammonites. ¹⁶ But when they came from Egypt, Israel traveled through the wilderness to the Red Sea and came to Kadesh. ¹⁷ Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, ‘Please let us travel through your land,’ but the king of Edom would not listen. They also sent messengers to the king of Moab, but he refused. So Israel stayed in Kadesh.^(B)

¹⁸ “Then they traveled through the wilderness and around the lands of Edom and Moab. They came to the east side of the land of Moab and camped on the other side of the Arnon but did not enter into the territory of Moab, for the Arnon was the boundary of Moab.

¹⁹ “Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, king of Heshbon.^(C) Israel said to him, ‘Please let us travel through your land to our country,’ ²⁰ but Sihon would not trust Israel to pass through his territory. Instead, Sihon gathered all his troops, camped at Jahaz, and fought with Israel. ²¹ Then the Lord God of Israel handed over Sihon and all his troops to Israel, and they defeated them. So Israel took possession^(D) of the entire land of the Amorites who lived in that country. ²² They took possession of all the territory of the Amorites from the Arnon to the Jabbok and from the wilderness to the Jordan.

²³ “The Lord God of Israel has now driven out the Amorites before his people Israel, and will you now force us out? ²⁴ Isn’t it true that you can have whatever your god Chemosh conquers for you, and we can have whatever the Lord our God conquers for us? ²⁵ Now are you any better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever contend with Israel or fight against them? ²⁶ While Israel lived three hundred years in Heshbon and Aroer and their surrounding villages, and in all the cities that are on the banks of the Arnon, why didn’t you take them back at that time? ²⁷ I have not sinned against you, but you are doing me wrong by fighting against me. Let the Lord who is the judge^(E) decide today between the Israelites and the Ammonites.” ²⁸ But the king of the Ammonites would not listen to Jephthah’s message that he sent him.

Jephthah’s Vow and Sacrifice

²⁹ The Spirit of the Lord came on Jephthah, who traveled through Gilead and Manasseh, and then through Mizpah of Gilead. He crossed over to the Ammonites from Mizpah of Gilead. ³⁰ Jephthah made this vow^(F) to the Lord: “If you in fact hand over the Ammonites to me, ³¹ whoever comes out the doors of my house to greet me when I return safely from the Ammonites will belong to the Lord, and I will offer that person as a burnt offering.”^(G)

³² Jephthah crossed over to the Ammonites to fight against them, and the Lord handed them over^(H) to him. ³³ He defeated twenty of their cities with a great slaughter from Aroer all the way to the entrance of Minnith and to Abel-keramim. So the Ammonites were subdued^(I) before the Israelites.

³⁴ When Jephthah went to his home in Mizpah, there was his daughter, coming out to meet him with tambourines and dancing!^(J) She was his only child; he had no other son or daughter besides her. ³⁵ When he saw her, he tore his clothes and said, “No! Not my daughter! You have devastated me! You have brought great misery on me.^[a] I have given my word to the Lord and cannot take it back.”

³⁶ Then she said to him, “My father, you have given your word to the Lord. Do to me as you have said, for the Lord brought vengeance on your enemies, the Ammonites.” ³⁷ She also said to her father, “Let me do this one thing: Let me wander two months through the mountains with my friends and mourn my virginity.”

³⁸ “Go,” he said. And he sent her away two months. So she left with her friends and mourned her virginity as she wandered through the mountains. ³⁹ At the end of two months, she returned to her father, and he kept the vow he had made about her. And she had never been intimate with a man. Now it became a custom in Israel ⁴⁰ that four days each year the young women of Israel would commemorate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite.

Dispute in Antioch

15 Some men^(A) came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised^(B) according to the custom prescribed by Moses,^(C) you cannot be saved.” ² After Paul and Barnabas had engaged them in serious argument and debate, Paul and Barnabas and some others were appointed to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem about this issue.^{(D) 3} When they had been sent on their way by the church,^(E) they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they brought great joy to all the brothers and sisters.

⁴ When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.^{(F) 5} But some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

The Jerusalem Council

⁶ The apostles and the elders gathered to consider this matter. ⁷ After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you are aware that in the early days God made a choice among you,^[a] that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the gospel message and believe. ⁸ And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he also did to us.^{(G) 9} He made no distinction between us and them,^(H) cleansing their hearts by faith.^{(I) 10} Now then, why are you testing God by putting a yoke on the disciples’ necks^(J) that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? ¹¹ On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace^(K) of the Lord Jesus in the same way they are.”

¹² The whole assembly became silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul describe all the signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.^{(L) 13} After they stopped speaking, James responded, “Brothers, listen to me. ¹⁴ Simeon^[b] has reported how God first intervened to take from the Gentiles a people for his name.^{(M) 15} And the words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:

¹⁹ Therefore, in my judgment, we should not cause difficulties for those among the Gentiles who turn to God, ²⁰ but instead we should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality,^(O) from eating anything that has been strangled, and from blood. ²¹ For since ancient times, Moses has had those who proclaim him in every city, and every Sabbath day he is read aloud in the synagogues.”^(P)

The Letter to the Gentile Believers

²² Then the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, decided to select men who were among them and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas, called Barsabbas, and Silas,^(Q) both leading men among the brothers. ²³ They wrote:

“From the apostles and the elders, your brothers,

To the brothers and sisters among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:^(R)

Greetings.

²⁴ Since we have heard that some without our authorization went out from us^(S) and troubled you with their words and unsettled your hearts,^{[e](T) 25} we have unanimously^(U) decided to select men and send them to you along with our dearly loved Barnabas and Paul, ²⁶ who have risked their lives^(V) for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷ Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will personally report the same things by word of mouth. ²⁸ For it was the Holy Spirit’s decision—and ours—not to place further burdens on you beyond these requirements:^{(W) 29} that you abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.^(X) You will do well if you keep yourselves from these things.

Farewell.”

The Outcome of the Jerusalem Letter

³⁰ So they were sent off and went down to Antioch, and after gathering the assembly, they delivered the letter. ³¹ When they read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. ³² Both Judas and Silas, who were also prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers and sisters and strengthened them with a long message.^{(Y) 33} After spending some time there, they were sent back in peace^(Z) by the brothers and sisters to those who had sent them.^{[f][g] 35} But Paul and Barnabas, along with many others, remained in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the word of the Lord.^(AA)

Paul and Barnabas Part Company

³⁶ After some time had passed, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit the brothers and sisters in every town^(AB) where we have preached the word of the Lord and see how they’re doing.” ³⁷ Barnabas wanted to take along John who was called Mark. ³⁸ But Paul insisted that they should not take along this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work. ³⁹ They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company, and Barnabas took Mark^(AC) with him and sailed off to Cyprus. ⁴⁰ But Paul chose Silas and departed, after being commended by the brothers and sisters to the grace of the Lord.^{(AD) 41} He traveled through Syria^(AE) and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

The Good and the Bad Figs

24 After King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had deported Jeconiah^[a] son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, the officials of Judah, and the craftsmen and metalsmiths^(A) from Jerusalem and had brought them to Babylon, the Lord showed me two baskets of figs^(B) placed in front of the temple of the Lord. ² One basket contained very good figs, like early figs,^(C) but the other basket contained very bad figs, so bad they were inedible. ³ The Lord said to me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?”

I said, “Figs! The good figs are very good, but the bad figs are extremely bad, so bad they are inedible.”

⁴ The word of the Lord came to me: ⁵ “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Like these good figs, so I regard as good the exiles from Judah I sent away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans. ⁶ I will keep my eyes on them for their good^(D) and will return them to this land. I will build them up and not demolish them; I will plant them and not uproot them.^{(E) 7} I will give them a heart to know me,^(F) that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God because they will return to me with all their heart.^(G)

⁸ “But as for the bad figs, so bad they are inedible,^(H) this is what the Lord says: In this way I will deal with King Zedekiah of Judah, his officials, and the remnant of Jerusalem—those remaining in this land or living in the land of Egypt.^{(I) 9} I will make them an object of horror^(J) and a disaster to all the kingdoms of the earth, an example for disgrace, scorn, ridicule,^(K) and cursing, wherever I have banished them.^{(L) 10} I will send the sword, famine, and plague^(M) against them until they have perished from the land I gave to them and their ancestors.”

The Question of Divorce

10 He^(A) set out from there and went to the region of Judea^(B) and across the Jordan.^(C) Then crowds converged on him again, and as was his custom he taught^(D) them again.

² Some Pharisees^(E) came to test^(F) him, asking, “Is it lawful^(G) for a man to divorce^(H) his wife?” ^(I)

³ He replied to them, “What did Moses^(J) command you?”

⁴ They said, “Moses permitted us to write divorce papers^(K) and send her away.”^(L)

⁵ But Jesus told them, “He wrote this command for you because of the hardness of your hearts. ^{(M) 6} But from the beginning^(N) of creation^(O) God^[a] made them male and female.^{[b](P) 7} For this reason a man will leave ^(Q) his father and mother ^{[c] 8} and the two will become one flesh.^[d](R) So they are no longer two, but one flesh. ⁹ Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”^(S)

¹⁰ When they were in the house again, the disciples questioned him about this matter. ¹¹ He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife^(T) and marries^(U) another commits adultery^(V) against her. ¹² Also, if she divorces her husband^(W) and marries another, she commits adultery.”

Blessing the Children

¹³ People^(X) were bringing little children^(Y) to him in order that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked^(Z) them. ¹⁴ When Jesus saw it, he was indignant^(AA) and said to them, “Let the little children come to me.^(AB) Don’t stop^(AC) them, because the kingdom of God^(AD) belongs to such as these. ¹⁵ Truly I tell you,^(AE) whoever does not receive^[e](AF) the kingdom of God like a little child^(AG) will never enter it.” ¹⁶ After taking them in his arms, he laid his hands on^(AH) them and blessed^(AI) them.

The Rich Young Ruler

¹⁷ As^(AJ) he was setting out on a journey,^(AK) a man ran up, knelt down^(AL) before him, and asked him, “Good^(AM) teacher,^(AN) what must I do to inherit^(AO) eternal life?” ^(AP)

¹⁸ “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good except God alone.^{(AQ) 19} You know the commandments: Do not murder;^(AR) do not commit adultery;^(AS) do not steal;^(AT) do not bear false witness;^(AU) do not defraud;^(AV) honor^(AW) your father and mother.”^[f](AX)

²⁰ He said to him, “Teacher,^(AY) I have kept all these from my youth.”

²¹ Looking at him, Jesus loved him^(AZ) and said to him, “You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor,^(BA) and you will have treasure^(BB) in heaven.^(BC) Then come,^[g] follow me.”^{(BD) 22} But he was dismayed by this demand, and he went away grieving,^(BE) because he had many possessions.^(BF)

Possessions and the Kingdom

²³ Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth^(BG) to enter the kingdom of God!”^(BH)

²⁴ The disciples were astonished at his words. Again Jesus said to them, “Children,^(BI) how hard it is^[h] to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich^(BJ) person to enter the kingdom of God.”

²⁶ They were even more astonished, saying to one another, “Then who can be saved?” ^(BK)

²⁷ Looking at them, Jesus said, “With man it is impossible,^(BL) but not with God, because all things are possible with God.”

²⁸ Peter^(BM) began to tell him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.”

²⁹ “Truly I tell you,”^(BN) Jesus said, “there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father^[i] or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel,^{(BO) 30} who will not receive a hundred times^(BP) more, now at this time^(BQ) —houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions^(BR) —and eternal life^(BS) in the age to come.^{(BT) 31} But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”^(BU)

The Third Prediction of His Death

³² They^(BV) were on the road, going up to Jerusalem,^(BW) and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were astonished, but those who followed him were afraid.^(BX) Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them the things that would happen to him.^{(BY) 33} “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man^(BZ) will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes,^(CA) and they will condemn him to death. Then they will hand him over to the Gentiles,^{(CB) 34} and they will mock him, spit on him, flog^[j] him, and kill him, and he will rise^(CC) after three days.”^(CD)

Suffering and Service

³⁵ James^(CE) and John,^(CF) the sons of Zebedee,^(CG) approached him and said, “Teacher,^(CH) we want you to do whatever we ask you.”

³⁶ “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked them.

³⁷ They answered him, “Allow us to sit at your right and at your left in your glory.”^(CI)

³⁸ Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you’re asking.^(CJ) Are you able to drink the cup^(CK) I drink or to be baptized with the baptism^(CL) I am baptized with?”^(CM)

³⁹ “We are able,” they told him.

Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with.^{(CN) 40} But to sit at my right or left is not mine to give; instead, it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

⁴¹ When the ten disciples heard this, they began to be indignant with James and John.^{(CO) 42} Jesus called them over and said to them, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over^(CP) them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. ⁴³ But it is not so among you.^(CQ) On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant,^{(CR) 44} and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave to all.^{(CS) 45} For even the Son of Man^(CT) did not come to be served, but to serve,^(CU) and to give his life^(CV) as a ransom^(CW) for many.”^[k](CX)

A Blind Man Healed

⁴⁶ They^(CY) came to Jericho.^(CZ) And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (the son of Timaeus), a blind^(DA) beggar,^(DB) was sitting by the road.^{(DC) 47} When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth,^(DD) he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David,^(DE) have mercy^(DF) on me!” ^{(DG) 48} Many warned him to keep quiet, but he was crying out all the more, “Have mercy on me,^(DH) Son of David!”

⁴⁹ Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”

So they called the blind man and said to him, “Have courage!^(DI) Get up; he’s calling for you.” ⁵⁰ He threw off his coat,^(DJ) jumped up, and came to Jesus.

⁵¹ Then Jesus answered him, “What do you want^(DK) me to do for you?”

“Rabboni,”^[l](DL) the blind man said to him, “I want to see.”

⁵² Jesus said to him, “Go, your faith has saved you.”^(DM) Immediately he could see and began to follow Jesus on the road.