34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the (A)fall and rising of many in Israel, and for (B)a sign which will be spoken against

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34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother:(A) “This child is destined to cause the falling(B) and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,

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23 but we preach Christ crucified, (A)to the Jews a [a]stumbling block and to the [b]Greeks (B)foolishness,

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 1:23 Gr. skandalon, offense
  2. 1 Corinthians 1:23 NU Gentiles

23 but we preach Christ crucified:(A) a stumbling block(B) to Jews and foolishness(C) to Gentiles,

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Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who [a]are disobedient,

(A)“The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,”

and

(B)“A stone of stumbling
And a rock of offense.”

(C)They stumble, being disobedient to the word, (D)to which they also were appointed.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 2:7 NU disbelieve

Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,(A)

“The stone the builders rejected(B)
    has become the cornerstone,”[a](C)

and,

“A stone that causes people to stumble
    and a rock that makes them fall.”[b](D)

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.(E)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 2:7 Psalm 118:22
  2. 1 Peter 2:8 Isaiah 8:14

14 (A)He will be as a [a]sanctuary,
But (B)a stone of stumbling and a rock of [b]offense
To both the houses of Israel,
As a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15 And many among them shall (C)stumble;
They shall fall and be broken,
Be snared and [c]taken.”

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 8:14 holy abode
  2. Isaiah 8:14 stumbling over
  3. Isaiah 8:15 captured

14 He will be a holy place;(A)
    for both Israel and Judah he will be
a stone(B) that causes people to stumble(C)
    and a rock that makes them fall.(D)
And for the people of Jerusalem he will be
    a trap and a snare.(E)
15 Many of them will stumble;(F)
    they will fall and be broken,
    they will be snared and captured.”

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44 And (A)whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, (B)it will grind him to powder.”

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44 Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 21:44 Some manuscripts do not have verse 44.

The Damascus Road: Saul Converted(A)

Then (B)Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked (C)letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

(D)As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, (E)why are you persecuting Me?”

And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”

Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. [a]It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

And (F)the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Ananias Baptizes Saul

10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus (G)named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.”

And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul (H)of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”

13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, (I)how much [b]harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all (J)who call on Your name.”

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for (K)he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before (L)Gentiles, (M)kings, and the (N)children[c] of Israel. 16 For (O)I will show him how many things he must suffer for My (P)name’s sake.”

17 (Q)And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and (R)laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord [d]Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and (S)be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. (T)Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.

Saul Preaches Christ

20 Immediately he preached [e]the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 9:5 NU, M omit the rest of v. 5 and begin v. 6 with But arise and go
  2. Acts 9:13 bad things
  3. Acts 9:15 Lit. sons
  4. Acts 9:17 M omits Jesus
  5. Acts 9:20 NU Jesus

Saul’s Conversion(A)

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.(B) He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus,(C) so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way,(D) whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.(E) He fell to the ground and heard a voice(F) say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”(G)

The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound(H) but did not see anyone.(I) Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing.(J) So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision,(K) “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered.

11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus(L) named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on(M) him to restore his sight.”

13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people(N) in Jerusalem.(O) 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests(P) to arrest all who call on your name.”(Q)

15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument(R) to proclaim my name to the Gentiles(S) and their kings(T) and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”(U)

17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on(V) Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”(W) 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,(X) 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem

Saul spent several days with the disciples(Y) in Damascus.(Z) 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues(AA) that Jesus is the Son of God.(AB)

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Who is wise?
Let him understand these things.
Who is prudent?
Let him know them.
For (A)the ways of the Lord are right;
The righteous walk in them,
But transgressors stumble in them.

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Who is wise?(A) Let them realize these things.
    Who is discerning? Let them understand.(B)
The ways of the Lord are right;(C)
    the righteous walk(D) in them,
    but the rebellious stumble in them.

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14 If you are [a]reproached for the name of Christ, (A)blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. [b]On their part He is blasphemed, (B)but on your part He is glorified.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 4:14 insulted or reviled
  2. 1 Peter 4:14 NU omits the rest of v. 14.

14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ,(A) you are blessed,(B) for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

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The Race of Faith

12 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, (A)let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and (B)let us run (C)with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the [a]author and [b]finisher of our faith, (D)who for the joy that was set before Him (E)endured the cross, despising the shame, and (F)has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Discipline of God(G)

(H)For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, (I)lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 12:2 originator
  2. Hebrews 12:2 perfecter

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run(A) with perseverance(B) the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus,(C) the pioneer(D) and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,(E) scorning its shame,(F) and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.(G) Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary(H) and lose heart.

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Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better.

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And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater.

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15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ (A)among those who are being saved and (B)among those who are perishing. 16 (C)To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And (D)who is sufficient for these things?

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15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma(A) of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.(B) 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death;(C) to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?(D)

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32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, [a]by the works of the law. For (A)they stumbled at that stumbling stone.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 9:32 NU by works, omitting of the law

32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.(A)

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Then (A)the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many (B)of the priests were obedient to the faith.

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So the word of God spread.(A) The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly,(B) and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

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