³¹ “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

³ And even if our gospel^(A) is veiled,^(B) it is veiled to those who are perishing.^(C)

The Ministry of Reconciliation

¹¹ Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord,^(A) we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.^(B)

²³ They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God,^(A) and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets^(B) he tried to persuade them about Jesus.^(C)

²⁸ Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”^(A)

⁸ Paul entered the synagogue^(A) and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.^(B)

¹⁰ So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, ¹¹ for on account of him^(A) many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.^(B)

⁴³ When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”^{(A) 44} The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen,^(B) and a cloth around his face.^(C)

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

The Plot to Kill Jesus

⁴⁵ Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary,^(D) and had seen what Jesus did,^(E) believed in him.^{(F) 46} But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. ⁴⁷ Then the chief priests and the Pharisees^(G) called a meeting^(H) of the Sanhedrin.^(I)

“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs.^{(J) 48} If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”

⁴⁹ Then one of them, named Caiaphas,^(K) who was high priest that year,^(L) spoke up, “You know nothing at all! ⁵⁰ You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”^(M)

⁵¹ He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, ⁵² and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.^{(N) 53} So from that day on they plotted to take his life.^(O)