³² and ^(A)they were astonished at his teaching, ^(B)for his word possessed authority.

³⁶ And ^(A)they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? ^(B)For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!”

The Authority of Jesus

²⁸ And when Jesus finished these sayings, ^(A)the crowds were astonished at his teaching, ^29 (B)for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

¹² For ^(A)the word of God is living and ^(B)active, ^(C)sharper than any ^(D)two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and ^(E)discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ¹³ And ^(F)no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are ^(G)naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

¹⁵ Declare these things; exhort and ^(A)rebuke with all authority. ^(B)Let no one disregard you.

⁵ because ^(A)our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and ^(B)in the Holy Spirit and with full ^(C)conviction. You know ^(D)what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

⁴ For the ^(A)weapons of ^(B)our warfare are not of the flesh but have ^(C)divine power ^(D)to destroy strongholds. ⁵ We destroy arguments and ^(E)every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to ^(F)obey Christ,

² But we have renounced ^(A)disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice^[a] cunning or ^(B)to tamper with God's word, but ^(C)by the open statement of the truth ^(D)we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.

²⁴ But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, ^25 (A)the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, ^(B)falling on his face, he will worship God and ^(C)declare that God is really among you.