Persecutions Are Coming^(A)

^16 (B)“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. ^(C)Therefore be wise as serpents and ^(D)harmless^[a] as doves.

³ Go your way; ^(A)behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.

¹⁵ that you may become blameless and ^[a]harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as ^(A)lights in the world,

Tongues a Sign to Unbelievers

²⁰ Brethren, ^(A)do not be children in understanding; however, in malice ^(B)be babes, but in understanding be mature.

²⁹ For I know this, that after my departure ^(A)savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.

¹⁸ For those who are such do not serve our Lord ^[a]Jesus Christ, but ^(A)their own belly, and ^(B)by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. ¹⁹ For ^(C)your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be ^(D)wise in what is good, and ^[b]simple concerning evil.

^5 (A)Walk in ^(B)wisdom toward those who are outside, ^(C)redeeming the time.

Walk in Wisdom

^15 (A)See then that you walk ^[a]circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, ^16 (B)redeeming the time, ^(C)because the days are evil.

^17 (D)Therefore do not be unwise, but ^(E)understand ^(F)what the will of the Lord is.

³ But I fear, lest somehow, as ^(A)the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds ^(B)may be corrupted from the ^[a]simplicity that is in Christ.