⁹ Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, ¹⁰ and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus,^(A) they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”^(B)

¹¹ He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out?^{(C) 12} How much more valuable is a person than a sheep!^(D) Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

¹³ Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. ¹⁴ But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.^(E)

God’s Chosen Servant

¹⁵ Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill.^{(F) 16} He warned them not to tell others about him.^{(G) 17} This was to fulfill^(H) what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

⁸ But Jesus knew what they were thinking^(A) and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there.

⁴ Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.

⁵ He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. ⁶ Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians^(A) how they might kill Jesus.^(B)

¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality,^(A) impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.^(B) I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.^(C)

²² But the fruit^(D) of the Spirit is love,^(E) joy, peace,^(F) forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control.^(G) Against such things there is no law.^{(H) 24} Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh^(I) with its passions and desires.^{(J) 25} Since we live by the Spirit,^(K) let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited,^(L) provoking and envying each other.

⁸ and,

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

⁹ But you are a chosen people,^(C) a royal priesthood,^(D) a holy nation,^(E) God’s special possession,^(F) that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.^{(G) 10} Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God;^(H) once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society

¹¹ Dear friends,^(I) I urge you, as foreigners and exiles,^(J) to abstain from sinful desires,^(K) which wage war against your soul.^{(L) 12} Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds^(M) and glorify God^(N) on the day he visits us.

²³ When they hurled their insults at him,^(A) he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.^(B) Instead, he entrusted himself^(C) to him who judges justly.^(D)