²⁷ However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel.^[a] Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”

³ We ^(A)put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry,

⁹ For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ^(A)though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

¹⁹ For ^(A)though I am free from all, ^(B)I have made myself a servant to all, that I might ^(C)win more of them. ^20 (D)To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. ²¹ To ^(E)those outside the law I became ^(F)as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but ^(G)under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. ^22 (H)To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. ^(I)I have become all things to all people, that ^(J)by all means I might save some.

⁹ But take care ^(A)that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block ^(B)to the weak.

¹³ Therefore, ^(A)if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

The Example of Christ

15 ^(A)We who are strong ^(B)have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. ^2 (C)Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. ³ For ^(D)Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, ^(E)“The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”

^21 (A)It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.^[a]

A Great Fish Swallows Jonah

^17 [a] And the Lord appointed^[b] a great fish to swallow up Jonah. ^(A)And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.