¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.^(A)

On Denying the Incarnation

4 Dear friends,^(A) do not believe every spirit,^(B) but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.^(C)

¹⁴ Then we will no longer be infants,^(A) tossed back and forth by the waves,^(B) and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.^(C)

¹⁸ For such people are not serving our Lord Christ,^(A) but their own appetites.^(B) By smooth talk and flattery they deceive^(C) the minds of naive people. ¹⁹ Everyone has heard^(D) about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.^(E)

⁷ who was an attendant of the proconsul,^(A) Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.