²⁴ They started to quarrel among themselves about which of them was the greatest person.

²⁵ Jesus said to them, `The kings of countries make their people obey them. Those who rule give themselves a good name.

²⁶ But it must not be so among you. The one who is greatest among you must be like the most unimportant. And the leader must be like one who helps others.

²⁷ Which man is greater, the man who sits at the table or the man who helps him? Is it not the man who sits at the table? But I am like the man who helps you.

²⁸ `You have stayed with me through my troubles.

²⁹ My Father made me a ruler, and now I make you rulers.

³⁰ You will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. You will sit on chief chairs or thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel.'

³¹ `Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has asked to have all of you. He wants to shake you like grain with the cleaning fan.

³² But I have talked to God about you, Simon, so that you will keep on believing in me. And when you come back, then help your brothers to be strong.'

³³ Simon said, `Lord, I will go with you, even to prison or to die.'

³⁴ Jesus said, `I tell you this, Peter. This very day, before the cock calls, you will say three times that you do not know me.'

³⁵ Jesus said to them, `When I sent you out to the towns, I told you not to carry a money bag, or a bag, or shoes. Did you ever need anything at that time?' They said, `No.'

³⁶ He said, `But this time, anyone who has money should take it and his bag too. Anyone who has no sword should sell his coat and buy one.

³⁷ `The holy writings say, "He was counted as one of the bad people." And I tell you, that means me. And the things that are written about me must happen to me.'

³⁸ The disciples said, `Look, Lord, here are two swords.' And he answered, `That is enough.'

11 If people believe God, then they know they have the things they hope to get. It is the proof of things we do not see.

² There were people long ago believed God. He said they were good because they believed him.

³ We believe in God, so that is how we know that God made the world by his word. The things we see were made out of things that cannot be seen.

⁴ Because Abel believed God, he made a sacrifice that pleased God more than the one Cain made. Because Abel believed God, God showed that he was good. God was pleased with his gifts. Abel died. But because he believed God, he still speaks to us through his faith.

⁵ Because Enoch believed God, he was taken up into heaven without dying. The people could not find him because God had taken him. Before he was taken up, the holy writings say that he pleased God.

⁶ If a person does not believe God, he cannot please him. Anyone who comes to God must believe that God is real. And he must believe that God will bless those who try to find him. God will reward a person, if he really tries to find God.

⁷ God told Noah about things that would happen. These things had never happened before. Noah believed God; he respected God. He built a big house on a boat, and so his family was saved [from the big flood]. By believing God he showed that the other people were wrong. He was put right with God because he believed.

⁸ God called Abraham to go away to a place which he would have as his own. Because Abraham believed God, he obeyed him. He went even though he did not know where he was to go.

⁹ Because he believed God, he lived like a stranger in the land God promised him. He lived in tents with Isaac and Jacob. They had the same promise he had.

¹⁰ Abraham was looking for a city which will last for ever. It was the city God planned and made.

¹¹ Sarah also believed God, and she was able to have a baby even though she was too old to have children. But she trusted God to do what he had promised.

¹² Abraham was too old to be a father, but a great nation was born from that one man. They are as many as the stars in the sky and as the sands on the seaside. No man can count them.

¹³ These people all died still believing God. They did not get the things God had promised them. But they saw them far away and were glad to see them. They said they did not belong to this world, but were only travelling in it.

¹⁴ People who say such things mean they are looking for a country which will be their own.

¹⁵ If they had wanted the country they left behind, they could have gone back to it.

¹⁶ But now they want a better country. They want a place in heaven. That is why God wants to be called their God. He has made a city ready for them.