Psalm 18:3-8

New International Version

³I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,^(A)
    and I have been saved from my enemies.^(B)
⁴The cords of death^(C) entangled me;
    the torrents^(D) of destruction overwhelmed me.
⁵The cords of the grave coiled around me;
    the snares of death^(E) confronted me.

⁶In my distress^(F) I called to the Lord;^(G)
    I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;^(H)
    my cry came^(I) before him, into his ears.
⁷The earth trembled^(J) and quaked,^(K)
    and the foundations of the mountains shook;^(L)
    they trembled because he was angry.^(M)
⁸Smoke rose from his nostrils;^(N)
    consuming fire^(O) came from his mouth,
    burning coals^(P) blazed out of it.

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Proverbs 3:23-24

New International Version

²³Then you will go on your way in safety,^(A)
and your foot will not stumble.^(B)
²⁴When you lie down,^(C) you will not be afraid;^(D)
when you lie down, your sleep^(E) will be sweet.

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Matthew 10:32-42

New International Version

³²“Whoever acknowledges me before others,^(A) I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. ³³But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.^(B)

³⁴“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. ³⁵For I have come to turn

“‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law^(C)—
³⁶ a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’^[a]^(D)

³⁷“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.^(E) ³⁸Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.^(F) ³⁹Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.^(G)

⁴⁰“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me,^(H) and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.^(I) ⁴¹Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. ⁴²And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”^(J)

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Footnotes

Matthew 10:36 Micah 7:6

Acts 11:19-30

New International Version

The Church in Antioch

¹⁹Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed^(A) traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch,^(B) spreading the word only among Jews. ²⁰Some of them, however, men from Cyprus^(C) and Cyrene,^(D) went to Antioch^(E) and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news^(F) about the Lord Jesus. ²¹The Lord’s hand was with them,^(G) and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.^(H)

²²News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas^(I) to Antioch. ²³When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done,^(J) he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.^(K) ²⁴He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit^(L) and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.^(M)

²⁵Then Barnabas went to Tarsus^(N) to look for Saul, ²⁶and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples^(O) were called Christians first^(P) at Antioch.

²⁷During this time some prophets^(Q) came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. ²⁸One of them, named Agabus,^(R) stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world.^(S) (This happened during the reign of Claudius.)^(T) ²⁹The disciples,^(U) as each one was able, decided to provide help^(V) for the brothers and sisters^(W) living in Judea. ³⁰This they did, sending their gift to the elders^(X) by Barnabas^(Y) and Saul.^(Z)