Psalm 147

¹⁶ For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach.^(A) Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! ¹⁷ If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward;^(B) if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.^{(C) 18} What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge,^(D) and so not make full use of my rights^(E) as a preacher of the gospel.

Paul’s Use of His Freedom

¹⁹ Though I am free^(F) and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone,^(G) to win as many as possible.^(H)

²² To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.^(A) I have become all things to all people^(B) so that by all possible means I might save some.^{(C) 23} I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

¹⁷ This was to fulfill^(A) what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

Jesus Heals Many^(A)(B)

²⁹ As soon as they left the synagogue,^(C) they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. ³⁰ Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. ³¹ So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up.^(D) The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

³² That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed.^{(E) 33} The whole town gathered at the door, ³⁴ and Jesus healed many who had various diseases.^(F) He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.^(G)

Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place^(H)

³⁵ Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.^{(I) 36} Simon and his companions went to look for him, ³⁷ and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

³⁸ Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”^{(J) 39} So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues^(K) and driving out demons.^(L)