¹⁹ Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead^(A)—since he was about a hundred years old^(B)—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.^{(C) 20} Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened^(D) in his faith and gave glory to God,^{(E) 21} being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.^{(F) 22} This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”^{(G) 23} The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, ²⁴ but also for us,^(H) to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him^(I) who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.^{(J) 25} He was delivered over to death for our sins^(K) and was raised to life for our justification.^(L)

The Parable of the Rich Fool

¹³ Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

¹⁴ Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” ¹⁵ Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”^(A)

¹⁶ And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. ¹⁷ He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

¹⁸ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. ¹⁹ And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

²⁰ “But God said to him, ‘You fool!^(B) This very night your life will be demanded from you.^(C) Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’^(D)

²¹ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”^(E)

BOOK I

Psalms 1–41

Psalm 1

¹² The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders^(A) God had done among the Gentiles through them.^{(B) 13} When they finished, James^(C) spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. ¹⁴ Simon^[a] has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles.^{(D) 15} The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:

¹⁹ “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. ²⁰ Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols,^(G) from sexual immorality,^(H) from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.^{(I) 21} For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”^(J)

The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers

²² Then the apostles and elders,^(K) with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch^(L) with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas,^(M) men who were leaders among the believers.

The Resurrection of Christ

15 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel^(A) I preached to you,^(B) which you received and on which you have taken your stand. ² By this gospel you are saved,^(C) if you hold firmly^(D) to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

³ For what I received^(E) I passed on to you^(F) as of first importance^[a]: that Christ died for our sins^(G) according to the Scriptures,^{(H) 4} that he was buried,^(I) that he was raised^(J) on the third day^(K) according to the Scriptures,^{(L) 5} and that he appeared to Cephas,^[b](M) and then to the Twelve.^{(N) 6} After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.^{(O) 7} Then he appeared to James,^(P) then to all the apostles,^{(Q) 8} and last of all he appeared to me also,^(R) as to one abnormally born.

⁹ For I am the least of the apostles^(S) and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted^(T) the church of God.^{(U) 10} But by the grace^(V) of God I am what I am, and his grace to me^(W) was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them^(X)—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.^{(Y) 11} Whether, then, it is I or they,^(Z) this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

⁵⁴ Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue,^(A) and they were amazed.^(B) “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. ⁵⁵ “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?^(C) Isn’t his mother’s^(D) name Mary, and aren’t his brothers^(E) James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? ⁵⁶ Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” ⁵⁷ And they took offense^(F) at him.

But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”^(G)

⁵⁸ And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.