Vision of the Four Chariots

6 Then I turned and raised my eyes and looked, and behold, four chariots were coming from between two mountains, and the mountains were mountains of bronze. ² With the first chariot were ^(A)red horses, with the second chariot ^(B)black horses, ³ with the third chariot white horses, and with the fourth chariot dappled horses—strong steeds. ⁴ Then I answered ^(C)and said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”

⁵ And the angel answered and said to me, ^(D)“These are four spirits of heaven, who go out from their ^(E)station before the Lord of all the earth. ^6 [a]The one with the black horses is going to ^(F)the north country, the white are going after them, and the dappled are going toward the south country.” ⁷ Then the strong steeds went out, eager to go, that they might ^(G)walk to and fro throughout the earth. And He said, “Go, walk to and fro throughout the earth.” So they walked to and fro throughout the earth. ⁸ And He called to me, and spoke to me, saying, “See, those who go toward the north country have given rest to My ^(H)Spirit in the north country.”

Beware of Hypocrisy^(A)

12 In ^(B)the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, ^(C)“Beware of the ^[a]leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. ^2 (D)For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. ³ Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.

Jesus Teaches the Fear of God^(E)

^4 (F)“And I say to you, ^(G)My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. ⁵ But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, ^(H)fear Him!

⁶ “Are not five sparrows sold for two ^[b]copper coins? And ^(I)not one of them is forgotten before God. ⁷ But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Confess Christ Before Men^(J)

^8 (K)“Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me ^(L)before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. ⁹ But he who ^(M)denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.

¹⁰ “And ^(N)anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.

^11 (O)“Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. ¹² For the Holy Spirit will ^(P)teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

Paul’s Paternal Care

¹⁴ I do not write these things to shame you, but ^(A)as my beloved children I warn you. ¹⁵ For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for ^(B)in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. ¹⁶ Therefore I urge you, ^(C)imitate me. ¹⁷ For this reason I have sent ^(D)Timothy to you, ^(E)who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will ^(F)remind you of my ways in Christ, as I ^(G)teach everywhere ^(H)in every church.

^18 (I)Now some are ^[a]puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. ^19 (J)But I will come to you shortly, ^(K)if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. ²⁰ For ^(L)the kingdom of God is not in word but in ^(M)power. ²¹ What do you want? ^(N)Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?