Book of Common Prayer

Timothy and Apollos

¹⁰ If Timothy comes, take care that he isn’t fearful when he’s with you. He’s doing the Lord’s work, after all, just as I am. ¹¹ Nobody should look down on him. Send him on in peace, so that he can come to me. I’m expecting him, and so is the family here.

¹² As for our brother Apollos, I did my best to persuade him to go to you with the other family members, but it simply wasn’t for the best that he should come just now. He will come when the right moment appears.

¹³ Keep alert, stand firm in the faith, be brave, be strong! ¹⁴ Whatever you do, do it with love.

The love that stitches it all together

¹⁵ One more word of exhortation for you, my dear family. You know the household of Stephanas: they were the first fruits of Achaea, and they have set themselves to serve God’s people. ¹⁶ You should submit to people like that, and to everyone who is working with them and laboring hard. ¹⁷ I have thoroughly enjoyed the visit of Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus; they have made up for the fact that I haven’t been able to see you. ¹⁸ They have refreshed my spirit and yours. Give proper recognition to such people.

¹⁹ The churches in Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca send you many greetings in the Lord, together with the church in their house. ²⁰ All the family send you greetings. Greet one another with the holy kiss.

²¹ I, Paul, add my greetings in my own hand.

²² If anyone doesn’t love the Lord, let them be accursed! Come, Lord, come! ²³ The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. ²⁴ My love be with you all in Messiah Jesus.

Jesus and Beelzebul

²² They brought to Jesus a man who was possessed by a demon that made him unable to see or speak. Jesus healed him, so that the sick man was able to talk and see. ²³ All the crowds were astonished.

“He can’t be David’s Son, can he?” they said.

²⁴ The Pharisees heard this.

“The fellow can only cast out demons,” they said, “because he’s in league with Beelzebul, the prince of demons!”

²⁵ Jesus knew their thoughts. “Suppose a kingdom is split down the middle,” he said to them. “It’ll go to rack and ruin! If a city or a household is split down the middle, it’s doomed! ²⁶ And if the satan drives out the satan, he’s split down the middle—so how can his kingdom stay standing?

²⁷ “What’s more, if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, whose power are your people channeling when they cast them out? Yes, they’ll tell you what’s what! ²⁸ But if I’m casting out demons because I’m in league with God’s spirit—well, then, God’s kingdom has arrived on your doorstep!

²⁹ “Look at it like this. Suppose you want to break into a strong man’s house and steal his belongings. How are you going to do that unless you first tie up the strong man? Then you can plunder his house to your heart’s content. ³⁰ If you’re not with me, you’re against me. Unless you’re gathering the flock with me, you’re scattering it.

³¹ “So let me tell you this: people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy; but blasphemy against the spirit will not be forgiven. ³² If anyone speaks a word against the son of man, it will be forgiven. But if anyone speaks a word against the holy spirit, it won’t be forgiven, either in the present age or in the age to come.”