For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my companions watched for my downfall, saying, Perhaps he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.
They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD says: and the LORD has not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.
Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about to Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance; as you know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
To whom it was revealed, that not to themselves but to us they ministered the things which are now reported to you by those who have preached the gospel to you with the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
For we have not followed cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much licentiousness, those who had entirely escaped from those who live in error.
And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said to Samson’s wife, Entice your husband, that he may declare to us the riddle, so that we do not burn you and your father’s house with fire: have you called us to take what we have? is it not so?
And the lords of the Philistines came up to her, and said to her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lies, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give you every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.