As to thissalvation,the prophetswho prophesiedof the gracethat [would come] to you madecarefulsearchesand inquiries,
"The sceptershall not departfrom Judah,Northe ruler'sstafffrom betweenhis feet,UntilShilohcomes,And to him [shall be] the obedienceof the peoples.
Ifyou seekher as silverAnd searchfor her as for hiddentreasures;
"In the daysof thosekingsthe Godof heavenwill setup a kingdomwhichwill neverbe destroyed,and [that] kingdomwill not be leftfor anotherpeople;it will crushand putan endto allthesekingdoms,but it will itselfendureforever.
So I gavemy attentionto the LordGodto seek[Him by] prayerand supplications,with fasting,sackclothand ashes.
I will shakeallthe nations;and they will comewith the wealthof allnations,and I will fillthishousewith glory,'saysthe LORDof hosts.
"Then sayto him, 'Thussaysthe LORDof hosts,"Behold,a manwhose nameis Branch,for He will branchout from whereHe is; and He will buildthe templeof the LORD.
"For trulyI sayto you that manyprophetsand righteous mendesiredto seewhatyou see,and did not see[it], and to hearwhatyou hear,and did not hear[it].
"The Sonof Man[is to] go,justas it is writtenof Him; but woeto that manby whomthe Sonof Manis betrayed!It would have beengoodfor that manifhe had not been born."
for I sayto you, that manyprophetsand kingswishedto seethe things whichyou see,and did not see[them], and to hearthe things whichyou hear,and did not hear[them]."
NowHe saidto them, "Theseare My wordswhichI spoketo you while I was stillwith you, that all thingswhich are writtenaboutMe in the Lawof Mosesand the Prophetsand the Psalmsmustbe fulfilled."
"You searchthe Scripturesbecauseyou thinkthat in them you haveeternallife;it is thesethat testifyaboutMe;
They answeredhim, "You are not alsofrom Galilee,are you? Search,and seethat noprophetarisesout of Galilee."
"Of Him allthe prophetsbear witnessthat throughHis nameeveryonewho believesin Him receivesforgivenessof sins."
Nowthesewere more noble-mindedthan thosein Thessalonica,for they receivedthe wordwith greateagerness,examiningthe Scripturesdaily[to see] whetherthese thingswere so.
When they had seta dayfor Paul, they cameto him at his lodgingin large numbers;and he was explainingto them by solemnly testifyingabout the kingdomof Godand trying to persuadethem concerningJesus,from boththe Lawof Mosesand from the Prophets,from morninguntilevening.
"Which oneof the prophetsdid your fathersnot persecute?They killedthosewho had previously announcedthe comingof the Righteous One,whosebetrayersand murderersyou have nowbecome;
Allthesediedin faith,withoutreceivingthe promises,but having seenthem and having welcomedthem from a distance,and having confessedthat they were strangersand exileson the earth.
because Godhad providedsomethingbetterfor us, sothat apartfrom us they would not be made perfect.
seeking to knowwhatpersonortimethe Spiritof Christwithinthem was indicatingas He predictedthe sufferingsof Christand the gloriesto follow.
Therefore,prepareyour mindsfor action, keep sober[in spirit], fix your hopecompletelyon the graceto be broughtto you at the revelationof JesusChrist.
