Therefore,I exhortthe eldersamongyou, as [your] fellow elderand witnessof the sufferingsof Christ,and a partakeralsoof the glorythat is to be revealed,
"You are witnessesof these things.
beginningwith the baptismof Johnuntilthe daythat He was takenup from us-- oneof these[must] becomea witnesswith us of His resurrection."
but you will receivepowerwhen the HolySpirithas comeupon you; and you shall be My witnessesbothin Jerusalem,and in allJudeaand Samaria,and evento the remotest partof the earth."
And thisthey did,sendingit in chargeof Barnabasand Saulto the elders.
When they had appointedeldersfor them in everychurch,having prayedwith fasting,they commendedthem to the Lordin whomthey had believed.
When they arrivedat Jerusalem,they were receivedby the churchand the apostlesand the elders,and they reportedallthat Godhad donewith them.
The apostlesand the elderscame togetherto lookinto thismatter.
"ThisJesusGodraised up again,to whichwe are allwitnesses.
From Miletushe sentto Ephesusand calledto him the eldersof the church.
"Be on guardfor yourselvesand for allthe flock,amongwhichthe HolySpirithas madeyou overseers,to shepherdthe churchof GodwhichHe purchasedwith His ownblood.
And the followingday Paulwentin with us to James,and allthe elderswere present.
but put to deaththe Princeof life,[the one] whomGodraisedfrom the dead,[a fact] to whichwe are witnesses.
For we knowthat ifthe earthlytentwhich is our houseis torn down,we havea buildingfrom God,a housenot made with hands,eternalin the heavens.
we are of good courage,I say, and preferratherto be absentfrom the bodyand to be at homewith the Lord.
for I knowthat thiswill turnout for my deliverancethroughyour prayersand the provisionof the Spiritof JesusChrist,
Do not sharply rebukean older man,but [rather] appealto [him] as a father,[to] the younger menas brothers,
Do not receivean accusationagainstan elderexcepton the basisof twoorthreewitnesses.
in the futurethere is laidup for me the crownof righteousness,whichthe Lord,the righteousJudge,will awardto me on that day;and not onlyto me, but alsoto allwho have lovedHis appearing.
For thisreasonI leftyou in Crete,that you would set in orderwhat remainsand appointeldersin everycityas I directedyou,
yet for love'ssakeI ratherappeal[to you]-- since I amsuch a personas Paul,the aged,and nowalsoa prisonerof ChristJesus--
Therefore,since we haveso greata cloudof witnessessurroundingus, let us alsolay asideeveryencumbranceand the sinwhich so easily entanglesus, and let us runwith endurancethe racethat is set beforeus,
It was revealedto them that they were not servingthemselves,but you, in these thingswhichnowhave been announcedto you throughthosewho preached the gospelto you by the HolySpiritsentfrom heaven--things into whichangelslongto look.
sothat the proofof your faith,[being] more preciousthan goldwhich is perishable,even thoughtestedby fire,may be foundto resultin praiseand gloryand honorat the revelationof JesusChrist;
but to the degreethat you sharethe sufferingsof Christ,keep on rejoicing,sothat alsoat the revelationof His gloryyou may rejoicewith exultation.
And when the Chief Shepherdappears,you will receivethe unfadingcrownof glory.
Beloved,nowwe are childrenof God,and it has not appearedas yetwhatwe will be. We knowthat whenHe appears,we will be likeHim, becausewe will seeHim justas He is.
The elderto the chosenladyand her children,whomI lovein truth;and not onlyI, but alsoallwho knowthe truth,
The elderto the belovedGaius,whomI lovein truth.
I, John,your brotherand fellow partakerin the tribulationand kingdomand perseverance[which are] in Jesus,was on the islandcalledPatmosbecauseof the wordof Godand the testimonyof Jesus.
