But you, be soberin all things,endure hardship,dothe workof an evangelist,fulfillyour ministry.
On your walls,O Jerusalem,I have appointedwatchmen;Alldayand allnightthey will neverkeepsilent.You who remindthe LORD,take norestfor yourselves;
"And I setwatchmenoveryou, [saying], 'Listento the soundof the trumpet!'But they said,'We will not listen.'
"Sonof man,I have appointedyou a watchmanto the houseof Israel;whenever you heara wordfrom My mouth,warnthem from Me.
"Sonof man,speakto the sonsof your peopleand sayto them, 'IfI bringa swordupon a land,and the peopleof the landtakeonemanfrom amongthem and makehim their watchman,
"Now as for you, sonof man,I have appointedyou a watchmanfor the houseof Israel;so you will heara messagefrom My mouthand givethem warningfrom Me.
"Immediatelythe one who had receivedthe fivetalentswentand tradedwith them, and gainedfivemoretalents.
"[It is] likea manaway on a journey,[who] upon leavinghis houseand puttinghis slavesin charge,[assigning] to each onehis task,alsocommandedthe doorkeeperto stay on the alert.
"WhatI sayto you I sayto all,Be on the alert!'"
"Blessedare thoseslaveswhomthe masterwill findon the alertwhen he comes;trulyI sayto you, that he will girdhimself [to serve], and have them recline[at the table], and will comeup and waiton them.
On the next daywe leftand cameto Caesarea,and enteringthe houseof Philipthe evangelist,who was one of the seven,we stayedwith him.
in the powerof signsand wonders,in the powerof the Spirit;sothat from Jerusalemand round aboutas faras IllyricumI have fully preachedthe gospelof Christ.
And He gavesome[as] apostles,and some[as] prophets,and some[as] evangelists,and some[as] pastorsand teachers,
for the equippingof the saintsfor the workof service,to the buildingup of the bodyof Christ;
Of [this church] I was madea ministeraccordingto the stewardshipfrom Godbestowedon me for your benefit,so that I might fully carryout the [preaching of] the wordof God,
Sayto Archippus,"Take heedto the ministrywhichyou have receivedin the Lord,that you may fulfillit."
so thenlet us not sleepas othersdo, but let us be alertand sober.
Let no onelook downon your youthfulness,but [rather] in speech,conduct,love,faith[and] purity,showyourself an exampleof thosewho believe.
Take painswith these things;be [absorbed] in them, sothat your progresswill be evidentto all.
Thereforedo not be ashamedof the testimonyof our Lordorof me His prisoner,but join with [me] in sufferingfor the gospelaccordingto the powerof God,
For thisreasonI endureall thingsfor the sakeof thosewho are chosen,sothat they alsomay obtainthe salvationwhich is in ChristJesus[and] with [it] eternalglory.
Suffer hardshipwith [me], as a goodsoldierof ChristJesus.
But the Lordstoodwith me and strengthenedme, sothat throughme the proclamationmight be fully accomplished,and that allthe Gentilesmight hear;and I was rescuedout of the lion'smouth.
Obeyyour leadersand submit[to them], for they keep watchoveryour soulsas those who will givean account.Let them dothiswith joyand not with grief,for thiswould be unprofitablefor you.
Therefore,prepareyour mindsfor action, keep sober[in spirit], fix your hopecompletelyon the graceto be broughtto you at the revelationof JesusChrist.
Wakeup, and strengthenthe things that remain,whichwere aboutto die;for I have not foundyour deedscompletedin the sightof My God.
