Then when he arrivedand witnessedthe graceof God,he rejoicedand [began] to encouragethem allwith resoluteheartto remain[true] to the Lord;
For he clungto the LORD;he did not departfrom followingHim, but keptHis commandments,whichthe LORDhad commandedMoses.
You have triedmy heart;You have visited[me] by night;You have testedme and You findnothing;I have purposedthat my mouthwill not transgress.
My son,ifyour heartis wise,My own heartalsowill be glad;
Surelyshe lurksas a robber,And increasesthe faithlessamong men.
But Danielmadeup his mindthat he would not defilehimself with the king'schoicefoodor with the winewhichhe drank;so he sought[permission] from the commanderof the officialsthat he might not defilehimself.
ThenJesussaidto His disciples,"Ifanyonewishesto comeafterMe, he must denyhimself,and takeup his crossand followMe.
And Jesusseeingtheir faithsaidto the paralytic,"Son,your sinsare forgiven."
"Abidein Me, and I in you. As the branchcannotbearfruitof itselfunlessit abidesin the vine,soneither[can] you unlessyou abidein Me.
Nowwhen [the meeting of] the synagoguehad brokenup, manyof the Jewsand of the God-fearingproselytesfollowedPauland Barnabas,who,speakingto them, were urgingthem to continuein the graceof God.
strengtheningthe soulsof the disciples,encouragingthem to continuein the faith,and [saying], "Throughmanytribulationswe mustenterthe kingdomof God."
From therethey sailedto Antioch,from whichthey had beencommendedto the graceof Godfor the workthat they had accomplished.
But PaulchoseSilasand left,being committedby the brethrento the graceof the Lord.
"But I do not considermy lifeof anyaccountas dearto myself,sothat I may finishmy courseand the ministrywhichI receivedfrom the LordJesus,to testify solemnlyof the gospelof the graceof God.
"And nowI commendyou to Godand to the wordof His grace,which is ableto build[you] up and to give[you] the inheritanceamongallthosewho are sanctified.
Now Joseph,a Leviteof Cyprianbirth,who was also calledBarnabasby the apostles(whichtranslatedmeansSonof Encouragement),
orhe who exhorts,in his exhortation;he who gives,with liberality;he who leads,with diligence;he who shows mercy,with cheerfulness.
Therefore,my belovedbrethren,be steadfast,immovable,alwaysaboundingin the workof the Lord,knowingthat your toilis not [in] vainin the Lord.
Therefore,I was not vacillatingwhen I intendedto do this,was I? OrwhatI purpose,do I purposeaccordingto the flesh,sothat with me there will be yes,yesand no,no[at the same time]?
And working together[with Him], we alsourgeyou not to receivethe graceof Godin vain--
"You shall fearthe LORDyour God;you shall serveHim and clingto Him, and you shall swearby His name.
by lovingthe LORDyour God,by obeyingHis voice,and by holdingfastto Him; for thisis your lifeand the lengthof your days,that you may livein the landwhichthe LORDsworeto your fathers,to Abraham,Isaac,and Jacob,to givethem."
which has cometo you, justas in allthe worldalsoit is constantly bearing fruitand increasing,evenas [it has been doing] in you alsosincethe dayyou heard[of it] and understoodthe graceof Godin truth;
Now you followedmy teaching,conduct,purpose,faith,patience,love,perseverance,
"Onlybe verycarefulto observethe commandmentand the lawwhichMosesthe servantof the LORDcommandedyou, to lovethe LORDyour Godand walkin allHis waysand keepHis commandmentsand holdfastto Him and serveHim with allyour heartand with allyour soul."
"But you are to clingto the LORDyour God,as you have doneto thisday.
ThroughSilvanus,our faithfulbrother(for soI regard[him]), I have writtento you briefly,exhortingand testifyingthat thisis the true graceof God.Stand firmin it!
Now,little children,abidein Him, sothat whenHe appears,we may haveconfidenceand not shrinkawayfrom Him in shameat His coming.
I havenogreaterjoythan this,to hearof my childrenwalkingin the truth.
For certainpersonshave crept in unnoticed,thosewho were longbeforehand markedout for thiscondemnation,ungodly personswho turnthe graceof our Godinto licentiousnessand denyour onlyMasterand Lord,JesusChrist.
