But whensomewere becoming hardenedand disobedient,speaking evilof the Waybeforethe people,he withdrewfrom them and took awaythe disciples,reasoningdailyin the schoolof Tyrannus.
However, they did not listen,but stiffenedtheir necklike their fathers,whodid not believein the LORDtheir God.
"Nowdo not stiffenyour necklike your fathers,but yieldto the LORDand enterHis sanctuarywhichHe has consecratedforever,and servethe LORDyour God,that His burningangermay turnawayfrom you.
but they [continually] mockedthe messengersof God,despisedHis wordsand scoffedat His prophets,untilthe wrathof the LORDaroseagainst His people,untiltherewas noremedy.
And admonishedthem in order to turnthem backto Your law.Yet they actedarrogantlyand did not listento Your commandmentsbut sinnedagainst Your ordinances,By whichif a manobservesthem he shall live.And they turneda stubbornshoulderand stiffenedtheir neck,and would not listen.
Do not hardenyour hearts,as at Meribah,As in the dayof Massahin the wilderness,
"Blessedis the manwho listensto me, Watchingdailyat my gates,Waitingat my doorposts.
"Then He shall becomea sanctuary;But to boththe housesof Israel,a stoneto strikeand a rockto stumbleover, [And] a snareand a trapfor the inhabitantsof Jerusalem.
"Thussaysthe LORDof hosts,the Godof Israel,'Behold,I am about to bringon thiscityand allits townsthe entirecalamitythat I have declaredagainstit, becausethey have stiffenedtheir necksso as not to heedMy words.'"
"Yet they did not listento Me or inclinetheir ear,but stiffenedtheir neck;they did moreevilthantheir fathers.
"Let them alone;they are blindguidesof the blind.And ifa blind manguidesa blind man,bothwill fallinto a pit."
"An eviland adulterousgenerationseeks aftera sign;and a signwill not be givenit, exceptthe signof Jonah."And He leftthem and went away.
At that timeJesussaidto the crowds,"Have you comeout with swordsand clubsto arrestMe as [you would] againsta robber?EverydayI used to sitin the templeteachingand you did not seizeMe.
"HE HAS BLINDEDTHEIR EYESAND HE HARDENEDTHEIR HEART,SOTHAT THEY WOULD NOT SEEWITH THEIR EYESAND PERCEIVEWITH THEIR HEART,AND BE CONVERTEDAND I HEALTHEM."
and when he had foundhim, he broughthim to Antioch.And for an entireyearthey metwith the churchand taughtconsiderablenumbers;and the discipleswere firstcalledChristiansin Antioch.
But the peopleof the citywere divided;and somesidedwith the Jews,and somewith the apostles.
And someof them were persuadedand joinedPauland Silas,alongwith a largenumberof the God-fearingGreeksand a numberof the leadingwomen.
Aboutthat timethere occurrednosmalldisturbanceconcerningthe Way.
And when Paulwantedto gointo the assembly,the discipleswould not lethim.
"Thereforebe on the alert,rememberingthat nightand dayfor a period of three yearsI did not ceaseto admonisheachonewith tears.
"I persecutedthisWayto the death,bindingand puttingbothmenand womeninto prisons,
other thanfor thisonestatementwhichI shoutedout while standingamongthem, 'For the resurrectionof the deadI am on trialbeforeyou today.'"
"But we desireto hearfrom you whatyour viewsare; for concerningthissect,it is knownto us that it is spoken againsteverywhere."
"You men who are stiff-neckedand uncircumcisedin heartand earsare alwaysresistingthe HolySpirit;you are doing justas your fathersdid.
and askedfor lettersfrom him to the synagoguesat Damascus,sothat ifhe foundanybelongingto the Way,bothmenand women,he might bringthem boundto Jerusalem.
Whatthen?WhatIsraelis seeking,it has not obtained,but those who were chosenobtainedit, and the restwere hardened;
So thenHe has mercyon whomHe desires,and He hardenswhomHe desires.
for a widedoorfor effective[service] has openedto me, and there are manyadversaries.
and constant frictionbetween menof depravedmindand deprivedof the truth,who supposethat godlinessis a means of gain.
You are awareof the factthat allwho are in Asiaturned awayfrom me, among whomare Phygelusand Hermogenes.
holdingto a formof godliness,although they have deniedits power;Avoidsuch men as these.
preachthe word;be readyin season[and] out of season;reprove,rebuke,exhort,with greatpatienceand instruction.
But encourageone anotherdayafterday,as longas it is [still] called"Today,"sothat noneof you will be hardenedby the deceitfulnessof sin.
But these,likeunreasoninganimals,bornas creatures of instinctto be capturedand killed,revilingwherethey have no knowledge,will in the destructionof thosecreatures alsobe destroyed,
Manywill followtheir sensuality,and becauseof them the wayof the truthwill be maligned;
But these menrevilethe things whichthey do not understand;and the things whichthey knowby instinct,likeunreasoninganimals,by these thingsthey are destroyed.
