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