Sothey went on their wayfrom the presenceof the Council,rejoicingthat they had been considered worthyto suffershamefor [His] name.
"Listento Me, you who knowrighteousness,A peoplein whose heartis My law;Do not fearthe reproachof man,Norbe dismayedat their revilings.
I will rejoicegreatlyin the LORD,My soulwill exultin my God;For He has clothedme with garmentsof salvation,He has wrappedme with a robeof righteousness,As a bridegroomdeckshimself with a garland,And as a brideadornsherself with her jewels.
"Behold,My servantswill shoutjoyfullywith a gladheart,But you will cryout with a heavyheart,And you will wailwith a brokenspirit.
Hearthe wordof the LORD,you whotrembleat His word:"Your brotherswho hateyou, who excludeyou for My name'ssake,Have said,'Let the LORDbe glorified,that we may seeyour joy.'But they will be putto shame.
"Blessedare you whenmenhateyou, and ostracizeyou, and insultyou, and scornyour nameas evil,for the sakeof the Sonof Man.
"But allthese thingsthey will doto you for My name'ssake,becausethey do not knowthe One who sentMe.
ThenPaulanswered,"Whatare you doing,weepingand breakingmy heart?For I amreadynot onlyto be bound,but evento dieat Jerusalemfor the nameof the LordJesus."
Upon hearing[this], they enteredinto the templeaboutdaybreakand [began] to teach.Nowwhen the high priestand his associatescame,they calledthe Counciltogether,evenallthe Senateof the sonsof Israel,and sent[orders] to the prison housefor them to be brought.
And not onlythis, but we alsoexultin our tribulations,knowingthat tribulationbrings aboutperseverance;
ThereforeI am well contentwith weaknesses,with insults,with distresses,with persecutions,with difficulties,for Christ'ssake;for whenI am weak,thenI amstrong.
For to you it has been grantedfor Christ'ssake,not onlyto believein Him, but alsoto sufferfor His sake,
For you showed sympathyto the prisonersand acceptedjoyfullythe seizureof your property,knowingthat you havefor yourselvesa betterpossessionand a lastingone.
fixing our eyeson Jesus,the authorand perfecterof faith,whofor the joyset beforeHim enduredthe cross,despisingthe shame,and has sat downat the right handof the throneof God.
Considerit alljoy,my brethren,whenyou encountervarioustrials,
For they wentout for the sakeof the Name,acceptingnothingfrom the Gentiles.
