"I sayto you, My friends,do not be afraidof thosewho killthe bodyand afterthat havenomorethat they can do.
The fearof manbringsa snare,But he who trustsin the LORDwill be exalted.
"I have comeinto my garden,my sister,[my] bride;I have gatheredmy myrrhalongwith my balsam.I have eatenmy honeycomband my honey;I have drunkmy wineand my milk.Eat,friends;Drinkand imbibedeeply,O lovers."
"His mouthis [full of] sweetness.And he is whollydesirable.Thisis my belovedand thisis my friend,O daughtersof Jerusalem."
"But you, Israel,My servant,JacobwhomI have chosen,Descendantof AbrahamMy friend,
"Now, girdup your loinsand arise,and speakto them allwhichI commandyou. Do not be dismayedbeforethem, orI will dismayyou beforethem.
"Do not be afraidof them, For I am with you to deliveryou," declaresthe LORD.
becauseof the Chaldeans;for they were afraidof them, sinceIshmaelthe sonof Nethaniahhad struckdownGedaliahthe sonof Ahikam,whomthe kingof Babylonhad appointedover the land.
"And you, sonof man,neitherfearthem norfeartheir words,thoughthistlesand thornsare with you and you siton scorpions;neitherfeartheir wordsnorbe dismayedat their presence,for they are a rebellioushouse.
"Do not fearthosewho killthe bodybut are unableto killthe soul;but ratherfearHim who is ableto destroybothsouland bodyin hell.
"Greaterlovehasno onethan this,that onelay downhis lifefor his friends.
"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.
Nowas they observedthe confidenceof Peterand Johnand understoodthat they were uneducatedand untrainedmen,they were amazed,and [began] to recognizethem as having beenwith Jesus.
in no wayalarmedby [your] opponents--whichis a signof destructionfor them, but of salvationfor you, and that [too], from God.
and the Scripturewas fulfilledwhich says,"AND ABRAHAMBELIEVEDGOD,AND IT WAS RECKONEDTO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,"and he was calledthe friendof God.
But evenifyou should sufferfor the sakeof righteousness,you are blessed.AND DO NOT FEARTHEIR INTIMIDATION,AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED,
Do not fearwhatyou are aboutto suffer.Behold,the devilis aboutto castsome of you into prison,sothat you will be tested,and you will havetribulationfor tendays.Be faithfuluntildeath,and I will giveyou the crownof life.
