orhe who exhorts,in his exhortation;he who gives,with liberality;he who leads,with diligence;he who shows mercy,with cheerfulness.
Each one[must do] justas he has purposedin his heart,not grudginglyorundercompulsion,for Godlovesa cheerfulgiver.
The elderswho rulewellare to be considered worthyof doublehonor,especiallythosewho work hardat preachingand teaching.
And Godhas appointedin the church,firstapostles,secondprophets,thirdteachers,thenmiracles,thengiftsof healings,helps,administrations,[various] kindsof tongues.
Obeyyour leadersand submit[to them], for they keep watchoveryour soulsas those who will givean account.Let them dothiswith joyand not with grief,for thiswould be unprofitablefor you.
Judasand Silas,alsobeingprophetsthemselves,encouragedand strengthenedthe brethrenwith a lengthymessage.
Afterthe readingof the Lawand the Prophetsthe synagogue officialssentto them, saying,"Brethren,ifyou have anywordof exhortationfor the people,sayit."
Greetallof your leadersand allthe saints.Thosefrom Italygreetyou.
But I urgeyou, brethren,bearwith thiswordof exhortation,for I have writtento you briefly.
Rememberthosewho ledyou, whospokethe wordof Godto you; and consideringthe resultof their conduct,imitatetheir faith.
not forsakingour ownassembling together,as is the habitof some,but encouraging[one another]; and allthe moreas you seethe daydrawing near.
For ifthe readinessis present,it is acceptableaccordingto what [a person] has,not accordingto what he does not have.
But one who prophesiesspeaksto menfor edificationand exhortationand consolation.
"Be on guardfor yourselvesand for allthe flock,amongwhichthe HolySpirithas madeyou overseers,to shepherdthe churchof GodwhichHe purchasedwith His ownblood.
When he had gone throughthosedistrictsand had giventhem muchexhortation,he cameto Greece.
UntilI come,give attentionto the [public] reading[of Scripture], to exhortationand teaching.
Havingsofond an affectionfor you, we were well-pleasedto impartto you not onlythe gospelof Godbut alsoour ownlives,becauseyou had becomevery dearto us.
For our exhortationdoes not [come] from errororimpurityorby wayof deceit;
Slaves,in all thingsobeythosewho are your masterson earth,not with external service,as those who [merely] please men,but with sincerityof heart,fearingthe Lord.
Slaves,be obedientto thosewho are your mastersaccordingto the flesh,with fearand trembling,in the sincerityof your heart,as to Christ;
But I am afraidthat, as the serpentdeceivedEveby his craftiness,your mindswill be led astrayfrom the simplicityand purity[of devotion] to Christ.
Becauseof the proofgiven by thisministry,they will glorifyGodfor [your] obedienceto your confessionof the gospelof Christand for the liberalityof your contributionto them and to all,
you will be enrichedin everythingfor allliberality,whichthroughus is producingthanksgivingto God.
For our proud confidenceis this:the testimonyof our conscience,that in holinessand godlysincerity,not in fleshlywisdombut in the graceof God,we have conductedourselves in the world,and especiallytowardyou.
For becauseof thisyou alsopaytaxes,for [rulers] are servantsof God,devoting themselvesto thisverything.
contributingto the needsof the saints,practicinghospitality.
"The Kingwill answerand sayto them, 'TrulyI sayto you, to the extentthat you didit to oneof thesebrothersof Mine,[even] the least[of them], you didit to Me.'
You meethim who rejoicesin doingrighteousness,Who remembersYou in Your ways.Behold,You were angry,for we sinned,[We continued] in them a longtime;And shall we be saved?
But the noblemandevisesnobleplans;And by nobleplanshe stands.
Nolongerwill the foolbe callednoble,Or the roguebe spokenof [as] generous.
Sowyour seedin the morningand do not be idlein the evening,for you do not knowwhethermorningorevening sowing will succeed,or whetherbothof them alikewill be good.
Whateveryour handfindsto do,do[it] with [all] your might;for thereis noactivityor planningor knowledgeor wisdomin Sheolwhereyou are going.
He who is generouswill be blessed,For he givessomeof his foodto the poor.
He has givenfreelyto the poor,His righteousnessenduresforever;His hornwill be exaltedin honor.
The wickedborrowsand does not payback,But the righteousis graciousand gives.
and you shall rejoicebeforethe LORDyour God,you and your sonand your daughterand your maleand femaleservantsand the Levitewhois in your town,and the strangerand the orphanand the widowwhoare in your midst,in the placewherethe LORDyour Godchoosesto establishHis name.
"You shall furnishhim liberallyfrom your flockand from your threshingfloorand from your winevat;you shall giveto him as the LORDyour Godhas blessedyou.
"For I have chosenhim, sothat he may commandhis childrenand his householdafterhim to keepthe wayof the LORDby doingrighteousnessand justice,sothat the LORDmay bringupon AbrahamwhatHe has spokenabouthim."
Thenthe proconsulbelievedwhen he sawwhat had happened,being amazedat the teachingof the Lord.
Now Joseph,a Leviteof Cyprianbirth,who was also calledBarnabasby the apostles(whichtranslatedmeansSonof Encouragement),
Then when he arrivedand witnessedthe graceof God,he rejoicedand [began] to encouragethem allwith resoluteheartto remain[true] to the Lord;
[Instruct them] to do good,to be richin goodworks,to be generousand ready to share,
