¶ The seniors which are among you I exhort, which am also an senior, and a witness of the afflictions of Christ, and also a part taker of the glory that shall be opened:
but ye shall receive power of the holy ghost which shall come on you. And ye shall be witnesses unto me in Ierusalem, and in all iewery, and in Samary, and even unto the world's end.
And when they had ordained them seniors by election in every congregation, after they had prayed and fasted, they commended them to God on whom they believed.
When they were come to Ierusalem they were received of the congregation and of the apostles and seniors. And they declared what things God had done by them.
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, whereof the holy ghost hath made you overseers, to rule the congregation of God, which he hath purchased with his blood.
¶ We know surely if our earthy mansion wherein we now dwell were destroyed, that we have a building ordained of God, an habitation not made with hands, but eternal in heaven:
From henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord that is a righteous judge shall give me at that day: not to me only: but unto all them that love his coming.
¶ For this cause left I thee in Creta, that thou shouldest perform that which was lacking and shouldest ordain seniors in every city as I appointed thee.
¶ Wherefore let us also (seeing that we are compassed with so great a multitude of witnesses) lay away all that presseth down, and the sin that hangeth on us, and let us run with patience, unto the battle that is set before us,
unto which prophets it was declared, that not unto themselves, but unto us, they should minister the things which are now shewed unto you, of them which by the holy ghost sent down from heaven, have preached unto you the things which the angels desire to behold.
that your faith once tried being much more precious than gold that perisheth (though it be tried with fire) might be found unto laud, glory, and honour, when Iesus Christ shall appear:
Dearly beloved, now are we the sons of God, and yet it hath not appear what we shall be. But we know that when it shall appear, we shall be like him. For we shall see him as he is.
¶ Ihon your brother and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience which is in Iesu Christ, was in the isle of Pathmos for the word of God, and for the witnessing of Iesu Christ.