During these days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists began to complain against the Hebrews, on the ground that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the twelve summoned the main body of the disciples and said: "It is not desirable that we should drop preaching the word of God and attend to meals.

but we will continue to devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the word."

During these days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch,

Now in the local church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Symeon (called Niger) and Lucius the Cyrenian, besides Manaen (a foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.

Now in the local church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Symeon (called Niger) and Lucius the Cyrenian, besides Manaen (a foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.

But when the apostles, Paul and Barnabas, heard this they rent their clothes and sprang out among the crowd,

But when the apostles, Paul and Barnabas, heard this they rent their clothes and sprang out among the crowd,

and as Judas and Silas were themselves prophets, they encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many a counsel.

From Miletus he sent to Ephesus for the presbyters of the church.

From Miletus he sent to Ephesus for the presbyters of the church. When they came to him, he said, "You know quite well how I lived among you all the time ever since I set foot in Asia, read more. how I served the Lord in all humility, with many a tear and many a trial which I encountered owing to the plots of the Jews, how I never shrank from letting you know anything for your good, or from teaching you alike in public and from house to house, bearing my testimony, both to Jews and Greeks, of repentance before God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Now here I go to Jerusalem under the binding force of the Spirit. What will befall me there, I do not know. Only, I know this, that in town after town the holy Spirit testifies to me that bonds and troubles are awaiting me. But then, I set no value on my own life as compared with the joy of finishing my course and fulfilling the commission I received from the Lord Jesus to attest the gospel of the grace of God. I know to-day that not one of you will ever see my face again ??not one of you among whom I moved as I preached the Reign. Therefore do I protest before you this day that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you; I never shrank from letting you know the entire purpose of God. Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock of which the holy Spirit has appointed you guardians; shepherd the church of the Lord which he has purchased with his own blood.

Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock of which the holy Spirit has appointed you guardians; shepherd the church of the Lord which he has purchased with his own blood. I know that when I am gone, fierce wolves will get in among you, and they will not spare the flock; yes. read more. and men of your own number will arise with perversions of the truth to draw the disciples after them. So be on the alert, remember how for three whole years I never ceased night and day to watch over each one of you with tears. And now I entrust you to God and the word of his grace; he is able to upbuild you and give you your inheritance among all the consecrated. Silver, gold, or apparel I never coveted; you know yourselves how these hands of mine provided everything for my own needs and for my companions. I showed you how this was the way to work hard and succour the needy, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, who said, 'To give is happier than to get.'"

I showed you how this was the way to work hard and succour the needy, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, who said, 'To give is happier than to get.'"

and started next morning for Caesarea, where we entered the house of Philip the evangelist (he belonged to the Seven,

While we remained there for a number of days, a prophet called Agabus came down from Judaea.

Our talents differ with the grace that is given us; if the talent is that of prophecy, let us employ it in proportion to our faith; if it is practical service, let us mind our service; the teacher must mind his teaching, read more. the speaker his words of counsel; the contributor must be liberal, the superintendent must be in earnest, the sick visitor must be cheerful.

Salute Andronicus and Junias, fellow-countrymen and fellow-prisoners of mine; they are men of note among the apostles, and they have been in Christ longer than I have.

Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel. And to preach it with no fine rhetoric, lest the cross of Christ should lose its power!

What I am proud of is not the mere preaching of the gospel; that I am constrained to do. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

That is to say, God has set people within the church to be first of all apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, and speakers in 'tongues' of various kinds.

That is to say, God has set people within the church to be first of all apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, and speakers in 'tongues' of various kinds. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?

he granted some men to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, some to shepherd and teach,

PAUL and Timotheus, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, as well as to the bishops and deacons:

he is prior to all, and all coheres in him.

things that bring down the anger of God on the sons of disobedience.

Masters, treat your servants justly and fairly; remember you have a Master of your own in heaven.

Well, for the office of a bishop a man must be above reproach; he must be only married once, he must be temperate, master of himself, unruffled, hospitable, a skilled teacher,

(if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how is he to look after the church of God?);

Whoever does not provide for his own relatives and particularly for his own family, has repudiated the faith: he is worse than an infidel. No one under sixty is to be put on the church's list of widows; and she must have been only once married, read more. she must have a reputation for good service, as a woman who has brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the feet of the saints, relieved distress, and interested herself in all good works. Refuse to put young widows on the list, for when their wanton desires alienate them from Christ, they want to marry

they must be silenced, for they are undermining whole families by teaching objectionable doctrine for the base end of making money.

they must be silenced, for they are undermining whole families by teaching objectionable doctrine for the base end of making money.

set them an example of good conduct; be sincere and serious in your teaching,

set them an example of good conduct; be sincere and serious in your teaching,

It is a sure saying. I want you to insist on this, that those who have faith in God must profess honest occupations. Such counsels are right and good for men. But avoid foolish controversy, and let genealogies and dissensions and strife over the Law alone, for these are fruitless and futile. read more. After a first and a second warning have no more to do with a factious person; you may be sure a man like that is perverted; he is sinning and he knows it. Whenever I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to winter there. Give a hearty send-off to Zenas the jurist and Apollos; see that they want for nothing.

Is anyone ill? let him summon the presbyters of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;