And Peter opened his mouth, and said: In truth, I perceive that God is no respecter of persons; but, in every nation, he that fears him and works righteousness is accepted by him.

Religion, pure and undefiled before God and the Father, is this: To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, in order to eternal life.

so, even for this very purpose, uniting to these things all diligence, add to your faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. read more.
For if these things be in you, and abound, they cause you to be neither idle, nor unfruitful as it respects the acknowledgment of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he who is wanting in these things is blind, and closes his eyes, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said to him: You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, and with your whole soul, and with your whole mind. This is the first and great commandment. read more.
And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang the whole law and the prophets.

since he relies only on meats and drinks and various immersions, ordinances in deed of the flesh, which were imposed till the time of reformation.

Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God is our aim.

They profess that they know God, but in their works they deny him, being detestable and disobedient, and, as it respects every good work, rejected.

Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

But why call me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I command?

having a form of godliness, but denying its power: from these also turn away.

Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law, its justice, its mercy, and its faithfulness. These you ought to have done, and those you ought not to have neglected.

If, then, you have died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you submit to ordinances?

Hypocrites, does not each one of you, on the sabbath, loose his ox or his ass from the stable, and lead him away, and give him water?

But he said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the purse, and took what was put in it.

For such serve not our Lord Christ, but their own appetites; and, by good words and fair speeches, they deceive the hearts of the simple.

But Jesus, knowing their wickedness, said to them: "Why do you tempt me, hypocrites?

Hypocrites, you know how to judge of the face of the earth, and of the heavens; but how is it that you do not judge of this time?

I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, yet educated in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, and instructed according to the strict discipline of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, as you all are this day.

This man Paul wished to go with him: and he took him and circumcised him, on account of the Jews that were in those places: for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said to him: You see, brother, how many myriads of the Jews there are that believe, and they are all zealous for the law.

And some of the Pharisees said to them: Why are you doing what it is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?

and I surpassed in Judaism many of my own age and nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the tradition of my fathers.

in order that you may distinguish things that differ, to the end that you may be pure and blameless till the day of Christ,

Therefore, let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of purity and truth.

For the ground of our rejoicing is this: the testimony of our conscience that we have lived in the world more abundantly, indeed, for you in sincerity and godly purity, not in carnal wisdom, but in the grace of God.

For we do not, as the many, adulterate the word of God; but, as from sincerity, but, as from God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

and to love him with the whole heart, and with the whole understanding, and with the whole soul, and with the whole strength, and to love one's neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.

Religion, pure and undefiled before God and the Father, is this: To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

In the mean time, when myriads of the people had come together, so that they trod one upon another, he began to say to his disciples first of all: Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

They profess that they know God, but in their works they deny him, being detestable and disobedient, and, as it respects every good work, rejected.

through the hypocrisy of liars, who are seared in their conscience,

So also you outwardly appear to men to be just, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

now, however, after having known God, rather indeed having been known by God, how is it that you are turning back to the weak and beggarly rudiments, to which you desire again to be in bondage, as at first?

and when they come from the market, they do not eat, unless they immerse themselves. And there are many other things, which they have received to hold, as the immersion of cups and pitchers and brazen vessels and beds:)

Now, therefore, why do you put God to the proof, by placing a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers, nor we ourselves, were able to bear?

Stand firm, therefore, in the freedom with which Christ has made us free, and be not held fast again in the yoke of bondage.

If, then, you have died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you submit to ordinances?

and yet he did not leave himself without testimony, doing good, and giving you rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.

For as I was passing through, and looking attentively at the objects of your worship, I dis covered also an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore you ignorantly worship, him I make known to you. God, who made the world, and all things that are in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwells not in temples made with hands; nor is he ministered to by the hands of men, as if he needed any thing: for he himself gives to all life, and breath, and all things: read more.
and he has made from one blood every nation of men, that they might dwell on all the face of the earth, having marked out their appointed times, and the bounds of their dwelling: that they might seek for God, if perhaps they would feel after him, and find him, although, indeed, he is not far from every one of us. For in him we live, and move, and have our being: as also some of your own poets have said: For we his offspring are.

But when I saw that they did not walk uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter, before them all: If you, being a Jew, live after the manner of the Gentiles, and not after the manner of the Jews, why do you compel the Gen tiles to observe Jewish customs?

you, then, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?

And why do you look at the splinter that is in your brother's eye, but perceive not the beam that is in your own eye?

therefore, all things that they command you to observe, observe and do. But do not according to their works: for they command, and do not.

He that says, I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

Out of the same mouth come forth blessing and cursing. These things, my brethren, ought not so to be.

By faith Abel offered to God more sacrifice than Cain; on account of which he received testimony that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and by it he, though dead, yet speaks.

But if any widow has children or grand-children, let them learn first to be dutiful to their own family, and to requite their parents; for that is good and acceptable in the sight of God.

If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and any of you say to them, Go in peace, be warmed and be filled, and yet give them not the things that are needful for the body, what does this profit them?

But the angel said to him: Fear not, Zachariah; for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

And Zachariah his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he has visited and redeemed his people; and he has raised up for us, in the house of David his servant, a horn of salvation, read more.
(as he spoke by the mouth of all his holy prophets of ancient times,) salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us, in order to show the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant, the oath which he swore to Abraham our father, that he would grant to us, that being delivered from the hands of our enemies, we might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all our days. And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; for you shall go before the face of the Lord, to make ready his ways, by giving to his people the knowledge of salvation in the remission of their sins, through the tender mercies of our God; by which the dawn from on high has visited us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, by guiding our feet in the way of peace.

Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you close the kingdom of heaven in the face of men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you suffer those who are entering, to go in.

for I remember the unfeigned faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois, and in your mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that it dwells in you also.

and said: Lord, have mercy on my son; for ho is a lunatic, and suffers grievously; for he often falls into the fire, and often into the water.

for I remember the unfeigned faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois, and in your mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that it dwells in you also.

And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites; for they love to pray standing in the synagogues, and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Verily, I say to you, They have their reward.

And he took them at that hour of the night, and washed the blood from their stripes; and he was immersed, himself and all his, immediately.

And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at the feet of Jesus, and heard his word.

And when she and her household had been immersed, she be sought us, saying: If you judge me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and make it your home. And she con strained us.

For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great multitude was added to the Lord.

They profess that they know God, but in their works they deny him, being detestable and disobedient, and, as it respects every good work, rejected.

For which reason, you are without excuse, man, who ever you are, that judge; for in that in which you judge an other, you condemn yourself; for you who judge, practice the same things.

And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher; she was of great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity: and she was a widow of about eighty-four years, and she departed not from the temple, but served, day and night, with fastings and prayers.

And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon. And this man was just and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Spirit was upon him: and it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Anointed. And he came by the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, read more.
he took him in his arms, and blessed God, and said: Now, Lord, thou dost let thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word, for my eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light for a revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. And Joseph and his mother wondered at the things which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother: Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign to be spoken against, (and a sword shall pierce through your own soul,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, who had a good report from all the Jews that dwelt there,

Then his father knew that it was in the same hour in which Jesus said to him, Your son lives. And he himself, and all his house, believed.

One of the two that heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter.

a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, who did many acts of charity to the people, and prayed to God always.

But why call me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I command?

If a man receives circumcision on the sabbath-day, that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me, because I have restored the entire man to health on the sabbath-day?

And when he had ended all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he went into Capernaum. And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear to him, was sick, and about to die. But when he heard of Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, and besought him to come and save his servant. read more.
And they came to Jesus, and besought him earnestly, saying: He is worthy for whom thou shouldst do this; for he loves our nation, and of his own accord has built us a synagogue. And Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, and said to him: Lord, give thyself no trouble; for I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof. For which reason, neither did I count myself worthy to go to thee; but command in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man placed under authority, and have soldiers under me; and I say to this one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does it. And when Jesus heard these things, he was filled with admiration for him; and, turning to the multitude that followed, he said: I say to you, Not even in Israel have I found so great faith. And they that had been sent, returned to the house, and found the servant that had been sick restored to health.

Return to your house, and tell what things God has done for you. And he went away, proclaiming through the whole city what Jesus had done for him.

And Nathaniel said to him: Can any thing good come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him: Come and see.

And he that sent me is with me. The Father has not left me alone, because I always do what is pleasing to him.

And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon. And this man was just and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Spirit was upon him:

and she was a widow of about eighty-four years, and she departed not from the temple, but served, day and night, with fastings and prayers.

(the woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation,) and she besought him to cast the demon out of her daughter.

And it came to pass, when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, that the babe in her womb leaped for joy.

And Mary said: My soul magnifies the Lord,

for I remember the unfeigned faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois, and in your mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that it dwells in you also.