American Standard Version of 1901
Versliste
And Saul was consenting unto his death.And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judæa and Samaria, except the apostles.
And devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him.
But Saul laid waste the church, entering into every house, and dragging men and women committed them to prison.
They therefore that were scattered abroad, went about {Compare marginal note on chapter 5:42.}preaching the word.
so that my bonds became manifest in Christ {Greek: in the whole Prætorium.}throughout the whole praetorian guard, and to all the rest;
and that most of the brethren in the Lord, {Greek: trusting in my bonds.}being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear.
For ye all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be {Or, comforted}exhorted;
The elder unto the elect {Or, Cyria}lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not I only, but also all they that know the truth;
And when they had appointed for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.
For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that were wanting, and appoint elders in every city, as I gave thee charge;
{Some connect the words Faithful is the saying with the preceding paragraph.}Faithful is the saying, If a man seeketh the office of a {Or, overseer}bishop, he desireth a good work.
The {Or, overseer}bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
{Or, not quarrelsome over wine}no brawler, no striker; but gentle, not contentious, no lover of money;
one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
(but if a man knoweth not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
not a novice, lest being puffed up he fall into the {Greek: judgment.}condemnation of the devil.
Moreover he must have good testimony from them that are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Paul and Timothy, {Greek: bondservants.}servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus that are at Philippi, with the {Or, overseers}bishops and deacons:
Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you {Or, overseers}bishops, to feed the church of {Some ancient authorities, including the two oldest manuscripts read God.}the Lord which he {Greek: acquired.}purchased with his own blood.
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching.
For they that have served well as deacons gain to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
But we beseech you, brethren, to know them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
and to esteem them exceeding highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
Now I beseech you, brethren (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have set themselves to minister unto the saints),
I exhort therefore, first of all, {Greek: to make supplications &c.}that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men;
for kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity.
This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
who would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth.
What is it then, brethren? When ye come together, each one hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but so to think as to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith.
Be not many of you teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive {Greek: greater.}heavier judgment.
For in many things we all stumble. If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.
But we will continue stedfastly in prayer, and in the ministry of the word.
But I hold not my life of any account as dear unto myself, {Or, in comparison of accomplishing my course }so that I may accomplish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the {Or, good tidings}gospel of the grace of God.
or ministry, let us give ourselves to our ministry; or he that teacheth, to his teaching;
And there are diversities of ministrations, and the same Lord.
But if the ministration of death, {Greek: in letters.}written, and engraven on stones, came {Greek: in.}with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look stedfastly upon the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which glory {Or, was being done away Compare 1 Corinthians 13:8, 10.}was passing away:
how shall not rather the ministration of the spirit be with glory?
{Many ancient authorities read For if the ministration of condemnation is glory.}For if the ministration of condemnation hath glory, much rather doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we faint not:
But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation;
giving no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our ministration be not blamed;
for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ:
to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place.
through whom we received grace and apostleship, unto obedience {Or, to the faith}of faith among all the {Or, Gentiles}nations, for his name's sake;