And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.

And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.

And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece,

But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:

Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.

Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.

Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.

If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

(For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;)

If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.

He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.

Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful.

But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand.

Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;

And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.

And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:

And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.

Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;

And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:

For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.

I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.

Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.

He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.

Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.

Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name there.

And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.

Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD shall choose: because the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice.

The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.

Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved.

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.