Persecution Foretold (Acts 23:12–22)
1 UDB "I told you these things so that you would not stumble or stop trusting in me because of the difficulties you must face. BSB BSB: “I have told you these things so that you will not fall away.
2 UDB Difficult days are ahead. Your enemies will stop you from worshiping in the synagogues. However, something even worse will happen. The days are coming when people will put you to death and think that they are pleasing God. BSB BSB: They will put you out of the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.
3 UDB They will do this because they have not known the Father or me. BSB BSB: They will do these things because they have not known the Father or Me.
4 UDB I have told you these things so that at the time when these hardships come, you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you these things at the beginning because I was with you then. BSB BSB: But I have told you these things so that when their hour comes, you will remember that I told you about them. I did not tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.
The Promise of the Holy Spirit (John 14:15–26)
5 UDB "Now I am going back to the Father. He is the one who sent me. Yet none of you dares to ask me, 'Where are you going?' BSB BSB: Now, however, I am going to Him who sent Me; yet none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’
6 UDB Because I have said these things to you, now sorrow has filled up your hearts. BSB BSB: Instead, your hearts are filled with sorrow because I have told you these things.
8 UDB When the Helper comes, he will convict them of the sins they have committed; he will show them that they do not reach God's standard of goodness, and he will promise them that God will judge them because they did what God commanded them not to do. BSB BSB: And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:
9 UDB Their guilt from sin comes because they could not put their trust in me. BSB BSB: in regard to sin, because they do not believe in Me;
10 UDB Their failure to measure up to God's standard of goodness is confirmed because I am going back to my Father, and you will no longer see me. BSB BSB: in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see Me;
11 UDB Their final accounting will come when God brings his punishment against them for their sin. This is shown by the punishment that Satan, the prince of this world, will receive because he fought against God. BSB BSB: and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world has been condemned.
12 UDB "I have many more things I want to tell you. However, if I tell you now, you will not be able to live well knowing these things. BSB BSB: I still have much to tell you, but you cannot yet bear to hear it.
14 UDB The Spirit will honor me by telling you who I am and showing you what I have done. He will explain to you everything he heard from me. BSB BSB: He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.
15 UDB Everything my Father has belongs to me. That is why I said that the Spirit will take whatever he receives from me and will explain it to you. BSB BSB: Everything that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said that the Spirit will take from what is Mine and disclose it to you.
16 UDB "In a little while you will not see me. Then after a little while you will see me again." BSB BSB: In a little while you will see Me no more, and then after a little while you will see Me.”
Grief Will Turn to Joy 17 UDB So some of his disciples said to one another, "What does Jesus mean when he says to us, 'In a little while you will not see me,' and 'after a little while you will see me again' and what does he mean by 'because I am going back to my Father'?" BSB BSB: Then some of His disciples asked one another, “Why is He telling us, ‘In a little while you will not see Me, and then after a little while you will see Me’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?”
18 UDB They kept asking, "What does he mean by saying, 'after a little while'? We do not understand what he is saying." BSB BSB: They kept asking, “Why is He saying, ‘a little while’? We do not understand what He is saying.”
19 UDB Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him more questions. So he said to the disciples, "Why are you asking each other what I meant? I said that in a little while you would not see me, and then after a little while you would see me again. BSB BSB: Aware that they wanted to question Him, Jesus said to them, “Are you asking one another why I said, ‘In a little while you will not see Me, and then after a little while you will see Me’?
20 UDB I am telling you the truth: You will cry and grieve, but those who belong to this world will rejoice. You will go through great sadness, but your sadness will turn into joy. BSB BSB: Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and wail while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.
21 UDB This is like a woman who is suffering the pains of labor when giving birth. After her baby is born, she forgets her anguish because of the joy she has that her child has been born into the world. BSB BSB: A woman has pain in childbirth because her time has come; but when she brings forth her child, she forgets her anguish because of her joy that a child has been born into the world.
22 UDB You, like her, have sorrow now, but I will see you again and God will give you great joy, joy no one can take from you. BSB BSB: So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.
Ask in My Name (Matthew 18:19–20)
23 UDB On that day, you will have no more questions to ask me. I am telling you the truth: Whatever you ask the Father, he will it give it to you when you ask because you are joined to me. BSB BSB: In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.
24 UDB Up until now, you have not asked for anything like that. Ask and you will receive it, and God will make you very glad. BSB BSB: Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
25 UDB "I have been speaking these things in parables, but there will soon be a time when I will no longer speak that way. Instead, I will tell you all about my Father in ways that you can clearly understand. BSB BSB: I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. An hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you this way, but will tell you plainly about the Father.
26 UDB At that time you will make your requests to God in my name and according to God's purposes. I will not have to ask the Father to meet your needs, BSB BSB: In that day you will ask in My name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf.
27 UDB for the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have put your trust in me and because you know that I came from God. BSB BSB: For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from God.
28 UDB I came from the Father, and I entered this world. Now I am leaving this world, and I am going back to the Father." BSB BSB: I came from the Father and entered the world. In turn, I will leave the world and go to the Father.”
29 UDB Then his disciples said, "Finally! Now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative language. BSB BSB: His disciples said, “See, now You are speaking plainly and without figures of speech.
30 UDB Now we understand that you know everything. There is no need to ask you questions. This is why we gave you our trust, and we know for certain that you came from God." BSB BSB: Now we understand that You know all things and that You have no need for anyone to question You. Because of this, we believe that You came from God.”
31 UDB Jesus replied to them, "Do you now finally put your trust in me? BSB BSB: “Do you finally believe?” Jesus replied.
32 UDB Look! The time is coming when others will scatter you everywhere! Each one will go toward his own home, and you will leave me. However, I will not be alone because the Father is always with me. BSB BSB: “Look, an hour is coming and has already come when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and you will leave Me all alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.
33 UDB I have told you these things so you may have peace in me. In the world you have trials and sorrows, but be brave! I have conquered the world!" BSB BSB: I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.