To the Church in Ephesus (Acts 19:8–12; Ephesians 1:1–2)
1 RV To the angel of the church in Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, he that walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks: BSB BSB: “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of Him who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.
2 RV I know thy works, and thy toil and patience, and that thou canst not bear evil men, and didst try them which call themselves apostles, and they are not, and didst find them false; BSB BSB: I know your deeds, your labor, and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate those who are evil, and you have tested and exposed as liars those who falsely claim to be apostles.
3 RV and thou hast patience and didst bear for my name’s sake, and hast not grown weary. BSB BSB: Without growing weary, you have persevered and endured many things for the sake of My name.
4 RV But I have this against thee, that thou didst leave thy first love. BSB BSB: But I have this against you: You have abandoned your first love.
5 RV Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick out of its place, except thou repent. BSB BSB: Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. But if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
6 RV But this thou hast, that thou hatest the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. BSB BSB: But you have this to your credit: You hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 RV He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God. BSB BSB: He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the Paradise of God.
To the Church in Smyrna 8 RV And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and lived again : BSB BSB: To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of the First and the Last, who died and returned to life.
9 RV I know thy tribulation, and thy poverty (but thou art rich), and the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and they are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. BSB BSB: I know your affliction and your poverty—though you are rich! And I am aware of the slander of those who falsely claim to be Jews, but are in fact a synagogue of Satan.
10 RV Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life. BSB BSB: Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11 RV He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. BSB BSB: He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who overcomes will not be harmed by the second death.
To the Church in Pergamum 12 RV And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write; These things saith he that hath the sharp two-edged sword: BSB BSB: To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of the One who holds the sharp, double-edged sword.
13 RV I know where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s throne is: and thou holdest fast my name, and didst not deny my faith, even in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwelleth. BSB BSB: I know where you live, where the throne of Satan sits, yet you hold fast to My name. You did not deny your faith in Me, even in the days of My faithful witness Antipas, who was killed among you where Satan dwells.
14 RV But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there some that hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication. BSB BSB: But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.
15 RV So hast thou also some that hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans in like manner. BSB BSB: In the same way, some of you also hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
16 RV Repent therefore; or else I come to thee quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth. BSB BSB: Therefore repent! Otherwise I will come to you shortly and wage war against them with the sword of My mouth.
17 RV He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it. BSB BSB: He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will give the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone inscribed with a new name, known only to the one who receives it.
To the Church in Thyatira (Acts 16:11–15)
18 RV And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like unto burnished brass: BSB BSB: To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like a blazing fire and whose feet are like polished bronze.
19 RV I know thy works, and thy love and faith and ministry and patience, and that thy last works are more than the first. BSB BSB: I know your deeds—your love, your faith, your service, your perseverance—and your latest deeds are greater than your first.
20 RV But I have this against thee, that thou sufferest the woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess; and she teacheth and seduceth my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols. BSB BSB: But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads My servants to be sexually immoral and to eat food sacrificed to idols.
21 RV And I gave her time that she should repent; and she willeth not to repent of her fornication. BSB BSB: Even though I have given her time to repent of her immorality, she is unwilling.
22 RV Behold, I do cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of her works. BSB BSB: Behold, I will cast her onto a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer great tribulation unless they repent of her deeds.
23 RV And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto each one of you according to your works. BSB BSB: Then I will strike her children dead, and all the churches will know that I am the One who searches minds and hearts, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
24 RV But to you I say, to the rest that are in Thyatira, as many as have not this teaching, which know not the deep things of Satan, as they say; I cast upon you none other burden. BSB BSB: But I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned the so-called deep things of Satan: I will place no further burden upon you
25 RV Howbeit that which ye have, hold fast till I come. BSB BSB: than to hold fast to what you have until I come.
26 RV And he that overcometh, and he that keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations: BSB BSB: And to the one who overcomes and continues in My work until the end, I will give authority over the nations.
27 RV and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to shivers; as I also have received of my Father: BSB BSB: He will rule them with an iron scepter and shatter them like pottery—just as I have received authority from My Father.
28 RV and I will give him the morning star. BSB BSB: And I will give him the morning star.
29 RV He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. BSB BSB: He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.