not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus,
Therefore encourage one another with these words.
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.
On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.
On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.
But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part,
Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.
the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.
Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.
The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.
So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,
When you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat.
each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling.
Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com.