Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when God chose you. Not many of you were considered wise by human standards. Not many of you were powerful. Not many of you belonged to important families.

弟兄们哪，可见你们蒙召的，按着肉体有智慧的不多，有能力的不多，有尊贵的也不多。

弟兄们哪，想一想你们的蒙召，按着人的观点，有智慧的不多，有能力的不多，有尊贵地位的也不多。

弟兄们哪，想一想你们的蒙召，按着人的观点，有智慧的不多，有能力的不多，有尊贵地位的也不多。

弟兄姊妹，想想你们蒙召时的情形。按人的标准来衡量，你们当中称得上有智慧的不多，有能力的不多，出身名门望族的也不多。

弟兄们，你们想想，你们这些蒙召的，按人（“人”或译：“世上的标准”、“世界的标准”）来看有智慧的不多，有权势的不多，出身尊贵的也不多。

弟兄们，想一想你们所蒙的召唤：按人的标准，你们当中有智慧的不多，有权势的不多，出身高贵的也不多。

弟兄們哪，可見你們蒙召的，按着肉體有智慧的不多，有能力的不多，有尊貴的也不多。

弟兄們哪，想一想你們的蒙召，按着人的觀點，有智慧的不多，有能力的不多，有尊貴地位的也不多。

弟兄們哪，想一想你們的蒙召，按着人的觀點，有智慧的不多，有能力的不多，有尊貴地位的也不多。

弟兄姊妹，想想你們蒙召時的情形。按人的標準來衡量，你們當中稱得上有智慧的不多，有能力的不多，出身名門望族的也不多。

弟兄們，你們想想，你們這些蒙召的，按人（“人”或譯：“世上的標準”、“世界的標準”）來看有智慧的不多，有權勢的不多，出身尊貴的也不多。

弟兄們，看看你們的蒙召吧：按肉身說、有智慧的並不多，有能力的並不多，屬貴族的並不多。

弟兄們，想一想你們所蒙的召喚：按人的標準，你們當中有智慧的不多，有權勢的不多，出身高貴的也不多。

兄弟乎、試觀爾曹奉召、依形軀為智為能為貴者無多也、

兄弟乎、爾之奉召可見矣、貌為智為能為貴者、不多蒙召、

兄弟乎、觀爾蒙召者、以世俗而論、智者不多、能者不多、貴者不多、

願吾兄弟一思其聖召之所在。爾中鮮有世俗之所謂哲人、亦鮮有強有力者、與出身於貴族之人、

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.

Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you.

Brothers and sisters, consider your calling: Not many were wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth.

For consider your calling, brothers and sisters, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;

For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.

For behold your calling, brethren, that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

Brothers, consider your calling: Not many are wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth.

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble,[ are called]:

Think about the circumstances of your call, brothers and sisters. Not many were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were born to a privileged position.

For you see your calling, brothers, that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, and not many noble;

My dear brothers and sisters, listen to me. Hasn’t God chosen those who are poor in the world’s eyes to be rich in faith? Hasn’t he chosen them to receive the kingdom? Hasn’t he promised it to those who love him?

Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where are the great thinkers of our time? Hasn’t God made the wisdom of the world foolish?

None of the rulers of this world understood God’s wisdom. If they had, they would not have nailed the Lord of glory to the cross.

Don’t fool yourselves. Suppose some of you think you are wise by the standards of the world. Then you should become“ fools” so that you can become wise.The wisdom of this world is foolish in God’s eyes. It is written,“ God catches wise people in their own evil plans.”( Job 5:13)It is also written,“ The Lord knows that the thoughts of wise people don’t amount to anything.”( Psalm 94:11)

At that time Jesus was full of joy through the Holy Spirit. He said,“ I praise you, Father. You are Lord of heaven and earth. You have hidden these things from wise and educated people. But you have shown them to little children. Yes, Father. This is what you wanted to do.

At that time Jesus said,“ I praise you, Father. You are Lord of heaven and earth. You have hidden these things from wise and educated people. But you have shown them to little children.Yes, Father. This is what you wanted to do.

Jesus looked at him. Then he said,“ How hard it is for rich people to enter God’s kingdom!Is it hard for a camel to go through the eye of a needle? It is even harder for someone who is rich to enter God’s kingdom!”

That is what we speak about. We don’t use words taught to us by people. We use words taught to us by the Holy Spirit. We use the words taught by the Spirit to explain spiritual truths.

When the governor saw what had happened, he believed. He was amazed at what Paul was teaching about the Lord.

“ You mean he has fooled you also?” the Pharisees asked.“ Have any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in him?No! But this mob knows nothing about the law. There is a curse on them.”

With this in mind, I myself have carefully looked into everything from the beginning. So I also decided to write down an orderly report of exactly what happened. I am doing this for you, most excellent Theophilus.

Later Joseph asked Pilate for Jesus’ body. Joseph was from the town of Arimathea. He was a follower of Jesus. But he followed Jesus secretly because he was afraid of the Jewish leaders. After Pilate gave him permission, Joseph came and took the body away.Nicodemus went with Joseph. He was the man who had earlier visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought some mixed spices that weighed about 75 pounds.

When I came to you, I was weak and very afraid and trembling all over.I didn’t preach my message with clever and compelling words. Instead, my preaching showed the Holy Spirit’s power.This was so that your faith would be based on God’s power. Your faith would not be based on human wisdom.The words we speak to those who have grown in the faith are wise. Our words are different from the wisdom of this world. Our words are different from those of the rulers of this world. These rulers are becoming less and less powerful.

Once more, Jesus visited Cana in Galilee. Cana is where he had turned the water into wine. A royal official was there. His son was sick in bed at Capernaum.The official heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea. So he went to Jesus and begged him to come and heal his son. The boy was close to death.Jesus told him,“ You people will never believe unless you see signs and wonders.”The royal official said,“ Sir, come down before my child dies.”“ Go,” Jesus replied.“ Your son will live.” The man believed what Jesus said, and so he left.While he was still on his way home, his slaves met him. They gave him the news that his boy was living.He asked what time his son got better. They said to him,“ Yesterday, at one o’clock in the afternoon, the fever left him.”Then the father realized what had happened. That was the exact time Jesus had said to him,“ Your son will live.” So he and his whole family became believers.

Here’s what believers who are in low positions in life should be proud of. They should be proud that God has given them a high position in the kingdom.But rich people should take pride in their low positions. That’s because they will fade away like wild flowers.The sun rises. Its burning heat dries up the plants. Their blossoms fall. Their beauty is destroyed. In the same way, rich people will fade away. They fade away even as they go about their business.

But inside your city I will leave those who are not proud at all. Those who are still left alive will trust in the Lord.

Is anyone among you wise and understanding? That person should show it by living a good life. A wise person isn’t proud when they do good deeds.But suppose your hearts are jealous and bitter. Suppose you are concerned only about getting ahead. Then don’t brag about it. And don’t say no to the truth.Wisdom like this doesn’t come down from heaven. It belongs to the earth. It doesn’t come from the Holy Spirit. It comes from the devil.Are you jealous? Are you concerned only about getting ahead? Then your life will be a mess. You will be doing all kinds of evil things.But the wisdom that comes from heaven is pure. That’s the most important thing about it. And that’s not all. It also loves peace. It thinks about others. It obeys. It is full of mercy and good fruit. It is fair. It doesn’t pretend to be what it is not.

He was an attendant of Sergius Paulus, the governor. Paulus was a man of understanding. He sent for Barnabas and Saul. He wanted to hear God’s word.

All God’s people here send you greetings. Most of all, those who live in the palace of Caesar send you greetings.

Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed in Jesus. Dionysius was one of them. He was a member of the Areopagus. A woman named Damaris also became a believer. And so did some others.