But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise. God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

神却拣选了世上愚拙的，叫有智慧的羞愧；又拣选了世上软弱的，叫那强壮的羞愧。

但是，上帝拣选了世上愚拙的，为了使有智慧的羞愧；又拣选了世上软弱的，为了使强壮的羞愧。

但是，神拣选了世上愚拙的，为了使有智慧的羞愧；又拣选了世上软弱的，为了使强壮的羞愧。

但上帝拣选了世人看为愚昧的，要使智者羞愧；上帝拣选了世上软弱的，要使强者蒙羞；

但是神却拣选了世上愚笨的，使那些有智慧的羞愧。他也拣选了世上软弱的，使那些刚强的羞愧。

然而神却拣选了世上愚拙的，为了使那些有智慧的羞愧；神又拣选了世上软弱的，为了使那些强壮的羞愧；

神卻揀選了世上愚拙的，叫有智慧的羞愧；又揀選了世上軟弱的，叫那強壯的羞愧。

但是，上帝揀選了世上愚拙的，為了使有智慧的羞愧；又揀選了世上軟弱的，為了使強壯的羞愧。

但是，神揀選了世上愚拙的，為了使有智慧的羞愧；又揀選了世上軟弱的，為了使強壯的羞愧。

但上帝揀選了世人看為愚昧的，要使智者羞愧；上帝揀選了世上軟弱的，要使強者蒙羞；

但是神卻揀選了世上愚笨的，使那些有智慧的羞愧。他也揀選了世上軟弱的，使那些剛強的羞愧。

但上帝卻揀選了世界上愚拙的，要使有智慧的慚愧；上帝又揀選了世界上軟弱的，要使強壯的慚愧；

然而神卻揀選了世上愚拙的，為了使那些有智慧的羞愧；神又揀選了世上軟弱的，為了使那些強壯的羞愧；

乃上帝選世之愚者、以愧智者、選世之弱者、以愧強者、

乃上帝選世之不智、以愧智者、選世之不能、以愧能者、

乃天主選世之愚者、以愧智者、選世之弱者、以愧強者、

雖然、世俗所視為愚者、天主則簡拔之、以愧眾哲；世俗所視為弱者、天主則簡拔之、以勝強有力者；

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;

Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.

Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong.

but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;

but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong;

Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong.

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

But God chose what the world thinks foolish to shame the wise, and God chose what the world thinks weak to shame the strong.

but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world that he might put to shame the things that are strong.

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?

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.

You have made sure that children and infants praise you. Their praise is a wall that stops the talk of your enemies.

Scripture says that Jesus is“‘ the stone you builders did not accept. But it has become the most important stone of all.’( Psalm 118:22)You can’t be saved by believing in anyone else. God has given people no other name under heaven that will save them.”The leaders saw how bold Peter and John were. They also realized that Peter and John were ordinary men with no training. This surprised the leaders. They realized that these men had been with Jesus.The leaders could see the man who had been healed. He was standing there with them. So there was nothing they could say.They ordered Peter and John to leave the Sanhedrin. Then they talked things over.“ What can we do with these men?” they asked.“ Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed an unusual miracle. We can’t say it didn’t happen.We have to stop this thing. It must not spread any further among the people. We have to warn these men. They must never speak to anyone in Jesus’ name again.”Once again the leaders called in Peter and John. They commanded them not to speak or teach at all in Jesus’ name.But Peter and John replied,“ Which is right from God’s point of view? Should we listen to you? Or should we listen to God? You be the judges!There’s nothing else we can do. We have to speak about the things we’ve seen and heard.”The leaders warned them again. Then they let them go. They couldn’t decide how to punish Peter and John. They knew that all the people were praising God for what had happened.

So once more I will shock these people with many wonderful acts. I will destroy the wisdom of those who think they are so wise. I will do away with the cleverness of those who think they are so smart.”

The weapons I fight with are not the weapons the world uses. In fact, it is just the opposite. My weapons have the power of God to destroy the camps of the enemy.I destroy every claim and every reason that keeps people from knowing God. I keep every thought under control in order to make it obey Christ.

I will give you words of wisdom. None of your enemies will be able to withstand them or prove them wrong.

“ Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.“ Yes,” replied Jesus.“ Haven’t you ever read about it in Scripture? It says,“‘ Lord, you have made sure that children and infants praise you.’ ”( Psalm 8:2)

Treasure is kept in clay jars. In the same way, we have the treasure of the good news in these earthly bodies of ours. That shows that the mighty power of the good news comes from God. It doesn’t come from us.

He brings down those who are proud. He pulls down cities that have high walls. They fall down flat on the ground. He throws them down to the dust.The feet of those who were treated badly stomp on them. Those who were poor walk all over them.”

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.

Some say,“ His letters sound important. They are powerful. But in person he doesn’t seem like much. And what he says doesn’t amount to anything.”

Those who aren’t proud will once again find their joy in the Lord. And those who are in need will find their joy in the Holy One of Israel.

Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla. She was a Jew. Felix sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.Paul talked about how to live a godly life. He talked about how people should control themselves. He also talked about the time when God will judge everyone. Then Felix became afraid.“ That’s enough for now!” he said.“ You may leave. When I find the time, I will send for you.”

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd spoke to Jesus.“ Teacher,” they said,“ tell your disciples to stop!”“ I tell you,” he replied,“ if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

One day Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee. There he saw two brothers, Simon Peter and his brother Andrew. They were throwing a net into the lake, because they were fishermen.“ Come and follow me,” Jesus said.“ I will send you out to fish for people.”At once they left their nets and followed him.Going on from there, he saw two other brothers. They were James, son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee. As they were preparing their nets, Jesus called out to them.Right away they left the boat and their father and followed Jesus.

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew. He was sitting at the tax collector’s booth.“ Follow me,” Jesus told him. Matthew got up and followed him.

A group of Epicurean and Stoic thinkers began to argue with him. Some of them asked,“ What is this fellow chattering about?” Others said,“ He seems to be telling us about gods we’ve never heard of.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus. He was telling them that Jesus had risen from the dead.

“ This is the same Moses the two men of Israel would not accept. They had said,‘ Who made you ruler and judge?’ But God himself sent Moses to rule the people of Israel and set them free. He spoke to Moses through an angel. The angel had appeared to him in the bush.

But members of the group called the Synagogue of the Freedmen began to oppose him. Some of them were Jews from Cyrene and Alexandria. Others were Jews from Cilicia and Asia Minor. They all began to argue with Stephen.But he was too wise for them. That’s because the Holy Spirit gave Stephen wisdom whenever he spoke.

When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they became very angry. They were so angry they ground their teeth at Stephen.