Then Simeon blessed them. He said to Mary, Jesus’ mother,“ This child is going to cause many people in Israel to fall and to rise. God has sent him. But many will speak against him.

西面给他们祝福，又对孩子的母亲马利亚说：“这孩子被立，是要叫以色列中许多人跌倒，许多人兴起；又要作毁谤的话柄，叫许多人心里的意念显露出来；你自己的心也要被刀刺透。”

西面给他们祝福，又对孩子的母亲马利亚说：“这孩子被立，是要叫以色列中许多人跌倒，许多人兴起；又要成为毁谤的对象，

西面给他们祝福，又对孩子的母亲马利亚说：“这孩子被立，是要叫以色列中许多人跌倒，许多人兴起；又要成为毁谤的对象，

希缅给他们祝福后，就对孩子的母亲玛丽亚说：“看啊，这孩子必使以色列许多人跌倒、许多人兴起。祂将成为众人攻击的对象，

西面给他们祝福，对他母亲马利亚说：“看哪！这孩子被立，要叫以色列中许多人跌倒，许多人兴起，又要成为反对的目标，

西面祝福他们，并对孩子的母亲玛丽亚说：“看哪，这孩子注定要使以色列中许多人跌倒、许多人兴起，并要成为一个遭受反对的标记，

西面給他們祝福，又對孩子的母親馬利亞說：「這孩子被立，是要叫以色列中許多人跌倒，許多人興起；又要作毀謗的話柄，叫許多人心裏的意念顯露出來；你自己的心也要被刀刺透。」

西面給他們祝福，又對孩子的母親馬利亞說：「這孩子被立，是要叫以色列中許多人跌倒，許多人興起；又要成為毀謗的對象，

西面給他們祝福，又對孩子的母親馬利亞說：「這孩子被立，是要叫以色列中許多人跌倒，許多人興起；又要成為毀謗的對象，

希緬給他們祝福後，就對孩子的母親瑪麗亞說：「看啊，這孩子必使以色列許多人跌倒、許多人興起。祂將成為眾人攻擊的對象，

西面給他們祝福，對他母親馬利亞說：“看哪！這孩子被立，要叫以色列中許多人跌倒，許多人興起，又要成為反對的目標，

西面就給他們祝福，對孩子的母親馬利亞說：『看吧，這孩子被設立、必使以色列中許多人跌倒、許多人復起，也必做辯論的對象，將許多人心裏的意念揭露出來；

西面祝福他們，並對孩子的母親瑪麗亞說：「看哪，這孩子註定要使以色列中許多人跌倒、許多人興起，並要成為一個遭受反對的標記，

西面祝之、謂其母馬利亞曰、此子之立、致以色列多人興衰、亦為受誹之兆、

西面祝之、謂馬利亞曰、此子將立、關以色列族多人之盛衰、為受刺之鵠、

西緬祝之、謂耶穌之母瑪利亞曰、此子被立、為使以色列多人、或傾仆、或興起、亦為異跡、被人誹謗、

西默翁祝之、謂聖母曰：『此子之誕生、義塞眾人之禍福興亡繫焉。斯天下之正鵠、而又眾矢之的也。

Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother:“ This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,

And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,“ Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed

Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother,“ This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him.

Then Simeon blessed them and told his mother Mary,“ Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed—

And Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary,“ Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and as a sign to be opposed—

Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother,“ Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against

and Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel; and for a sign which is spoken against;

Then Simeon blessed them and told His mother Mary:“ Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed—

And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this[ child] is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary,“ Listen carefully: This child is destined to be the cause of the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be rejected.

and Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother,“ Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against.

This stone is very valuable to you who believe. But to people who do not believe,“ The stone the builders did not accept has become the most important stone of all.”( Psalm 118:22)And,“ It is a stone that causes people to trip. It is a rock that makes them fall.”( Isaiah 8:14) They trip and fall because they do not obey the message. That is also what God planned for them.

But we preach about Christ and his death on the cross. That is very hard for Jews to accept. And everyone else thinks it’s foolish.

Anyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces. But the stone will crush anyone it falls on.”

If someone is wise, they will realize that what I’ve said is true. If they have understanding, they will know what it means. The ways of the Lord are right. People who are right with God live the way he wants them to. But those who refuse to obey him trip and fall.

Meanwhile, Saul continued to oppose the Lord’s followers. He said they would be put to death. He went to the high priest.He asked the priest for letters to the synagogues in Damascus. He wanted to find men and women who belonged to the Way of Jesus. The letters would allow him to take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.On his journey, Saul approached Damascus. Suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.He fell to the ground. He heard a voice speak to him,“ Saul! Saul! Why are you opposing me?”“ Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.“ I am Jesus,” he replied.“ I am the one you are opposing.Now get up and go into the city. There you will be told what you must do.”The men traveling with Saul stood there. They weren’t able to speak. They had heard the sound. But they didn’t see anyone.Saul got up from the ground. He opened his eyes, but he couldn’t see. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.For three days he was blind. He didn’t eat or drink anything.In Damascus there was a believer named Ananias. The Lord called out to him in a vision.“ Ananias!” he said.“ Yes, Lord,” he answered.The Lord told him,“ Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street. Ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying.In a vision Saul has seen a man come and place his hands on him. That man’s name is Ananias. In the vision, Ananias placed his hands on Saul so he could see again.”“ Lord,” Ananias answered,“ I’ve heard many reports about this man. They say he has done great harm to your holy people in Jerusalem.Now he has come here to arrest all those who worship you. The chief priests have given him authority to do this.”But the Lord said to Ananias,“ Go! I have chosen this man to work for me. He will announce my name to the Gentiles and to their kings. He will also announce my name to the people of Israel.I will show him how much he must suffer for me.”Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. He placed his hands on Saul.“ Brother Saul,” he said,“ you saw the Lord Jesus. He appeared to you on the road as you were coming here. He has sent me so that you will be able to see again. You will be filled with the Holy Spirit.”Right away something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes. And he could see again. He got up and was baptized.After eating some food, he got his strength back. Saul spent several days with the believers in Damascus.Right away he began to preach in the synagogues. He taught that Jesus is the Son of God.

Then the Lord will be a holy place of safety for you. But that’s not true for many people in Israel and Judah. He will be a stone that causes them to trip. He will be a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare.Many of them will trip. They will fall and be broken. They will be trapped and captured.”

But when the Son of Man came, he ate and drank as you do. And people say,‘ This fellow is always eating and drinking far too much. He’s a friend of tax collectors and“ sinners.” ’ By wise actions wisdom is shown to be right.”

Then Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people. He gave them a blessing. He had already sacrificed the sin offering, the burnt offering and the friendship offering. So he stepped down from the altar.Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting. When they came out, they gave the people a blessing. The glory of the Lord appeared to all the people.

“ We have found that Paul is a troublemaker. This man stirs up trouble among Jews all over the world. He is a leader of those who follow Jesus of Nazareth.

A huge cloud of witnesses is all around us. So let us throw off everything that stands in our way. Let us throw off any sin that holds on to us so tightly. And let us keep on running the race marked out for us.Let us keep looking to Jesus. He is the one who started this journey of faith. And he is the one who completes the journey of faith. He paid no attention to the shame of the cross. He suffered there because of the joy he was looking forward to. Then he sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.He made it through these attacks by sinners. So think about him. Then you won’t get tired. You won’t lose hope.

The kings of the earth rise up. The rulers of the earth gather together against the Lord and against his anointed king.’( Psalm 2:1, 2)

Without a doubt, the more important person blesses the less important one.

For this reason the Jewish leaders tried even harder to kill him. According to them, Jesus was not only breaking the law of the Sabbath day. He was even calling God his own Father. He was making himself equal with God.

But we want to hear what your ideas are. We know that people everywhere are talking against those who believe as you do.”

“ Sir,” they said,“ we remember something that liar said while he was still alive. He claimed,‘ After three days I will rise again.’

My great love for your house destroys me. Those who make fun of you make fun of me also.When I weep and go without eating, they laugh at me.When I put on rough clothing to show how sad I am, people make jokes about me.Those who gather in public places make fun of me. Those who get drunk make up songs about me.

God considers us to be the pleasing smell that Christ is spreading. He is spreading it among people who are being saved and people who are dying.To those who are dying, we are the smell of death. To those who are being saved, we are the perfume of life. Who is able to do this work?

“ So be sure of this, all you people of Israel. You nailed Jesus to the cross. But God has made him both Lord and Messiah.”When the people heard this, it had a deep effect on them. They said to Peter and the other apostles,“ Brothers, what should we do?”Peter replied,“ All of you must turn away from your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then your sins will be forgiven. You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.The promise is for you and your children. It is also for all who are far away. It is for all whom the Lord our God will choose.”Peter said many other things to warn them. He begged them,“ Save yourselves from these evil people.”Those who accepted his message were baptized. About 3,000 people joined the believers that day.

So God’s word spread. The number of believers in Jerusalem grew quickly. Also, a large number of priests began to obey Jesus’ teachings.

While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside. They wanted to speak to him.

Moses looked over the work carefully. He saw that the workers had done it just as the Lord had commanded. So Moses gave them his blessing.

He gave a blessing to Abram. He said,“ May the Most High God bless Abram. May the Creator of heaven and earth bless him.

and said,“ So you are going to destroy the temple and build it again in three days? Then save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders made fun of him.“ He saved others,” they said.“ But he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross! Then we will believe in him.He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him. He’s the one who said,‘ I am the Son of God.’ ”In the same way the rebels who were being crucified with Jesus also made fun of him.From noon until three o’clock, the whole land was covered with darkness.

Suppose people say bad things about you because you believe in Christ. Then you are blessed, because God’s Spirit rests on you. He is the Spirit of glory.

Everyone who does evil deeds hates the light. They will not come into the light. They are afraid that what they do will be seen.

Why not? Because they tried to do it without faith. They tried to be right with God by what they did. They tripped over the stone that causes people to trip and fall.

But they couldn’t find them. So they dragged Jason and some other believers to the city officials.“ These men have caused trouble all over the world,” they shouted.“ Now they have come here.

The Jews answered Jesus,“ Aren’t we right when we say you are a Samaritan? Aren’t you controlled by a demon?”“ I am not controlled by a demon,” said Jesus.“ I honor my Father. You do not honor me.I am not seeking glory for myself. But there is one who brings glory to me. He is the judge.What I’m about to tell you is true. Whoever obeys my word will never die.”Then they cried out,“ Now we know you are controlled by a demon! Abraham died. So did the prophets. But you say that whoever obeys your word will never die.

Again the Pharisees called the man who had been blind to come to them.“ Give glory to God by telling the truth!” they said.“ We know that the man who healed you is a sinner.”He replied,“ I don’t know if he is a sinner or not. I do know one thing. I was blind, but now I can see!”Then they asked him,“ What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”He answered,“ I have already told you. But you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”Then they began to attack him with their words.“ You are this fellow’s disciple!” they said.“ We are disciples of Moses!We know that God spoke to Moses. But we don’t even know where this fellow comes from.”

Then the high priest tore his clothes. He said,“ He has spoken a very evil thing against God! Why do we need any more witnesses? You have heard him say this evil thing.What do you think?”“ He must die!” they answered.Then they spit in his face. They hit him with their fists. Others slapped him.

Melchizedek was the king of Salem. He was the priest of God Most High. He met Abraham, who was returning from winning a battle over some kings. Melchizedek blessed him.

You killed the one who gives life. But God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.This man whom you see and know was made strong because of faith in Jesus’ name. Faith in Jesus has healed him completely. You can see it with your own eyes.“ My fellow Israelites, I know you didn’t realize what you were doing. Neither did your leaders.But God had given a promise through all the prophets. And this is how he has made his promise come true. He said that his Messiah would suffer.So turn away from your sins. Turn to God. Then your sins will be wiped away. The time will come when the Lord will make everything new.

Here I am. Here are the children the Lord has given me. We are signs and reminders to Israel from the Lord who rules over all. He lives on Mount Zion.

Then Joseph brought his father Jacob in to meet Pharaoh. Jacob gave Pharaoh his blessing.

When the Jews saw the crowds, they became very jealous. They began to disagree with what Paul was saying. They said evil things against him.

Everyone treats me like a worm and not a man. They hate me and look down on me.All those who see me laugh at me. They shout at me and make fun of me. They shake their heads at me.They say,“ He trusts in the Lord. Let the Lord help him. If the Lord is pleased with him, let him save him.”