for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him,’
But give for gifts to the needy those things which are within, and behold, all things will be clean to you.
Behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and she was bent over, and could in no way straighten herself up.
When Jesus saw her, he called her, and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.”
Therefore the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each one of you free his ox or his donkey from the stall on the Sabbath, and lead him away to water?
Ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan had bound eighteen long years, be freed from this bondage on the Sabbath day?”
Behold, a certain man who had dropsy was in front of him.
But they were silent. He took him, and healed him, and let him go.
He answered them, “Which of you, if your son or an ox fell into a well, wouldn’t immediately pull him out on a Sabbath day?”
But when you make a feast, ask the poor, the maimed, the lame, or the blind;
“That servant came, and told his lord these things. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor, maimed, blind, and lame.’
“The lord said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him.
The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.”
“Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep, and lost one of them, wouldn’t leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one that was lost, until he found it?
When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’
“He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.
But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’”
A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was taken to his gate, full of sores,
and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
As he entered into a certain village, ten men who were lepers met him, who stood at a distance.
He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks; and he was a Samaritan.
As he came near Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the road, begging.
He cried out, “Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!”
Those who led the way rebuked him, that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “You son of David, have mercy on me!”
Standing still, Jesus commanded him to be brought to him. When he had come near, he asked him,
He ran on ahead, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was going to pass that way.
When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”
When he came near, he saw the city and wept over it,
But Jesus answered, “Let me at least do this” —and he touched his ear, and healed him.
A great multitude of the people followed him, including women who also mourned and lamented him.
They urged him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is almost evening, and the day is almost over.” He went in to stay with them.
A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.”
So when the Samaritans came to him, they begged him to stay with them. He stayed there two days.
When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to him, and begged him that he would come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.
In these lay a great multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, or paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water;
When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had been sick for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to be made well?”
The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I’m coming, another steps down before me.”
A great multitude followed him, because they saw his signs which he did on those who were sick.
“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these among so many?”
Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in that place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
Jesus took the loaves; and having given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to those who were sitting down; likewise also of the fish as much as they desired.
But when they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her.”
They, when they heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the oldest, even to the last. Jesus was left alone with the woman where she was, in the middle.
Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, “Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?”
As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.
The neighbors therefore, and those who saw that he was blind before, said, “Isn’t this he who sat and begged?”
It was that Mary who had anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother, Lazarus, was sick.
The sisters therefore sent to him, saying, “Lord, behold, he for whom you have great affection is sick.”
Many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother.
Then when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary stayed in the house.
Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was in the place where Martha met him.
Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and were consoling her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.”
When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews weeping who came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
and said, “Where have you laid him?” They told him, “Lord, come and see.”
Jesus wept.
The Jews therefore said, “See how much affection he had for him!”
Jesus therefore, again groaning in himself, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay against it.
“Why wasn’t this ointment sold for three hundred denarii, and given to the poor?”
For you always have the poor with you, but you don’t always have me.”
Then he poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
Now the servants and the officers were standing there, having made a fire of coals, for it was cold. They were warming themselves. Peter was with them, standing and warming himself.
A certain man who was lame from his mother’s womb was being carried, whom they laid daily at the door of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask gifts for the needy of those who entered into the temple.
Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive gifts for the needy.
Peter, fastening his eyes on him, with John, said, “Look at us.”
But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!”
They recognized him, that it was he who used to sit begging for gifts for the needy at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. They were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
if we are examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed,
The multitude of those who believed were of one heart and soul. Not one of them claimed that anything of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.
For neither was there among them any who lacked, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,
and laid them at the apostles’ feet, and distribution was made to each, according as anyone had need.
“The patriarchs, moved with jealousy against Joseph, sold him into Egypt. God was with him,
I have surely seen the affliction of my people that is in Egypt, and have heard their groaning. I have come down to deliver them. Now come, I will send you into Egypt.’ Exodus 3:5,7-8,10
Devout men buried Stephen, and lamented greatly over him.
Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which when translated, means Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and acts of mercy which she did.
As Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them.
Peter got up and went with them. When he had come, they brought him into the upper room. All the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.
He gave her his hand, and raised her up. Calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your gifts to the needy are remembered in the sight of God.
As any of the disciples had plenty, each determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea;
But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, “Don’t harm yourself, for we are all here!”
In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
They all wept a lot, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him,
When we heard these things, both we and they of that place begged him not to go up to Jerusalem.
Now after some years, I came to bring gifts for the needy to my nation, and offerings;
He ordered the centurion that Paul should be kept in custody, and should have some privileges, and not to forbid any of his friends to serve him or to visit him.
The next day, we touched at Sidon. Julius treated Paul kindly, and gave him permission to go to his friends and refresh himself.
The natives showed us uncommon kindness; for they kindled a fire, and received us all, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us, and courteously entertained us for three days.
For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brothers’ sake, my relatives according to the flesh,
For he said to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” Exodus 33:19
In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor preferring one another;
contributing to the needs of the saints; given to hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse.
Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep.
If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men.
Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.” Deuteronomy 32:35
Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Proverbs 25:21-22












