Friday, January 7

1And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples

2he said to them, 'Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?'

3So they said to him, 'We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.' And he said to them, 'Into what then were you baptized?'

4So they said, 'Into John's baptism.' Then Paul said, 'John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.'

5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

6And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

7Now the men were about twelve in all.

8And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.

18For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness,

19for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

20And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath

21(for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: 'The LORD has sworn And will not relent, 'You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek' '),

22by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.

23Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing.

24But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.

25Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

30This is He of whom I said, 'After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.'

31I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.'

32And John bore witness, saying, 'I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.

33I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'

34And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.'

37And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet.

38Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.

22:1Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover.

2And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people.

3Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.

4So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them.

5And they were glad, and agreed to give him money.

6So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.

7Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed.

8And He sent Peter and John, saying, 'Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.'