« | Matthew 9 | » |
1 And getting into the boat, He crossed over and went into His own city.
2 And behold, they were carrying a paralytic to Him lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Have courage, child; your sins are forgiven you."
3 And at once some of the scribes said among themselves, "This Man blasphemes!"
4 But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?
5 For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Arise and walk'?
6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on the earth to forgive sins"--then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."
7 And having arisen, he went off to his house.
8 Now when the crowds saw, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
9 And as Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." And arising, he followed Him.
10 Now it came to pass, as He reclined [to eat] in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners, having come, were reclining [to eat] with Jesus and His disciples.
11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, "Those who are healthy have no need of a physician, but those who are ill.
13 But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call [the] righteous, but sinners, to repentance."
14 Then the disciples of John approached Him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?"
15 And Jesus said to them, "Can the groomsmen mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.
16 No one puts on a patch of a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for it takes away its completeness from the garment, and the tear is made worse.
17 Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins burst, and the wine spills out, and the wineskins will be ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."
18 As He spoke these things to them, behold, a certain leader came and worshipped Him, saying, "My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her, and she shall live."
19 So Jesus arose and followed him, likewise His disciples.
20 And behold, a woman hemorrhaging for twelve years, approaching from behind, touched the hem of His garment.
21 For she said to herself, "If only I may touch His garment, I will be healed."
22 But Jesus, turning around and seeing her, said, "Take courage, daughter; your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that hour.
23 And when Jesus came into the house of the leader, and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion,
24 He said to them, "Make room, for the girl has not died, but she is sleeping." And they were ridiculing Him.
25 But when the crowd had been put out, He went in and grasped her hand, and the little girl arose.
26 And the report of this went out into that whole land.
27 And as Jesus passed by from there, two blind [men] followed Him, crying out and saying, "Son of David, have pity on us!"
28 And when He came into the house, the blind [men] approached Him, and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord."
29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith, let it be unto you."
30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, "See [that you] let no one know."
31 But they, having gone out, spread the news about Him in that whole land.
32 And as they were going out, behold, they brought to Him a mute man, being demon-possessed.
33 And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, "It was never seen like this in Israel!"
34 But the Pharisees said, " By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons."
35 And Jesus was going about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every illness and every disease among the people.
36 But seeing the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and prostrated, like sheep having no shepherd.
37 Then He said to His disciples, "Indeed the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
38 Therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest, that He may send forth workers into His harvest."
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC)
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC) is a modern translation of the Bible that strives to offer a clear and faithful rendering of the scriptures in contemporary language. This translation is designed to be accessible to a wide audience, providing an easy-to-read yet accurate version of the biblical text. The ABC translation aims to bridge the gap between the ancient languages in which the Bible was originally written and the modern vernacular, making it an ideal choice for both personal study and public reading.
One of the notable features of the Apostles’ Bible Complete is its dedication to maintaining the integrity of the original manuscripts. The translators of the ABC worked meticulously with the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts to ensure that their translation accurately reflects the original meaning and intent of the scriptures. By employing a balance of formal equivalence (word-for-word) and dynamic equivalence (thought-for-thought) translation techniques, the ABC aims to preserve the nuances and richness of the original languages while ensuring readability and clarity for modern readers.
The ABC also incorporates extensive cross-references and study aids to enhance the reader’s understanding of the biblical text. These tools include footnotes that provide historical and cultural context, as well as explanations of difficult or ambiguous passages. This approach helps readers to grasp the deeper meanings of the scriptures and to see how different parts of the Bible interconnect. The inclusion of these study aids makes the ABC particularly useful for those who are new to the Bible, as well as for more experienced readers who are looking to deepen their understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the Apostles’ Bible Complete has faced some criticisms. Some readers feel that the translation could benefit from further refinement in certain passages, as the balance between formal and dynamic equivalence can sometimes lead to inconsistencies in style and tone. Others have noted that while the study aids are helpful, they can occasionally overwhelm the main text, making it difficult to focus on the scripture itself. Nonetheless, the ABC remains a valuable and respected translation, appreciated for its commitment to accuracy, clarity, and accessibility, and for its ability to bring the ancient words of the Bible to life for contemporary readers.