Thorn In Side

and that by the exceeding greatness of the revelations I might not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of the Adversary, that he might buffet me, that I might not be exalted overmuch.

`And if ye do not dispossess the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it hath been, those whom ye let remain of them, <FI>are<Fi> for pricks in your eyes, and for thorns in your sides, and they have distressed you on the land in which ye are dwelling,

wherefore I am well pleased in infirmities, in damages, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses--for Christ; for whenever I am infirm, then I am powerful;

And there is no more to the house of Israel A pricking brier, and paining thorn, Of all round about them--despising them, And they have known that I <FI>am<Fi> the Lord Jehovah.

To boast, really, is not profitable for me, for I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. — read the full passage →

and He said to me, `Sufficient for thee is My grace, for My power in infirmity is perfected;' most gladly, therefore, will I rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of the Christ may rest on me:

O that ye were bearing with me a little of the folly, but ye also do bear with me: — read the full passage →

and having entered into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right hand, arrayed in a long white robe, and they were amazed.

and clothe him with purple, and having plaited a crown of thorns, they put <FI>it<Fi> on him,

and that by the exceeding greatness of the revelations I might not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of the Adversary, that he might buffet me, that I might not be exalted overmuch. — read the full passage →

To boast, really, is not profitable for me, for I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

and the soldiers having plaited a crown of thorns, did place <FI>it<Fi> on his head, and a purple garment they put around him,

Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the chief priest.

Concerning this thing thrice the Lord did I call upon, that it might depart from me,

and they led him away to Annas first, for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was chief priest of that year,

and the women also who have come with him out of Galilee having followed after, beheld the tomb, and how his body was placed,

who had been, because of a certain sedition made in the city, and murder, cast into prison.

and Herod with his soldiers having set him at nought, and having mocked, having put around him gorgeous apparel, did send him back to Pilate,

and having known that he is from the jurisdiction of Herod, he sent him back unto Herod, he being also in Jerusalem in those days. — read the full passage →

And when it became day there was gathered together the eldership of the people, chief priests also, and scribes, and they led him up to their own sanhedrim,

And having taken him, they led and brought him to the house of the chief priest. And Peter was following afar off,

for each tree from its own fruit is known, for not from thorns do they gather figs, nor from a bramble do they crop a grape.

And, having come forth quickly, they fled from the sepulchre, and trembling and amazement had seized them, and to no one said they anything, for they were afraid.

And the sabbath having past, Mary the Magdalene, and Mary of James, and Salome, bought spices, that having come, they may anoint him,

And with him they crucify two robbers, one on the right hand, and one on his left,

and there was <FI>one<Fi> named Barabbas, bound with those making insurrection with him, who had in the insurrection committed murder.

And they led away Jesus unto the chief priest, and come together to him do all the chief priests, and the elders, and the scribes;

and as they were going to tell to his disciples, then lo, Jesus met them, saying, `Hail!' and they having come near, laid hold of his feet, and did bow to him.

And having gone forth quickly from the tomb, with fear and great joy, they ran to tell to his disciples;

and lo, there came a great earthquake, for a messenger of the Lord, having come down out of heaven, having come, did roll away the stone from the door, and was sitting upon it, — read the full passage →

And on the eve of the sabbaths, at the dawn, toward the first of the sabbaths, came Mary the Magdalene, and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre,

and lo, the vail of the sanctuary was rent in two from top unto bottom, and the earth did quake, and the rocks were rent, — read the full passage →

Then crucified with him are two robbers, one on the right hand, and one on the left,

And those laying hold on Jesus led <FI>him<Fi> away unto Caiaphas the chief priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together,

Therefore, lo, I am hedging up thy way with thorns, And I have made for her a wall, And her paths she doth not find.

Instead of the thorn come up doth fir, Instead of the brier come up doth myrtle, And it hath been to Jehovah for a name, For a sign age-during--it is not cut off!

Dost thou put a reed in his nose? And with a thorn pierce his jaw?

Lo, he doth come with the clouds, and see him shall every eye, even those who did pierce him, and wail because of him shall all the tribes of the land. Yes! Amen!

for even if he was crucified from infirmity, yet he doth live from the power of God; for we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him from the power of God toward you.

This third time do I come unto you; on the mouth of two witnesses or three shall every saying be established; — read the full passage →

for if I may wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, for truth I will say; but I forebear, lest any one in regard to me may think anything above what he doth see me, or doth hear anything of me;

that he was caught away to the paradise, and heard unutterable sayings, that it is not possible for man to speak.

And these things having said--they beholding--he was taken up, and a cloud did receive him up from their sight; — read the full passage →

Mary the Magdalene cometh, telling to the disciples that she hath seen the Lord, and <FI>that<Fi> these things he said to her.

and the two were running together, and the other disciple did run forward more quickly than Peter, and came first to the tomb, — read the full passage →

And on the first of the sabbaths, Mary the Magdalene doth come early (there being yet darkness) to the tomb, and she seeth the stone having been taken away out of the tomb, — read the full passage →

therefore they all cried out again, saying, `Not this one--but Barabbas;' and Barabbas was a robber.

for God did so love the world, that His Son--the only begotten--He gave, that every one who is believing in him may not perish, but may have life age-during. — read the full passage →

and it came to pass, in his blessing them, he was parted from them, and was borne up to the heaven;

and having turned back from the tomb told all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest.

And it came to pass, while they are perplexed about this, that lo, two men stood by them in glittering apparel,

And on the first of the sabbaths, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, bearing the spices they made ready, and certain <FI>others<Fi> with them,

and having unclothed him, they put around him a crimson cloak,

From their fruits ye shall know them; do <FI>men<Fi> gather from thorns grapes? or from thistles figs?

Then saith Jesus to him, `Go--Adversary, for it hath been written, The Lord thy God thou shalt bow to, and Him only thou shalt serve.'

Be not afraid, for with thee I <FI>am<Fi> , Look not around, for I <FI>am<Fi> thy God, I have strengthened thee, Yea, I have helped thee, yea, I upheld thee, With the right hand of My righteousness.

And I also have said, I do not cast them out from your presence, and they have been to you for adversaries, and their gods are to you for a snare.'

And after these things I saw four messengers, standing upon the four corners of the land, holding the four winds of the land, that the wind may not blow upon the land, nor upon the sea, nor upon any tree;

And prophesy also to these did the seventh from Adam--Enoch--saying, `Lo, the Lord did come in His saintly myriads,

And I do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, that ye may not sorrow, as also the rest who have not hope, — read the full passage →

For all things I have strength, in Christ's strengthening me;

for I am pressed by the two, having the desire to depart, and to be with Christ, for it is far better,

and ye have known that through infirmity of the flesh I did proclaim good news to you at the first, — read the full passage →

lest again having come, my God may humble me in regard to you, and I may bewail many of those having sinned before, and not having reformed concerning the uncleanness, and whoredom, and lasciviousness, that they did practise.

I entreated Titus, and did send with <FI>him<Fi> the brother; did Titus take advantage of you? in the same spirit did we not walk? --did we not in the same steps?

and I most gladly will spend and be entirely spent for your souls, even if, more abundantly loving you, less I am loved.

The signs, indeed, of the apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds,

if to boast it behoveth <FI>me<Fi> , of the things of my infirmity I will boast;

And this I say, brethren, the time henceforth is having been shortened--that both those having wives may be as not having; — read the full passage →

to deliver up such a one to the Adversary for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

And we have known that to those loving God all things do work together for good, to those who are called according to purpose;

Are ye ignorant, brethren--for to those knowing law I speak--that the law hath lordship over the man as long as he liveth? — read the full passage →

and we all having fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew dialect, Saul, Saul, why me dost thou persecute? hard for thee against pricks to kick!

and they who are with me the light did see, and became afraid, and the voice they heard not of him who is speaking to me--

and they, having heard, were baptized--to the name of the Lord Jesus,

he commanded them also to be baptized in the name of the Lord; then they besought him to remain certain days.

And on the morrow, as these are proceeding on the way, and are drawing nigh to the city, Peter went up upon the house-top to pray, about the sixth hour, — read the full passage →

And the men who are journeying with him stood speechless, hearing indeed the voice but seeing no one,

for as yet he was fallen upon none of them, and only they have been baptized--to the name of the Lord Jesus;

and Peter said unto them, `Reform, and be baptized each of you on the name of Jesus Christ, to remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,

a prophet, therefore, being, and knowing that with an oath God did swear to him, out of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, to raise up the Christ, to sit upon his throne, — read the full passage →

this one, indeed, then, purchased a field out of the reward of unrighteousness, and falling headlong, burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed forth,

And these things having said--they beholding--he was taken up, and a cloud did receive him up from their sight;

Simon Peter saith to them, `I go away to fish;' they say to him, `We go--we also--with thee;' they went forth and entered into the boat immediately, and on that night they caught nothing. — read the full passage →

these things I have spoken to you, that in me ye may have peace, in the world ye shall have tribulation, but take courage--I have overcome the world.'

and there was following him a great multitude, because they were seeing his signs that he was doing on the ailing;

this again a second sign did Jesus, having come out of Judea to Galilee.

This beginning of the signs did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested his glory, and his disciples believed in him;

On the morrow, again, John was standing, and two of his disciples, — read the full passage →

verily I say to you--This generation may not pass away till all may have come to pass;

And he said unto them, `How do they say the Christ to be son of David, — read the full passage →

And he said unto them, `Take nothing for the way, neither staff, nor scrip, nor bread, nor money; neither have two coats each; — read the full passage →

`And that which fell to the thorns: These are they who have heard, and going forth, through anxieties, and riches, and pleasures of life, are choked, and bear not to completion.

`And other fell amidst the thorns, and the thorns having sprung up with it, did choke it.

And it came to pass, in the multitude pressing on him to hear the word of God, that he was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, — read the full passage →

Verily I say to you, that this generation may not pass away till all these things may come to pass;

And Jesus answering said, teaching in the temple, `How say the scribes that the Christ is son of David? — read the full passage →

And in the morning, passing by, they saw the fig-tree having been dried up from the roots, — read the full passage →

And on the morrow, they having come forth from Bethany, he hungered, — read the full passage →

and having sighed deeply in his spirit, he saith, `Why doth this generation seek after a sign? Verily I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.'